Ways To Quit Smoking

By Alan Leach
We are all aware these days of the dangers of smoking. It seems like almost weekly, new research provides further evidence of why smoking is a bad idea. Not only does it reduce your life expectancy, it gives you bad breath and stained teeth, it can cause infertility, it makes your clothes and hair smell terrible, and it makes you more susceptible to colds and flu. While the list of ill-effects of smoking is endless, most smokers are aware of just how difficult it is to actually quit smoking.

There are numerous ways to quit smoking. In fact, it seems like a whole industry has developed, specifically selling products which the manufacturers claim can help you to quit. These products include such items as nicotine gums and patches. The idea behind such products is straightforward. Continue to receive that much needed hit of nicotine while breaking the tactile habit of holding and smoking a cigarette. Then, over time, gradually reduce your dosage of nicotine till eventually the cravings disappear completely.

For others, who want to make a clean break from tobacco and nicotine for good, the best way might be to go cold-turkey. Decide on a specific time and date. For now, don’t tell those nearest and dearest to you about your plan, as it creates additional pressures that you could do without. When you have smoked your last cigarette, remove all smoking paraphernalia from your surroundings, including tobacco, lighters, and ash trays. Some people say you should fill up an empty jar with the contents of the ash tray, half fill it with water and screw the lid firmly shut. Once you have quit, take a daily sniff of the contents. While in the first few days it might not smell too bad, once your sense of smell has started to return, a good hearty snort of the jar is likely to see you dashing to the bathroom to throw up! While these shock tactics might not work for all, for some people they may wonder why on earth they had ever smoked before.

While going cold-turkey is the simplest and cheapest way to quit smoking, for many the will power necessary makes it too difficult. For such people, there are alternative therapies that might help. Acupuncture has often been mentioned as a useful addition to the arsenal of wannabe ex-smokers. Although such therapy can be expensive, if it helps to permanently break the cycle it will pay for itself countless times over. Basically, acupuncture works by sowing negative feelings towards cigarettes into your subconscious, with the result that even the slightest whiff of cigarette smoke may induce feelings of nausea. Research suggests the success rate of acupuncture is mixed, though if you have exhausted other options it might present a possible solution.

Finally, and as strange as it may seem, possibly the best way to quit smoking is simply to try to quit smoking. Evidence suggests few smokers are able to quit the first time. For many, the resulting feelings of guilt and self-loathing mean they increase their nicotine intake as a form of therapy. Accept that quitting smoking is difficult, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you fail the first time. Many of the best things in life require patience, hard work and determination and giving up the evil weed is no different. The old adage applies, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. - More Ways To Quit Smoking

See Also:
Other Quit Smoking Tips

Techniques To Quiting Smoking

Copyright © 2005-2006 HowToSite.Net and Accelerated Software Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Any proprietary content contained in this document may not be copied in part or full without express written permission from the publisher.
Contact Us | Terms of Use