Quitting smoking at home: proven methods

Two of my colleagues decided to quit smoking at the same time.One of them successfully carried out his intention and has been cigarette-free for three years.And another, like Mark Twain, gave up more than once - he lasted until the first alcoholic event.

In general, they both have a happy attitude towards alcohol, they can drink together on holidays or vacations, but one remains resistant to tobacco products and the other cannot stand it.

At the same time, they both live a busy life, periodically going to the gym, the cinema and concerts, rafting, fishing and picking mushrooms.They usually do this together.

So what is the power of an addiction and why do some people resist it and others don't?

“Let’s smoke, buddy, one at a time…”

Everyone is now more or less aware that a smoker's addiction develops at the level of the body and the psyche.Physiological dependence develops over time;nicotine becomes a necessary link in metabolism.When its content is reduced, the body misses something familiar and signals: “I want more!”

Advertising for anti-smoking products builds on this addiction, calling for switching to an electronic cigarette instead of a regular cigarette or chewing special gum - in other words, trying to trick the body.

But experts (psychologists, narcologists) know that the main reason for addiction is psychological.That's the reason you started smoking, it was before your first cigarette.Freud called smoking a consequence of oral fixation, the desire to return to a state of comfort and security next to the mother's breast.For the same reason, people overeat or chew something incessantly.Because of this, in fact, the myth arose that anyone who stops smoking runs the risk of gaining weight.This only happens if they fill the void with food without addressing the root cause of the addiction.

There are other reasons for smoking: for some it is a form of concentration, for others it is an aesthetic ritual or an invented image.Attention: in old films everyone smokes.Aristocrats and actresses aesthetically blow smoke rings;a cigarette among soldiers serves as a symbol of brotherhood;cowboys smoke a cigar or cigarette;Holmes and Poirot are brilliant as they smoke;there is nothing to say about the Indian peace pipe.Perhaps these are the machinations of tobacco companies who are trying to join the ranks of their victims.“I would prohibit it even now if you found an equally profitable virtue,” said Napoleon III.

A romantic touch creates a belief: if you light a cigarette, you are a macho or a fatal beauty;intelligent and mysterious;above others, chosen;a creative person;a nice guy, a true friend.Everyone chooses what they want and only one medicine is offered – nicotine.

The environment plays an important role: if parents smoke, the child takes this as a model from childhood;If there are many smokers in a company, there is a desire to join the majority, especially if it is a new job (class or group at an educational institution) and the person wants to join the team.Teenagers may experience peer pressure to prove their maturity.And, of course, simple human curiosity.

What happens when you stop smoking?A person finds himself out of place in the company, shy and unable to meet a girl without a cigarette, feeling constant discomfort, stressed for any reason, nervous, irritated and so on.Many run the risk of breaking down and reaching for the “pacifier” again.

Talking about the health dangers of smoking: lung cancer, gangrene in the extremities, problems with blood vessels, heart, stroke, heart attack, skin problems, difficulties with pregnancy, problems with potency, the prospect of early death - does not clarify, but only irritates smokers.

Even if your voice is hoarse, plaque appears on your teeth and tongue, cough in your chest, shortness of breath, phlegm, pain, insomnia, pulsation in your temples - the first symptoms of impending problems - this does not help you overcome your addiction.Education (memos to students and parents, lectures from doctors, instructions from sports coaches, etc.) plays an important role in the prevention phase in order to prevent people from smoking their first cigarette.

Not everyone is concerned about the money issue: they say, I can pay.A car, a trip and other pleasures, which theoretically can be purchased with the money saved, are for the smoker a symbol of deprivation and limitation in other needs.

That's why, if you decide to quit smoking, it's important to get to the root of the problem - to understand what smoking brings to you (what it eliminates) and how to satisfy that need in a different way.Otherwise, the smoker will be hampered by the fear that he is losing something by giving up nicotine and will be left without support and support.

Realize that this is an addiction and you are not losing anything, but rather getting rid of it.

Ways to get rid of addiction

• "Several proprietary techniques. Here are two of them: "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" by Allen Carr. I interviewed a dozen ex-smoker friends and three of them responded that this book helped them.It was written in 1985 and is still the world's most popular guide to quitting smoking.Postulates:It's easy to start living without nicotine at any age;willpower is not only unnecessary but also a hindrance.Anyone who quits smoking with the help of willpower, according to the author, experiences torment - the feeling that they are overcoming something, facing difficulties.There is no point fighting smoking - the war is exhausting.You just need to make a conscious decision and “not hope, but know that you have already stopped smoking when you make such a decision”.And everything will be painless.The author uses his experience as a former smoker with 33 years of experience and convincingly conveys to readers that they will only benefit if they give up the habit. “Four Stinking Sighs” by Vladimir Zhdanov- a well-known technique.Designed to awaken an aversion to smoking.To do this, the sensations of smoking are maximized: tobacco smoke must be kept in the mouth, chewed with the mouth closed and the head thrown back.After 30 seconds, you can push the smoke into your lungs.You'll want to cough, you'll choke, you'll start to feel sick - but you need to take 2 more puffs while chewing the smoke.On the fourth time, you need to inhale lungs full of smoke.Then, straining your abdominal muscles, cough for a long time.Record on the packaging the date and time you took 4 bad breaths.You can't smoke anymore.If it becomes unbearable, chew the smoke again.
• With the help of a doctor.If you trust traditional medicine more or suffer from chronic diseases, you can contact a medical center.Discuss with a specialist whether to stop immediately or gradually, whether it is worth replacing the cigarette with another first.The doctor will advise a diet, select sedatives, antidepressants, monitor blood pressure and monitor changes in different phases.
• Coding, hypnosis.It affects the subconscious, the objective is to develop a conditioned reflex against smoking.The specialist may place the patient in a state of hypnotic sleep, but this is not necessary.

