There are many different ways to quit smoking. They have been tested by many people suffering from nicotine addiction. For some the methods were successful, others could write a book "10 ways to quit smoking quickly", but still can not part with a cigarette. Breaking bad habits is not easy. Here is very important psychological attitude and strong desirethe smoker to get rid of it. It's 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 decide for yourself why you want to do it. Motivations can be as follows:
- Fear of cancer and other pathologies
- Desire to have a healthy baby
- Concern for loved ones suffering from secondhand smoke
- Unpleasant smell of tobacco, which interferes with communication
- Cash costs
- Take care of your own beauty
- Popular opinion.
Motivation may not be one, but several. It is worth choosing the most effective or arrange these points according to the strength of the blow. For many, the motivation is so strong that it is enough to get rid of nicotine addiction on their own, without medication and psychotherapy. If this is not enough for you, you can proceed to the next paragraphs. Determine the circumstances in which you are most attracted to smoking. can be:
- The habit of dragging in the morning, immediately after sleep
- Waiting in traffic jams or at a transport stop
- stressful situations
- Holidays at work
- Smoking cravings in the company of smokers
- Holidays with alcohol
- Intensive mental work
- Positive or negative emotions.
Everyone who smokes can determine these situations on their own. If you want to smoke in the morning, you can replace the cigarette with something else. For example, a slice of apple, a cup of aromatic tea, spend pleasant moments in the shower. It's even easier to deal with waiting in traffic jams, you need to walk more. During the holiday it is better to go out and take a walk. Try to be less in the company of smokers, do not drink alcohol. You can just escape to the desert for a week, where there are no cigarettes and temptations. Some psychologists advise to look 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, he helps people break the vicious circle of psychological dependence. This method is well tested, with its help about 25 million people 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 quit smoking, as did all other fans of the technique.
Another effective way to quit smoking is offered by a biophysicist. He organizes distance video trainings, uses correspondence and does it completely free of charge. The technique is based on finding the patient's true motive for cigarette addiction. If the cause is found, it is not so difficult to overcome. One can benefit from lectures by another specialist, which are based on a detailed account of the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
The psychotherapist uses in his courses the methods of suggestion, NLP, self-hypnosis. He believes that the human mind is "programmed" for a bad habit. To get rid of the habit, you need to change this program. The professor's follower has improved the current methods. He includes relaxing music in psychotherapy sessions, his lectures are more focused on supportingmotivation of a person.
Medical methods
Medical methods of smoking cessation 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 that compete with nicotine. Nicotine-containing medications include:
- Plasters.
- lollipops.
- Chewing gum.
- Inhalers.
- Electronic cigarette.
The patches stick to the skin and release small doses of nicotine. This allows you to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked or stop smoking completely. Approximately the same effect with lollipops and chewing gum. The advantage of inhalers and e-cigarettes is that they are designed as real. Thus, the smoker does not experience not only physical discomfort, but also psychological stress from quitting. These methods have their fans and opponents. Many 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 addiction.
The disadvantage of these drugs is the large number of contraindications and side effects. Only a doctor should prescribe them, choosing the best courses and doses for the patient. Alternatively, various supplements, herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used. They have also proven to be good ways to quit smoking. But the fact is that without the elimination of psychological dependence, no drug helps. Even after adopting them, many people return to the old habit.
Alternative methods
Many people are fond of Eastern philosophy, alternative medicine and consider it quite effective. There are ways to quit smoking forever, based on the healing methods of the Ancient East. They include:
- Acupuncture.
- Breathing exercises.
- meditation.
- Hypnosis.
Acupuncture is an ancient healing technique based on the natural reflexes of the human body. On the skin there are starting points of nerve endings, when you are exposed to them, you can effectively deal with cigarettes and addiction to them. Such techniques are used even in modern neurology, called reflexology. So they have a definite rational grain.
Breathing exercises are a set of exercises practiced by Indian yogis. It is closely related to philosophy. With the help of changed breathing you can adjust your brain to the right thoughts and feelings. Some believe that this is the most effective way to quit smoking forever. But when using it, the attitude and belief that with the help of gymnastics you can part with a cigarette is very important. Meditation, one of the practices of Buddhist monks and Hindus, has a similar principle.
Hypnosis is not a very oriental practice, it was widespread in the West in the last century. The method of suggestion is based on the fact that a person enters a trance. This condition helps to reveal his secret subconscious problems, to inspire certain thoughts and attitudes. Not everyone is susceptible to hypnosis, so you need to have a certain way of thinking, susceptibility to other people's suggestions. The percentage of such people in the total number is not so great.
Folk methods
It is important to remember that any quick way to quit smoking is not a guarantee that you will not start over. The most realistic and reliable method is to set a clear goal, identify the reasons why you smoke, and strictly follow the chosen method. Without motivation and deep introspection, the fight against cigarettes will not be on your side.
There are various 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 folk method as conspiracy, removal of the evil eye and damage, but it is not for everyone. Let's look at a few recipes for herbal tea, which reduces the desire to smoke and is easy to prepare at home. They are quite simple, do not require much time.
Oregano tea
This tea includes oregano, white rose root and coltsfoot leaves. Herbs are taken in the following proportions:
- Sliced white rose root - 2 parts.
- Mother and stepmother - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 1 part.
Mix everything, take from the total mass of 3 tablespoons, pour half a liter of boiling water, stew in a thermos for 1-2 hours. Drink three times a day or when the hand reaches for a cigarette.
Soothing valerian herbs
This tea calms the nerves, irritability, relieves withdrawal when smoking. It includes the following components:
- Sliced valerian root - 4 parts.
- Cumin seeds - 2 parts.
- Medicinal chamomile - 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 at bedtime, one glass. Tea with the following composition has a similar effect:
- Sliced valerian root - 5 parts.
- Clock - 2, 5 parts.
- Mint - 2 parts.
The tea is prepared in the same way as the previous one, but instead of two spoons from the collection, three are taken. Fill with boiling water and drink a glass before bedtime.
Mouthwash
Yarrow infusion well eliminates the desire to drag a cigarette. After rinsing your mouth with this collection, the taste of tobacco becomes very unpleasant. The tea consists of the following components:
- Wormwood - 5 parts.
- Licorice root - 2, 5 parts.
- Yarrow - 2, 5 parts.
One tablespoon is poured a glass of boiling water, insist 2 hours. It is not necessary to drink such tea, it is intended for rinsing the mouth. Blackcurrant leaf tea has a similar effect. To prepare it, take:
- Blackcurrant leaves - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 4 parts.
- Mint - 4 parts.
Three tablespoons of the collection table are poured with 0, 5 liters of boiling water, insist one hour. After rinsing the mouth has a pleasant coolness. If you smoke a cigarette, the taste becomes very nasty. When there is no time or desire to prepare, you can just rinse your mouth with soda, eat a few mint leaves, chew calamus root, the effect will be almost the same.