Quitting smoking can be a difficult challenge, unless you make use of a proven strategy. It’s good to know that there are numerous quit smoking methods that you can try to increase your success rate. Let’s talk about the seven best ways to quit.
Medication
A quit smoking drug called Chantix is a clinically proven method to reduce cigarette cravings. The drug works by blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain, which results to a significant decrease in the pleasurable effects of cigarettes.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
NRT comes in different forms such as nicotine patches, gums, nasal sprays, inhalers and lozenges. This method of quitting smoking uses a small dose of nicotine to suppress cigarette cravings and relieve symptoms of withdrawal.
Taper method
This quit smoking strategy involves cutting down on cigarettes. For example, if you normally smoke 10 cigarettes per day, you may want to reduce it to 8 for a week then lower it down to 5 for another week. However, a date should be set when you will need to stop smoking altogether. The taper method should help you cut back on smoking for no more than 2 weeks.
Counseling
Studies suggest that counseling can be an effective smoking cessation method. There are psychotherapists who specialize in helping clients get over an addiction which is considered a psychological illness. If you are not comfortable talking to a therapist in-person, you can always subscribe to online counseling centers for quitting smoking.
Self-Help Books
The book “Easy Way to Quit Smoking” by Allen Carr has helped over 9 million smokers in quitting their lifelong habit. This book uses a very friendly and practical approach to helping you quit. The author said you don’t even have to stop smoking while reading it. There are other self-help books that give you insights and information needed to successfully quit smoking.
Hypnosis
During hypnosis, both the conscious and the subconscious mind work together to overcome the barriers that hold you back from quitting successfully. This method can be an effective method to stop smoking now but it must be done with the guidance of a professional hypnotherapist.
Alternative Therapies
While there is lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of alternative treatments for quitting smoking, many smokers swear by their benefits. Some of the popular therapies used by smokers are acupuncture, laser therapy and electro-stimulation.
Quitting Cold Turkey
There are people who can stop smoking even without the use of any medical intervention. The moment they decide to quit, they just throw all the cigarettes away and presto – they’ve successfully quit! But in the background lies the truth – quitting cold turkey requires extreme willpower, perseverance and sheer determination to eradicate the habit. It also necessitates planning and identifying the factors that may reduce your risk of success.
Other than using a proven strategy to quit, it is equally important to make sure that you have a strong willpower to go through this challenge. Thousands of people have already quit. If they have done it, so can you!