So, once, my good friend downloaded to his mother, a smoker with almost 30 years of experience, a psychotherapeutic session with the aim of quickly getting rid of the addiction.Mom watched the video, and a few days later the family suddenly realized that she didn't smoke.It doesn't last, I even threw away the opened package.Surprisingly but true: more than 10 years have passed since then.

• Neurolinguistic programming.One of the assumptions (axioms) of NLP is: “Change can be instantaneous”.Various NLP techniques aim to quickly replace negative consciousness with positive ones, reprogramming consciousness.You can contact a psychologist who uses this method.
• Acupuncture.It changes the conditioned reflex, which is smoking.The reflexologist acts on certain points and interrupts the chain of impulses.

You can yourself, whenever you want to smoke, use your finger to massage the point at the front of the throat, in the middle of the hollow at the base of the neck, in the depression.

Press hard until it hurts, count to threeand let go.Repeat 15 times.It is best to do the procedure while sitting or lying down - weakness and dizziness may occur due to a decrease in pressure.

• Abrupt abolition of cigarettes in a new environment, with a change.Set up in a remote location without access to cigarettes or travel with non-smoking friends.In a month you can change: clean yourself up and get used to not smoking.Radical and effective.
• Throwing himself into work, sports and creativity.Participation in congresses, festivals, competitions, etc.You need a calendar with no days off, a busy schedule to quit smoking.The goal is to make it interesting, so you're less likely to remember your habit — sorry, addiction.
• Restructuring of consciousness: passion for spiritual teachings, healthy lifestyle, departure to an ecovillage, pilgrimage to holy places and so on.One of my friends stopped smoking, allowing himself to be carried away by Torsunov's lectures, Ayurveda and Krishnaism.Many years have passed since then, she has ceased to be Hare Krishna, is neutral towards religions, but still does not smoke.

Here it is important to monitor your own ceiling, that is, your psyche;one runs the risk of becoming an adherent, a sectarian, a hostage to black teaching.But in general it is an effective way;It is no surprise that in rehabilitation centers they often exchange alcohol or drug addiction for adherence to a religion.

• Substitutes: Electronic cigarette.The method is controversial.Now they say that using it is harmful, the substances contained in it are toxic and the effect of cigarettes itself as a way to stop smoking is small.However, there are people whom it has really helped.Nicotine gum, pills, patches, hookah, herbal cigars, vaporizers and the like.Allan Carr categorically urges you to stop smoking immediately, once and for all, and forget about these cigarette substitutes.But, as practice shows, many people use them successfully.For example, the colleague mentioned at the beginning of the material stopped smoking, gradually reducing the number of cigarettes, while taking the popular anti-smoking pills.He had a powerful motivation.Therefore, you can choose any method, just stick to your decision to get rid of cigarettes forever.
• Give up - that's all.An old friend of mine, a former heavy smoker with 20 years of experience, did just that - without books, techniques, gum or e-cigarettes.And he doesn't believe it's difficult to deal with alone.After all, the main thing is to decide!

Advice for the brave

What time to start a new life?There is an opinion that if a cigarette helps you relax after hard work, you should give it up on vacation, when you are not yet stressed.If, on the contrary, you are used to smoking on vacation, then during the period of abstinence you need to load yourself with activities as much as possible.

Another approach- on the contrary, choose a situation that makes your head spin to understand: if you survived so much stress without cigarettes, you can continue living without it.The same Carr, having gone through these options, came to the conclusion that there is no need to choose the time, so as not to procrastinate and not make a mistake.The best time is NOW.

1. If possible, remove anything related to smoking from your sight, hearing and smell.Get rid of ashtrays, lighters, cigarettes.
2. If you decide to give up gradually, buy a pack only after finishing the previous one.Do not accept blocks.Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day.Only smoke the cigarette halfway and do not take deep drags.Wash your hands, change your clothes so you don't smell tobacco.
3. Try to consciously be in a balanced state, avoid stressful situations.
4. Try to be interested in something.If you already have a hobby, dedicate more time to it.
5. Provide yourself with pleasant physical activity: slow jog in the morning, gymnastics, fitness, yoga, wushu...
6. Breathing exercises have proven to be excellent in combating smoking.Try yoga breathing or other similar practices.They help to saturate the body with oxygen, calm the mind and soul.It is best to train with a trainer first - he will make sure you do the exercises correctly.
7. Massage and meditation will also help you relax and have fun without using nicotine.
8. Avoid places and companies where people smoke, try not to breathe the smoke.But do not go to extremes, so as not to leave society and feel lonely.If your friends smoke, that's no reason to avoid or envy them, change your attitude towards the situation: you've already freed yourself, but they haven't yet.It's not smoking that gives them pleasure, but they can't enjoy life without a cigarette.
9. Those who have already walked this path say that the first week is the most difficult (but it is quite possible to endure it!), and after three weeks without nicotine the body is cleansed, rebuilt and improvement occurs.

