The ways to quit smoking are very different. They have been tried by many people suffering from nicotine addiction. For some, the methods have been successful, others could write a book "10 Ways to Quit Smoking Fast", but they still can't part with a cigarette. Breaking bad habits is not easy. Here the psychological attitude and the strong desire of the smoker to get rid of it are very important. It is worth starting with a psychological attitude.
psychological motivation
Any effective way to quit smoking will be useless if the person is not motivated enough. Before you start fighting a bad habit, you need to determine for yourself why you want to do it. The motivations can be the following:
- Fear of getting cancer and other pathologies
- Desire to have a healthy baby
- Concern for loved ones who suffer from passive smoking
- An unpleasant smell of tobacco that interferes with communication
- cash expenses
- Taking care of your own beauty
- Public opinion.
The motivation may not be one, but several. It is worth choosing the most effective or arranging these points according to the force of the impact. For many, the motivation is so strong that it is enough to get rid of nicotine addiction on your own, without drug treatment and psychotherapy. If that's not enough for you, you can proceed to the next few paragraphs. Determine the circumstances in which you are most drawn to smoking. It could be:
- The habit of crawling in the morning, right after sleeping
- Waiting in traffic jams or at a transport stop
- stressful situations
- breaks at work
- Craving for a cigarette in the company of smokers
- vacation with alcohol
- intense mental work
- Positive or negative emotions.
Each person who smokes can define these situations for himself. If you want to smoke in the morning, you can replace the cigarette with something else. For example, a piece of apple, a cup of aromatic tea, having a pleasant time in the shower. It's even easier to deal with waiting in traffic jams, you have to walk more. During the break it is better to go out and take a walk. Try to be less in the company of tobacco, don't drink alcohol. You can just escape to the desert for a week, where there are no cigarettes and no temptations. Some psychologists advise to delve deeper into the problem. After all, cravings for cigarettes can be a sign of depression or internal problems.
Author's methods
Many psychologists, psychotherapists and narcologists offer their own effective ways to quit smoking. The most famous of these is Alan Kara's book The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. Based on the author's own experience, it helps people break the vicious cycle of psychological addiction. This method is well tested, with its help around 25 million people have quit smoking, many of them celebrities. The book is easy to find and download on the Internet. The main thing is to believe that you can give up smoking, as all other fans of the technique did.
Another effective way to quit smoking is offered by a biophysicist. It organizes remote video training, uses correspondence and does it completely free of charge. The technique is based on finding the patient's real reason for the cigarette addiction. If the cause is found, it is not so difficult to overcome it. One can benefit from lectures by another expert, which are based on a detailed story about the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
The psychotherapist uses in his courses the methods of suggestion, NLP, self-hypnosis. He believes the human mind is "programmed" into a bad habit. To get rid of the habit, you need to change this program. Teacher follower improved current methods. He has included relaxing music in psychotherapy sessions, his talks are more geared towards supporting a person's motivation.
medical methods
Medical methods of quitting smoking can be divided into two groups. Some are based on the use of products containing small doses of nicotine. They reduce physical dependence, relieve withdrawal symptoms. Other drugs are substances whose action competes with that of nicotine. Medications containing nicotine include:
- Plaster.
- lollipops.
- Bubble gum.
- Inhalers.
- Electronic cigarette.
The patches are glued to the skin and release small doses of nicotine. This allows you to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke or stop smoking altogether. Roughly the same effect on lollipops and chewing gum. The advantage of inhalers and e-cigarettes is that they are shaped like real ones. Thus, the smoker not only experiences the physical discomfort, but also the psychological stress of quitting. These methods have their fans and opponents. Many would argue that this is far from the best way to quit smoking. It is only possible to reduce the number of cigarettes and not give up the bad habit forever.
The second group are relatively new drugs whose action is based on the pathogenesis of nicotine dependence.
The disadvantage of these drugs is a large number of contraindications and side effects. Only a doctor should prescribe them, choosing the best courses and doses for the patient. Alternatively, various dietary supplements, herbal preparations and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used. They have also proven to be good as ways to quit smoking. But the fact is, without the elimination of psychological dependence, not a single drug helps. Even after taking them, many people revert to the old habit.
