Everyone knows that smoking is a serious health hazard. However, not everyone can get rid of addiction, since nicotine is very addictive and addictive. But if a person decided to get rid of cravings for cigarettes, stopping causing serious harm to his health and the health of those around him, it is worth remembering that there are many ways to help cope with smoking and forever abandon addiction. A person needs to choose the best way to quit smoking, which is right for him.
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
In order to create an incentive to fight smoking, you need to understand the benefits of quitting this addiction and think about the bonuses that a person gets by refusing another cigarette. The advantages of a nicotine-free life include the following:
- normalization of the nervous system, reduced irritability;
- restoration of taste and smell;
- improvement of the circulatory system, as a result, improvement of the cardiovascular system;
- decrease in the level of carbon dioxide in the blood;
- reduced risk of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke;
- reduced risk of cancer;
- improving brain oxygen supply;
- improving the condition of the skin, complexion;
- the disappearance of shortness of breath;
- increase in lung volume;
- increase body stamina;
- the disappearance of headaches and the cough inherent in smokers;
- increased protective reactions of the body.
In addition, by quitting smoking, a person ceases to harm the health of the people around him, who, against their will, became passive smokers and inhaled cigarette smoke.
The most popular ways to combat nicotine addiction
Among the many existing methods of combating smoking, it is worth highlighting the main ways to quit smoking, a review of which will help to study the subtleties of this or that option. And they are not so few. A person will only have to choose the best way to quit smoking, which is right for him.
- Therapy based on nicotine replacement.
- Aversive therapy.
- Effects on nicotinic receptors.
- The use of methods of psychotherapy.
- Using alternative medicine methods.
- Taking antidepressants.
- Without auxiliary means, by willpower alone.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Many smokers who were able to defeat the cravings for nicotine noted that the best way to quit smoking quickly is to use nicotine replacement therapy. The effectiveness of this method is due to the fact that both the physiological and behavioral aspects of the smoking process are taken into account. When using drugs belonging to the nicotine replacement group, harmless nicotine enters the body in very small doses. Thus, the withdrawal syndrome disappears, and the process of quitting cigarettes is much faster, and most importantly, simpler.
The main advantage of this method is that a person receives nicotine, to which he is accustomed, but without the emission of tobacco smoke, which is the cause of health problems. Gradually, the amount of pure nicotine consumed is reduced, and a person calmly completes the course of getting rid of addiction, without unnecessary irritability, energy costs and all kinds of side effects.
The therapy is carried out using special means, which include nicotine, which can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription:
- chewing gum;
- nicotine patch;
- nasal spray;
- Electronic Cigarette.
Narcologists are skeptical about electronic cigarettes. In their opinion, the smoker does not unlearn the process, but switches to a more modern form of nicotine consumption. Before you start using this or that remedy, you should carefully study the contraindications, a list of side effects and dosage.
Inverse therapy
A group of people who managed to defeat addiction, along with narcologists, argue that using aversive therapy is the best way to quit smoking forever. The essence of therapy is the use of drugs that contribute to the appearance of aversion to smoking itself.
One of the most common methods of aversive therapy is rinsing the oral cavity with liquids, which, when reacted with tobacco smoke, contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant odor that causes a persistent feeling of disgust. The main components of the product are solutions of silver nitrate and copper sulfate. A solution of silver nitrate is recommended to lubricate the surface of the tongue and gums before lighting another cigarette.
As an effective tool, solutions that contain tannin, glycerin and water are also suitable. A good result is shown by the methods of conditioned reflex vomiting from smoking addiction, which are carried out using solutions of copper sulfate and zinc sulfate, as well as apomorphine, emethine hydrochloride, and thermopsis grass.
Effects on nicotine receptors - an effective way to combat nicotine addiction
This is perhaps one of the best ways to quit smoking. This method is based on the use of drugs that help a person survive nicotine hunger during the fight against cigarette addiction. The composition of such drugs includes cytisine, varenicline, bupropion.
Means, the component of which is cytisine, have a nicotine-like effect. But at the same time there is no addictive effect. This effect of the drug helps to reduce the feeling of pleasure from a cigarette just smoked. Accordingly, the desire to smoke subsequent cigarettes will gradually fade away. In addition, due to the use of such drugs, the person dulls the symptoms caused by a lack of nicotine in the body, which helps to more easily survive crisis moments in the process of refusing addiction.
Psychotherapist's help in treatment for nicotine addiction
People turn to the help of a psychotherapist if it is not possible to get rid of addiction on their own, and all the best ways to quit smoking at home have not yielded results.
In order to get rid of the addiction to smoking, in psychotherapy there are two groups of methods:
- group (group psychotherapy);
- individual (hypnosis, acupuncture, chemotherapy, etc.).
A highly qualified specialist not only helps to get rid of cravings for cigarettes, but also develop motivation to maintain the achieved result, in order to avoid breakdowns in the future.
For many people, turning to a specialist is considered the best way to quit smoking, since the therapy is carried out under the supervision of a psychotherapist and does not pose any threat to the patient’s mental state.
Alternative Medicine - Anti-Smoking Assistant
For people who are skeptical of nicotine replacement drugs sold in pharmacies, the best way to quit smoking is to use alternative medicine methods. Studies have shown that more than 35% of Americans who struggle with addiction use precisely the methods of alternative medicine.
These options include:
- inhalation with essential oils;
- playing sports;
- full immersion in your favorite work;
- favorite hobby;
- hypnosis, meditation, yoga and other oriental practices;
- acupuncture;
- replacing nicotine-containing chewing gum with a slice of lime, etc.
Antidepressant medication
This is not a separate method of getting rid of addiction, but a means of getting rid of severe mental conditions that accompany a person in the process of quitting cigarettes or after quitting completely.
Taking drugs is not necessary for everyone, but only for those people who have for a long time been experiencing symptoms of depression such as reluctance to leave the house (retreat), causeless tearfulness, lack of appetite, and insomnia.
If you have the above symptoms, you should immediately contact a therapist to get the necessary appointments and treatment regimen. Antidepressants are prescribed only by a specialist, based on the patient's condition.
Willpower - the only assistant in the fight against nicotine addiction
Many people believe that the best way to quit smoking is to train your own willpower. It is believed that three weeks are needed to completely get rid of the craving for smoking. During this time, a man in every possible way tries to calm himself and motivate him to continue the struggle against addiction.
He can independently develop for himself a system of motives that will help to avoid disruptions on the way to the long-awaited disposal of cravings for cigarettes.
The use of literature as an assistant in the fight against smoking
Some people who decide to get rid of addiction resort to special literature. Many use Allen Carr's well-known book, The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. People who chose this edition noted that this is the best way to quit smoking. The reviews are based on the personal experience of people from all over the world. This literature has really helped many heavy smokers. The best way to quit smoking is not highlighted here. Allen Carr describes the instructions in great detail and gives recommendations. They just need to be followed to get rid of the need to smoke a cigarette forever.
It is worth noting that the book is the best way to quit smoking only if you carefully follow the advice of the author and do not make any adjustments to the author’s methods.
Environmental support is an added incentive
It is very important in the difficult period of quitting smoking to enlist the support of loved ones and relatives. Even if a person has chosen the best way to quickly quit a bad habit, the support of the environment is simply necessary. You can join a special society of people who quit smoking. They share their own experiences and talk about their methods of getting rid of bad habits. As a rule, when a person who has decided to get rid of craving for cigarettes sees the successes of other people, he not only wants to achieve the same results, but also surpass them. This additionally stimulates and forces one to refuse another cigarette when there is a need to smoke.