Quit Smoking
Trying to quit smoking is a desire for many smokers but as many know it is not that easy to achieve. The nicotine contained in cigarettes has addictive qualities that are difficult to overcome for all but those with the strongest willpower. Surprisingly the addictive nature of nicotine can be greater than that of many narcotics.
If you are like many who are seeking an easy way to quit smoking you will realize that will power alone will not cut it. Even with the latest quit smoking drugs that are available unless you are seriously committed to stop smoking then you may still fail. An essential component is a support system of some kind either in the form of an instructional guide to help to stop smoking or help from friends and family members.
A key element is in understanding a smokers' behaviour and why they enjoy smoking cigarettes in certain situations. A person may associate smoking with a cup of coffee in the morning, reading the newspaper, lingering after a meal or any number of occasions that the smoker may mentally have a strong association with the urge to light up.
The best way to quit smoking is first of all to change your environment. Begin by throwing out any cigarettes and ashtrays in you home, car, or at your place of work. Have a goal - set a quit smoking by now date. Circle it on your calendar and make sure that when you reach that date that you are no longer smoking. Some of the more common situations that people associate with their smoking behaviour include drinking, being in the company of fellow smokers and feeling stressed. If at all possible you should try and avoid these situations.
Over recent times there has been whole market of smoking cessation products that have emerged to help people quit smoking for good. One of the more popular "stop smoking aids" is the nicotine patch which is freely available over the counter along with nicotine gum. Other smoking cessation aids which are classed as quit smoking drugs and require a prescription include nicotine nasal sprays, nicotine inhalers, as well as quit smoking pills.
These quit smoking medication type products act as excellent stop smoking aids in order to be successful you also require support in the form of some kind of guide or counseling and help from family or friends.From the very start you must be resolute and have the commitment to quit smoking forever. Make the decision to quit smoking right now and do whatever it takes within your power in order to stop smoking.
But why you should quit smoking? Well the evidence now that smoking is directly responsible for a number of life threatening diseases is overwhelming. A large proportion of smokers would like to quit smoking but a comparatively small number succeed.
Nicotine is similar to other narcotics in that you can experience symptoms of withdrawal when your body is not getting the quantity of the drug it has become used to. The other insidious thing about cigarettes is that they are very effective delivery system for the drug, being able to transport the nicotine very quickly via the lungs to the brain.
One popular way to stop smoking is by the use of nicotine Gum.This smoke cessation product involves chewing a special gum that has been impregnated with nicotine that is released into the bloodstream via the lining of the mouth.
This is chewed with a deliberate action until you you become aware of a tingling sensation and a peppery taste. At this point the gum is then positioned between the cheek and gum until the taste or tingling has disappeared.
Another popular stop smoking product is the nicotine patch. This resembles a bandage and is applied to a an area of dry, clean, skin for a specified period of time. The patch varies in it's effectiveness with individuals and is not recommended for people with skin problems or allergies to adhesive tape.
Yet another quit smoking product is the nicotine nasal spray. This is inhaled into the nose from a spray applicator where it is absorbed into the bloodstream via the nasal linings. Unfortunately, the drawback with this method is that the nasal and sinus membranes can become irritated by the spray. For this reason it's use is not recommended for people with nasal or sinus problems, allergies, or asthma.
Other quit smoking aids include the nicotine inhaler. With this device the nicotine passes from a plastic cartridge in the device through a mouthpiece and into the mouth. The nicotine is delivered into the mouth and throat where it is absorbed into the bloodstream via the mucous membranes. But again there are side effects with this smoking cessation product as it has been associated with coughs and throat irritation. If you suffer from any chest problems such as asthma you should be aware of this potential health problem.
Most people looking for help to quit smoking use nicotine replacement products. They work by alleviating some of the withdrawal symptoms by introducing small quantities of nicotine into the body. Nicotine replacement products are generally available as nicotine lozenges, nicotine patch, nicotine gum or nicotine inhaler. Although these quit smoking nicotine products introduce nicotine into the blood, they have the benefit of not introducing tar and carbon monoxide into your system that are the things that make cigarette smoke so dangerous.
There are now pills to stop smoking which claim to reduce withdrawal symptoms but do not contain nicotine. Unfortunately some of the drugs contained in these pills can have side effects. One of the drugs leave the user with a dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, shakiness, and skin rash. Another drug used in a popular quit smoking pill can bring on seizures that may involve convulsions and even loss of consciousness.
As you can see many of the smoking cessation products are limited in their effectiveness or have undesirable side effects which would mitigate against there use. A new approach is in the use of quit-smoking programs and self-help products which tackle the problem at the root - the mental addiction to smoking and have the added benefit of not having any undesirable side effects. A popular product of this type is the "Easy Quit System".
The author of this system that 96 % of the people that have used his system not only learn how to stop smoking but actually learn how to stop ever wanting to smoke again. The author of this information product explains that smoking is a learned responses which is so engrained that there is no way of escaping the problem without help. His system is a method used by psychologists and psychiatrists to get patients off heroin, cocaine, alcohol and other highly addictive drugs.
The therapy is called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT and is used to change the way someone thinks about what they do and why they do it. It is easy to follow because it breaks down the problem of smoking into easily solved parts. You can read more about this unusual approach to quit smoking here.