There is probably no smoker who has not at least once tried to quit smoking. Unfortunately, few people manage to do it on the first try. What can help once and for all to break away from bad habits?
Psychological addiction
Smoking forms not only physiological, but also psychological dependence. It is believed that the craving for nicotine itself disappears within a month after the last cigarette is smoked. However, many who return to smoking after a longer period of time, feel the body needs a dose of nicotine.
This is because the brain tricks the body into repurchasing a pack of cigarettes and taking a puff. Smoking is a kind of conditioned reflex. One gets used to smoking while relaxing or to relieve tension, and a cup of coffee with a cigarette becomes a common morning ritual.
How to help yourself get rid of psychological addiction? The first thing you can try to do is replace one ritual with another. For example, instead of smoking during a break from work, drink a cup of green tea.
If the smoker works at home instead of in the office, the urge to smoke can be reduced by exercising, such as doing some sit-ups. In addition, when there is a desire to inhale, you can make it a habit to brush your teeth. Of course, in the beginning you need to do this regularly, but this trick helps a lot to "trick" the brain, replacing one ritual with another.
It is very helpful to quit smoking not only, but with like -minded people. For example, there are forums on the Internet where people inspire each other to abandon bad habits. There you can start a special counter that shows how long a person has not smoked and how much money he or she has saved.
This creates a clear motivation to quit smoking, because in a month it will become noticeable that quitting smoking has saved you a huge amount that can be spent on something fun.
Sometimes people who quit smoking are "tempted" by others, for example, coworkers at work who claim that it is impossible to quit smoking because they themselves were unsuccessful, or remind the person of his or her unsuccessful attempts in the past.
It is advisable not to laugh at it, but ask others not to utter such words. They can actually lead to the fact that a person’s motivation decreases and there is a lack of self-confidence. In addition, any unnecessary smoking reminders lead to a desire to take at least one puff.
Helps to quit smoking without the presence in the zone of vision of objects reminiscent of cigarettes. It is better to throw ashtrays and lighters out of the house and wash clothes that smell of tobacco smoke.
Physiological addiction
Getting rid of physiological dependence can be quite difficult, some people in the early days may experience a condition that resembles withdrawal. To facilitate withdrawal from nicotine, you should see a doctor who will give you a prescription for a special pill that helps relieve the symptoms of quitting smoking. In addition, chewing gum or fillings can be purchased at any pharmacy, which contain small amounts of nicotine and make it easier to cope with withdrawal symptoms.
If a person does not feel well after deciding to quit smoking, a hot shower can help relieve tension.
You can get a massage or start taking a mild sedative. It is especially important to find ways to relieve tension in the early days, when the urge to smoke will be felt most strongly.