Deciding to quit smoking and knowing where to start are two different things. Most people struggle with quitting smoking because they aren’t familiar with the paths they should follow in this journey. As you may know, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths. Living a smoke free life is healthy, fulfilling and peaceful. Below are some effective ways to help you quit smoking.
1. Cold Turkey
Contrary to people’s opinion, using the cold turkey method to quit smoking can be very effective. This however depends on your personality in general. There are people who possess the will power to quit smoking one morning and never smoke again for the rest of their lives.
There are two ways on how you can approach the cold turkey method. You can either quit abruptly or do it gradually. The best alternative here will depend on your preference. You can set a quit date and on that date stop smoking completely. Or you can gradually reduce your cigarette intake with time. If you have decided to use this method, then tell your friends or family so that they can support you whenever you feel the urge to take a smoke.
2. Hypnosis
For most people, smoking is a habit that puts you under a mental trap. This is where hypnotherapy comes in. If you have been smoking for a while, your subconscious is usually under the perception that you can’t live without it, thus causing the addiction. Hypnosis, on the other hand, reprograms your subconscious by shaping different perceptions. Also, smoking is caused by certain triggers, such as stress or anxiety. With the help of a professional hypnotherapist such as Deborah Marshall-Warren (WholeBeingToday.co.uk) of WholeBeingToday, you can learn how to manage these triggers and reprogram your mind through hypnosis. Compared to other methods such as quitting on your own, hypnosis tends to be more productive.
3. Counselling and Behavioral Support Groups
A problem shared is always a problem solved. If you are finding it hard to quit on your own, you can benefit immensely from counselling and behavioral support groups. Counselling and support can either be given privately or in groups. If you are just starting out on therapy and are afraid of crowds, you can enrol for private counselling sessions. Later on, you can join a support group. The latter improves quit rates significantly because there is nothing that appeals to a person’s will more than seeing fellow people combating a similar problem.
There is also some medication such as Bupropion that can be used to help with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. But this should be the last option. You can also benefit from nicotine replacement therapy which entails substituting nicotine for gums, lozenges, sprays and inhalers. All factors considered, seeking help is the best cause of action if you wish to quit smoking compared to doing it yourself. The support and assistance from friends, family and colleagues contribute immensely.
Quitting smoking might be hard, but that does not mean it is impossible. A lot of people have done it, and so can you. If you are struggling with smoking addiction, you can choose hypnotherapy, counselling/behavioural support or quit cold turkey all by yourself.