Treat your condition as a mild illness, try not to succumb to the brain's tricks like “just one cigarette”, “it's hard not to smoke now, I'll choose a more appropriate time to quit”.Keep a diary: “I stopped smoking – the consequences during the day”.Observe how you feel and record the result: a week, a month, three without poisoning yourself.

If it's difficult to quit smoking instantly, try this scheme:

The first 10 days – 15 cigarettes per day.
Another 20 days - 10 cigarettes.
Next month - no more than five pieces a day.
Then, each week, reduce the number of “nicotine sticks” smoked by exactly one piece.As a result, in three months you will reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to zero.

Review your diet

In general, sweets help to overcome drug addiction, but choose slow carbohydrates, such as fruit (instead of sweets).

• Drink more clean water - it cleanses the body and reduces nicotine cravings.
• Be sure to eat honey - mix a teaspoon in a glass of water in the morning and drink it on an empty stomach.
• Replenish vitamin C reserves - nicotine removes it from the body.Juices from citrus fruits and blackcurrants will replenish your supply of this vitamin and help in your anti-smoking campaign.
• Avoid alcohol and coffee.Eat less spicy, smoked and salty foods - all this provokes smoking.Recommendedliver, boiled potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, peanuts, peas, beans, bread, sea fish, carrots and other products with a low content of nicotinic acid.

Thus, it became known as numbing the urge to smoke.cold (!) saladboiled potatoes, fried eggplants and fresh tomatoes.

• Take it with you and chew it whenever you want to smoke: cheese “lace” (if you want, on a pack of cigarettes, just pay attention to the calories so you don't gain weight);pineapple - fresh or candied without sugar;nuts, seeds (preferably pumpkin seeds);dried fruits.
• Drink milk - now it is due to you “for its harmfulness”, it cleanses the lungs, throat and bronchi.
• Passing lemon and honey through a meat grinder (1:1) will also help eliminate the effects of smoking.For a month, eat a tablespoon before meals.

How to reduce the urge to smoke - popular advice

1. Chew horseradish and banana (fresh leaves in equal amounts).The juice must be swallowed and the vegetables spat out.Do not drink or eat.Repeat several times a day.

For the same purpose, use ginger, calamus root, a sprig of fresh cherry or turnip.

2. Before smoking, dip your cigarette in some fermented milk (kefir, yogurt, etc.).Smoking will be unpleasant, the habit will weaken.
3. The old way is to mix dry oats with tobacco.
4. Pour boiling water (1 liter) over oats, rye, corn and barley (all 100 g) and heat for 8-10 minutes.Strain the broth and place it in a thermos.It will be ready in one day.Drink half a glass 3-5 times a day before meals.

Oatmeal is generally very good for withdrawal (withdrawal) symptoms.Perfectly restores vitality, soothes, improves sleep and instills aversion to nicotine.

There are many cooking recipes.Before going to bed, you can grind the grains (1 tablespoon) and add ice water (2 cups).In the morning, boil and drink instead of tea.

5. Decoction: St. John's wort (1 tablespoon), wild rosemary (0.5 tablespoon), boiling water (600 ml).Keep on low heat for 20 minutes.Then dilute half with water.Sugar, honey or jam - to taste.This tea is drunk 5 to 7 times a day, but you should not drink it late at night.The admission course is one month.Attention: it is dangerous to use in pregnant women and while breastfeeding, patients with tuberculosis and people whose skin reacts to the sun.

Attention: it is dangerous to use in pregnant women and while breastfeeding, patients with tuberculosis and people whose skin reacts to the sun.

6. Add chicory, nettle, mint and valerian to black tea (2:1:1:1:1 ratio).Use as tea.
7. Take equal proportions of black currant leaves, oregano and mint.Make an infusion in a thermos (5 tablespoons per liter of boiling water).Drink 100 ml 30 minutes before meals.The course lasts one month.
8. Eucalyptus (1 tablespoon of leaves) plus boiling water (400 ml).After an hour, add glycerin and honey (1 tablespoon each) to the resulting infusion.Drink a quarter cup 4-5 times a day for a month.
9. Burdock juice mixed with water.Drink before bed for a month.

By the way, burdock is actively used in the treatment of cancer patients, so it is useful from all sides.

10. And finally, the most exotic way.You need to take the crayfish, dry it in the shade and then grind it into powder.A small amount of this powder is mixed with tobacco and smoked.After that, even the most avid smoker should forget about his addiction.

Good luck and may the Force be with you!