Smoking is not only a bad habit—it’s a dangerous addiction that can affect you for life if you don’t quit. It’s extremely hazardous both to your physical and mental well-being. In fact, smoking cigarettes has been found to cause an increase in blood pressure, raises your risk of stroke and getting cancer, such as lung cancer and breast cancer. Several kinds of respiratory illnesses are also caused directly by smoking and long-term exposure to cigarette smoke. Apart from these health conditions, it also affects the functioning of the endocrine system and may cause the nervous and reproductive systems to malfunction. Aside from this, smoking is also a contributing factor to the deaths of thousands of people in the United States every year.
Although numerous campaigns have urged people to stop smoking, quitting the habit is not easy and requires considerable effort. It’s not an overnight process and can even take up to a year to completely give up. If you’re determined to quit, try as much as possible to go for the treatment method that’s most suitable for you. However, success can be achieved with a consistent and determined effort. There are different ways to help you quit smoking, such as:
1. Set A Quit Date
If you’ve been planning to stop your addiction to cigarettes, now would probably be a good time to give it up completely. Kicking the smoking habit is beneficial to your overall health. When you decide how to quit smoking, you must set a quit date. This date should not be set too soon, as it can make you extremely anxious. The first thing you can do after setting a quit date is to cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day. Next, you should choose another cessation method like a vape starter kit to support your goals.
2. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
The most popular method to beat nicotine addiction is through NRT or non-traditional treatments. The basic principle of NRT is that your body needs nicotine to function normally. By stopping your body’s reliance on these substances, you can reduce the craving for cigarettes. Nicotine is present in every drag of a cigarette, which makes it extremely difficult to completely give up smoking. NRT works by reducing the cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
3. Use Stop Smoking Aids
As previously mentioned, the best way to beat your addiction to cigarettes is to find a cessation method that will work for you.
- A popular option among smokers who want to quit is electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes not only help you fight your addiction to smoking, but they are also much more affordable than the real thing.
- One of the newest methods to help you quit smoking is called “vaping”. It consists of placing a special electronic liquid into your hand and having it vaporize without the need to light a cigarette. Doing so makes it more similar to the act of smoking without the harmful chemicals that can hurt your health. There’s a wide variety of vape juices in the market but you should only use those from top brands like Vape and Juice.
4. Try Behavioral Therapy
Another alternative method to quit smoking is through hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy has been around for years as a way to relieve anxiety, sleep disorders, addictions, and even pain. There are various types of hypnotherapy available, but they all essentially work in the same way: you’re exposed to suggestive images or words, and then you are encouraged to start to picture them in your mind. If you can envision yourself smoking, then you can stop smoking.
Hypnotherapy is often used by smokers trying to break their addiction. Facilities that offer hypnotherapy treatments for smoking cessation have seen a great rate of success because of their effectivity. Of course, it’s not guaranteed, but if you make an appointment at a hypnotherapy clinic, you may be able to get the answers you need.
Counseling sessions are also often recommended when a smoker decides that he or she wants to quit. Quitting is never easy, and when you’re surrounded by friends and family who smoke and enjoy drinking, it can be tempting to continue. Counseling helps you deal with those feelings, as well as dealing with the physical withdrawal symptoms of smoking.
5. Help Others Quit
Since it’s not healthy to have cigarettes or any form of tobacco in your system, it’s imperative to spread the word. Participate in local and national stop-smoking programs. These programs will not only help you overcome your cravings but also give you a sense of community and purpose, which will motivate you to stay away from cigarettes for good.
Takeaway
If you are looking for ways on how to quit smoking cigarettes, then you may want to consider the above-mentioned tips. Each one of these will aid you in your quest to live a healthier life, free from the dangerous effects of firsthand or even secondhand smoking. It will take time and patience, and you should expect to go through some tough times before you reach a successful point. Just remember that many people have been in a position like yours who have successfully quit smoking. If they can do it, so can you. Make the right choices for your own sake, and find an effective method to help you in your quest.