Alternative methods
Many people like Eastern philosophy, alternative medicine and find it quite effective. There are ways to stop smoking cigarettes for good, based on the healing methods of the Ancient East. These include:
- Acupuncture.
- Breathing exercises.
- Meditation.
- Hypnosis.
Acupuncture is an ancient healing technique based on the natural reflexes of the human body. There are exit points of nerve endings in the skin, when exposed to them, you can effectively deal with cigarette and addiction. Similar techniques are used even in modern neurology, they are called reflexology. So they have a certain rational grain.
Breathing exercises are a set of exercises practiced by Indian yogis. It is closely linked to philosophy. With the help of altered breathing, you can tune your brain to the right thoughts and feelings. Some believe that this is the most effective way to stop smoking permanently. But when using it, the attitude and belief that with the help of gymnastics you can get rid of a cigarette is very important. Meditation, one of the practices of Buddhist and Hindu monks, has a similar principle.
Hypnosis is not quite an Eastern practice; was widespread in the West in the last century. The suggestion method is based on the fact that a person goes into a trance. This state helps to reveal your secret subconscious problems, inspires certain thoughts and attitudes. Not everyone is amenable to hypnosis, for this you need to have a certain mindset, susceptibility to someone else's suggestion. The percentage of such people among the total number is not so great.
popular methods
It's important to remember that any quick way to quit smoking is no guarantee that you won't start all over again. The most realistic and reliable method is to set a clear goal for yourself, identify the reasons why you smoke, and strictly adhere to the chosen method. Without motivation and deep introspection, the fight against smoking will not be on your side.
There are several popular ways to quit smoking. Most of them are based on the intake of various herbs and decoctions of them. There is also such a popular method as a conspiracy, removing the evil eye and harm, but it is not for everyone. Let's look at some herbal tea recipes, which reduce the urge to smoke and are easy to prepare at home. They are quite simple, they do not require a lot of time.
oregano tea
This tea includes oregano, marshmallow root and coltsfoot leaves. Herbs are taken in the following proportions:
- Chopped marshmallow root - 2 parts.
- Mother and Stepmother - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 1 part.
Everything is mixed, taken from the total mass of 3 tablespoons, poured with half a liter of boiling water, steamed in a thermos for 1-2 hours. They drink it three times a day, or when the hand takes a cigarette.
Valerian soothing herbs
This tea soothes the nerves, soothes irritability, relieves the manifestations of withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking. It includes the following components:
- Chopped valerian root - 4 parts.
- Cumin seeds - 2 parts.
- Chamomile officinalis - 2 parts.
- Hop cones - 2 parts.
Pour 2 tablespoons of this mixture with half a liter of boiling water, leave for an hour or two. It is necessary to drink before going to bed, one glass each. A similar effect has tea of the following composition:
- Chopped valerian root - 5 parts.
- Clock - 2, 5 pieces.
- Peppermint - 2 parts.
The tea is prepared in the same way as the previous one, except that instead of two spoons in the collection, three are used. Pour boiling water and drink a glass before bed.
Mouthwashes
Infusion with yarrow well eliminates the urge to drag a cigarette. After rinsing your mouth with this collection, the tobacco taste becomes very unpleasant. Tea consists of the following components:
- Absinthe - 5 parts.
- Licorice root - 2. 5 parts.
- Yarrow - 2. 5 parts.
A table spoon is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours. You don't need to drink this tea, it's meant to rinse your mouth. A similar effect has blackcurrant leaf tea. For its preparation take:
- Blackcurrant leaves - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 4 parts.
- Peppermint - 4 parts.
Three tablespoons of tabletop collection pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water, insist an hour. After rinsing, there is a pleasant freshness in the mouth. If you pull out a cigarette, the taste becomes very unpleasant. When there is no time or desire to make preparations, you can simply rinse your mouth with soda, eat some mint leaves, chew calamus root, the effect will be almost the same.