According to research, quitting smoking is debatably the most difficult thing that a smoker can ever try in his/her life. The chemical responsible for the addictiveness of cigarettes is nicotine. Nicotine leaves the smoker yearning for an extra puff. When trying to stop smoking, the body reacts by presenting withdrawal symptoms; however, many smokers cannot handle the side effects, and therefore end up smoking again. It can be a vicious cycle. With only 4 percent of those who try to quit enjoying success, it is common for smokers to use stop smoking aids.
Because of the complexity of the whole process that is involved when one is trying to quit smoking, many people agree that there is no one proven way to overcome this challenge. Some are advised to try a combination of ways that could make the process less psychologically draining. The methods include a combination of modern medicine, herbal remedies and mental willingness. The nicotine withdrawal is reduced by the use of nicotine replacement therapy, which includes the use of products like the nicotine gum, the smoking patch and a nicotine inhaler.
Quitting smoking depends on how well a person deals with the physical and mental aspects that makes them so dependent on nicotine. Initially, while trying to quit, the person will experience periodic dizziness, headaches, anxiety and are most likely to develop depression. Some people have an increased appetite, are irritable, restless, frustrated, impatient and angry. Some cannot concentrate on their work, while some will have difficulties falling asleep. At this stage, the temptation to start smoking all over again is very strong. Only the strongest and most dogged determination will get an individual past this stage, which will last for several weeks.
Documented statistics indicate that there are many benefits of quitting smoking. Fifty percent of smokers die from problems arising from smoking. When one quits, they lower their susceptibility to diseases like cancer, blindness, hypertension and even stroke. This knowledge has led to companies developing unique and different products that assist smokers in their quest to drop the habit. They include smokeless cigarettes, which contain no nicotine. Cigarette filters with the ability to remove tar and nicotine from the smoke before it reaches the lungs have also been developed. Of importance, however, is the use of hypnosis as a method to quitting smoking. Through hypnosis, a person relaxes, is less anxious and is finally able to stop smoking. It is a true reflection of what the human mind can achieve.
