Do You Want to Become a Non Smoker?
As the famous saying goes:’ where there is a will there is a way ‘; any individual who has the determination to quit smoking, can easily come out of the habit. However the question asked by thousands of people across the world every year is how to quit smoking. Smoking in the due course of time becomes an addiction. So getting out of a habit might be easy but getting out of an addiction might not be that easy. However with a strong will power and control, getting rid of an addiction is also achievable.
So with the right commitment in place, one can get over the smoking habit or addiction. To start with, a smoker should ask himself or herself why and how much they really want to stop smoking. Initially, to make a beginning, one can start penning down some of the vital points such as the reasons to quit smoking. These questions and answers have to be written down in a dairy for keeps. Once there is clarity about why the person wants to stop smoking, the kind of commitment and motivation will be much more highly reinforced and the chances of success will rise.
The next thing that a smoker has to write down in the dairy will be the date to quit smoking. Most people give themselves that time frame and decide on a specific date that might or might not be of importance, so that they can slowly cut own on the number of cigarettes they smoke in a day. The other reason for giving that time would be to clear the place off any cigarettes or related things like the ash tray and so on. They will also need that time to announce to their friends and relatives about their decision to quit smoking so that they would be in a position to understand their mood swings for the first few weeks of quitting smoking.
As mentioned earlier, smoking is an addiction so when a person is deprived off something that involves both the physical and emotional needs, there will be a revolt from the body and mind. However, there are many methods to combat this effect on a person. Fortunately one can see the bigger picture there are other better ways, options and choices one can make to continue to feel good without damaging the body by smoking cigarettes. Now to over come the mental and physical urge to smoke, all one has to do is to keep writing in the dairy that he or she is a non-smoker. This is a method of positive reinforcement. By repeating the same lines, it gets imbibed in the body and mind of an individual.
Irrespective of whether a person uses any of the techniques like Nicotine Replacement Therapy, Hypnosis or just Cold Turkey, to quit smoking, it is up to an individual to ensure that these methods really enhance the process of quitting smoking by constantly writing down the positives of not smoking and to keep telling oneself that he or she is a non – smoker .The more effort a person puts into these exercises, the easier it is to stop smoking for good.
Finally, to pen down in the dairy, one can think now of all the reasons that he or she doesn’t like smoking, the reasons that it’s bad and the reasons for a person to stop smoking completely. The key words can be written down in the dairy .Then, on the other side of the dairy, one can write down all the reasons as to why a person will feel good when he or she has succeeded in stopping. Once this is done, a person will definitely feel healthier, and in control of his or her own self. Eventually, when a person quits smoking for good, the senses are enhanced, the hair and clothes will smell fresher and finally the person will feel like a new and better person than what he or she used to be when they smoked. Penning down all these vital information will always come in handy when there is a small urge down below to smoke. Thus writing these aspects in a dairy is of utmost importance.
Alternate Methods for Stopping Your Smoking Addiction
Cigarette smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break, however it is not impossible. The nicotine in the cigarettes has the tendency to provide the kick and in a due course of time, pulls the individual into smoking cigarette as a habit. The more conventional methods, like nicotine patches and gum, can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. In addition, alternative methods to stop smoking have been developed with the same aims in mind. These techniques work to change the behavioural and physiological processes associated with the nicotine experience.
Nicotine addiction is a powerful habit that alters the brain's chemical processes. Alternative smoking-cessation methods are designed to recondition the brain chemistry and redirect corresponding behaviours associated with the experience of nicotine.
Many alternative smoking-cessation methods focus on changing the behaviours associated with smoking. By changing these behaviours, the brain's association with the experience will change accordingly. Other common behavioural approaches involve reducing the amount of nicotine in the system at a gradual rate, in an attempt to wean smokers from nicotine dependence.
Scheduled smoking is one of many alternative technique used to stop smoking. This process involves setting up a "pre-plan" that lists specific times of the day for smoking a cigarette. With each successive day or week nicotine intake is reduced, which allows the body to adapt to a reduced nicotine level. Techniques that attempt to replace the pleasant experience associated with smoking with unpleasant sensations are known as aversive-therapy methods. Another form of aversive technique involves administering electro-shocks as participants go through the motions of smoking a cigarette, from the moment they pick up the pack until the last puff is taken. Silver acetate, a substance that makes nicotine taste bad, is also used as an aversive form of therapy.
Other, methods are hypnosis therapy and acupuncture. Hypnosis involves using the power of suggestion within a relaxed state of consciousness. This method has shown some success, though results are varied. The acupuncture technique makes use of small needles placed on specific areas of the body. This is done to stimulate the release of certain brain chemicals, and reduce cravings and symptoms of withdrawal.
While administering the smoking alternatives, people tend to experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, lack of concentration, restlessness and so on .Nicotine-replacement therapies deal specifically with the withdrawal experiences, while reducing nicotine intake and quenching the body's cravings. There are also herbal remedies available in the market, however individuals who want to try this herb should seek the approval of a health professional because it might produce an allergic reaction and interact with other drugs.
Regular exercise may improve blood flow and help individuals deal with tensions and stress in life without cigarettes. Studies show that moderate exercise like 30 minutes of jogging and brisk walking may bring many health benefits. In addition to exercise, eating regular meals and cutting down fat in one’s diet may aid in the management of blood sugar changes associated in quitting smoking. A good body massage may also aid in promoting better moods and less anxiety which may lead to fewer and less nicotine cravings
Regardless of the method a person opts for, a certain amount of determination is needed to make any attempt to stop smoking worthwhile. The amount of will power and adhering to the decision of stopping to smoke is absolutely necessary to make any method successful. Thus with the right tools and attitude, quitting smoking can be easier than thought.
