The ways to quit smoking are very different. They have been tested by many people who suffer from nicotine addiction. For some, the methods were successful, others were able to write a book "10 ways to quickly quit smoking", but still cannot 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 is 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 sufficiently motivated. Before beginning to combat a bad habit, he must determine for himself why he wants to do it. The motivations can be the following:
- Fear of contracting cancer and other pathologies
- Desire to have a healthy baby
- Concern for loved ones suffering from passive smoking
- An unpleasant smell of tobacco that interferes with communication.
- money 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 depending on the force of the impact. For many, the motivation is so strong that it is enough to get rid of nicotine addiction on their own, without drug treatment or psychotherapy. If this is not enough for you, you can continue with the following paragraphs. Determine the circumstances in which you are most attracted to smoking. Could be:
- The habit of dragging in the morning, immediately after sleep.
- Waiting in traffic jams or at a transport stop
- stressful situations
- breaks at work
- Desire for a cigarette in the company of smokers
- booze vacation
- 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, spending pleasant moments in the shower. It is even easier to cope with waiting in traffic jams, you need to walk more. During rest it is better to go outside and take a walk. Try to be less in the company of smokers, do not drink alcohol. You can run away to the desert for a week, where there are no cigarettes and no temptations. Some psychologists advise delving into the problem. After all, cigarette cravings 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 proven, 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 give up cigarettes, as all other fans of the technique have done.
A biophysicist offers another effective way to quit smoking. He organizes remote video trainings, uses correspondence and he does it completely free of charge. The technique is based on finding the real reason for the patient's cigarette addiction. If the cause is found, it is not so difficult to overcome it. Someone may benefit from another specialist's lectures, 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 that the human mind is "wired" for a bad habit. To get rid of the habit, he must change this program. The teacher's follower improved current methods. He included relaxing music in psychotherapy sessions, his lectures are more aimed at supporting a person's motivation.
medical methods
Medical methods for quitting smoking can be divided into two groups. Some are based on the use of products that contain small doses of nicotine. They reduce physical dependence, relieve withdrawal symptoms. Other drugs are substances whose action competes with that of nicotine. Medications that contain nicotine include:
- plasters.
- lollipops
- 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 you smoke or to quit smoking altogether. Approximately the same effect in lollipops and chewing gum. The advantage of inhalers and electronic cigarettes is that they are shaped like the real thing. Thus, the smoker does not experience not only physical discomfort, but also the psychological stress of 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 is relatively new drugs, the action of which is based on the pathogenesis of nicotine addiction.
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 dosage for the patient. As an alternative, various dietary supplements, herbal preparations, and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used. They have also been shown to be good methods for quitting smoking. But the fact is that without the elimination of psychological dependence, not a single drug helps. Even after taking them, many people go back to the old habit.
alternative methods
Many people like Eastern philosophy, alternative medicine and find it quite effective. There are ways to quit smoking cigarettes forever, 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 on the skin, when exposed to them, you can effectively deal with cigarettes and addiction to them. 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 related 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 quit smoking permanently. 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 and Hindu monks, has a similar principle.
Hypnosis is not entirely an Eastern practice, it was widely spread in the West in the last century. The method of suggestion is based on the fact that a person enters a trance. This state helps to reveal your secret subconscious problems, inspires certain thoughts and attitudes. Not everyone is susceptible to hypnosis, for this it is necessary to have a certain mentality, 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 not a guarantee that you won't start again. The most realistic and reliable method is to set a clear goal, identify the reasons why you smoke, and strictly follow your 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, which removes the evil eye and harm, but it is not for everyone. Let's dwell on some recipes for herbal tea, which reduces cravings to smoke and is easy to prepare at home. They are quite simple, they do not require much 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 three times a day, or when the hand reaches for a cigarette.
Valerian Calming Herbs
This tea calms the nerves, irritability, relieves the manifestations of withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking. 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 bedtime, one glass each. A similar effect has tea of the following composition:
- Chopped valerian root - 5 parts.
- Clock - 2, 5 pieces.
- Mint - 2 parts.
The tea is prepared in the same way as the previous one, only instead of two spoons of the collection, three are taken. Pour boiling water and drink a glass before going to bed.
mouthwashes
Infusion with yarrow well eliminates the desire to drag a cigarette. After rinsing the mouth with this collection, the taste of tobacco becomes very unpleasant. Tea consists of the following components:
- Wormwood - 5 parts.
- Licorice root - 2. 5 parts.
- Yarrow - 2. 5 parts.
A table spoon is poured with a glass of boiling water, it is insisted for 2 hours. You do not need to drink such tea, it is intended to rinse your mouth. A similar effect has currant leaf tea. For its preparation take:
- Black currant leaves - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 4 parts.
- Mint - 4 parts.
Three tablespoons of table collection pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water, insist an hour. After rinsing, there is a pleasant freshness in the mouth. If you smoke 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 a couple of mint leaves, chew calamus root, the effect will be almost the same.