Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow to QuitQuitting QuicklyCoping with WithdrawalsRelapse RemindersResources
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How to Quit
Quitting Quickly
Coping with Withdrawals
Relapse Reminders
Resources
Quitting smoking is challenging. You may have heard the term, “quitting nicotine is harder than quitting heroin,” and according to some research, that sentiment is true.
Combining nicotine dependence and the habitual nature of smoking is what makes it such a brutal vice to overcome, but some ways you can quit smoking include:
This article discusses the various quit-smoking aids available, how to get through nicotine withdrawals, and resources to help you when it seems impossible to quit.
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How to Quit Smoking: Goal Setting and Available Options
Smoking tobacco can lead to various harmful health effects, such asvarious cancers,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), andheart disease.It is the leading cause of preventable death.
Because of that, medical professionals have worked tirelessly to help smokers kick the habit through different quit-smoking aids and cessation devices.
Natural/Herbal Therapies
There are several natural approaches people can take when it comes to quitting smoking. They include:
Statistics on Quitting SmokingAccording to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), over half of all adult smokers attempt to quit each year. Only 8% of people who try to stop succeed in the six to 12 months following their attempt.While that number may be low and disheartening, it doesn’t mean that your attempts have to go the same way. It also doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to try to quit even if you’ve relapsed.
Statistics on Quitting Smoking
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), over half of all adult smokers attempt to quit each year. Only 8% of people who try to stop succeed in the six to 12 months following their attempt.While that number may be low and disheartening, it doesn’t mean that your attempts have to go the same way. It also doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to try to quit even if you’ve relapsed.
Medical Ways
Those who need medical intervention to quit smoking can try oral medications designed to turn people “off” of smoking. These medications include:
Medications, although viable and effective, do come with side effects. That said, since these medications are designed for temporary use, the health benefits far outweigh the side effects that could develop when taking these medications.
Disparities and Limitations of Current TreatmentsWhile there are many therapies available to quit smoking, cost, and accessibility remains a factor for many people who smoke. Medications and other smoking cessation aids and treatments could end up costing more than a person can afford, or their insurance does not cover it. This can make the stress of quitting smoking harder to deal with and, thus, more challenging to achieve. Many states have toll-free quit lines that can connect people trying to quit with free counseling and some nicotine replacement therapies.
Disparities and Limitations of Current Treatments
While there are many therapies available to quit smoking, cost, and accessibility remains a factor for many people who smoke. Medications and other smoking cessation aids and treatments could end up costing more than a person can afford, or their insurance does not cover it. This can make the stress of quitting smoking harder to deal with and, thus, more challenging to achieve. Many states have toll-free quit lines that can connect people trying to quit with free counseling and some nicotine replacement therapies.
Cold Turkey
Cold turkey is the most natural approach to quitting smoking. It involves picking a quit date and completely removing tobacco from your life in one go.
People who quit this way will have to deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms that are much worse than if they used a smoking aid. However, quitting smoking cold turkey can actually be a viable way to kick the habit.
Many studies examined the success rates of quitting smoking cold turkey and found that cutting it out and sticking to it may be the most effective way to quit smoking over all other types. However, it depends on how heavily a person smokes.
Nicotine Withdrawal SymptomsPeople may experience several withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking, some of the most common including:Strong urges or cravings to smokeIrritability, mood swings, feeling upsetFeeling restless or jumpyDifficulty concentratingSleep disturbancesWeight gain and increased appetiteAn increase or new onset of feelings of anxiety, sadness, or depression
Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
People may experience several withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking, some of the most common including:Strong urges or cravings to smokeIrritability, mood swings, feeling upsetFeeling restless or jumpyDifficulty concentratingSleep disturbancesWeight gain and increased appetiteAn increase or new onset of feelings of anxiety, sadness, or depression
People may experience several withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking, some of the most common including:
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has been studied as a possible aid in quitting smoking. A hypnotherapist leads a person into a meditative and focused mental state. This is designed to open someone’s mind up to more suggestive advice. Then, the hypnotherapist targets specific triggers and adverse outcomes of smoking to help “trick” the mind into quitting.
Research surrounding hypnotherapy as a quit-smoking aid has found that it could be beneficial for those who want to quit, but when used alone, people may find that success rates are low. The best way to use hypnotherapy to quit smoking is alongside other cessation aids, such as nicotine replacement therapy.
How to Quit and Stay Off Vaping
Counseling
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
This gradual method helps to reduce the withdrawal symptoms that develop in people who are quitting smoking while slowly decreasing the amount of nicotine they get over time.
Some possible NRTs include:
Each person will choose the right amount of nicotine they need in their NRT based on a conversation about how much they smoke per day. By getting the proper level of nicotine in the body through NRTs, successfully quitting can be more manageable.
Quitting While Pregnant
Quit Smoking Apps
Many people turn to quit-smoking apps to help them get over their cravings. Many apps will offer different information and support to stay on track, such as:
The research regarding the success of these apps is limited and mixed. That said, many people can see success if they adhere to the app and stay strong during the process.
Lung Detox: How to Cleanse Your Lungs
Can You Quit Tobacco Quickly?
Quitting tobacco can be a difficult journey because of withdrawal symptoms and the fact that people have to change a large part of their lifestyle to suit their new non-smoking ways. Because of this, it may be challenging to quit quickly.
That said, specific methods of quitting smoking, such as cold turkey, are effective at ridding the body of nicotine fast. Even if you do happen to quit smoking quickly, you will likely still experience withdrawal symptoms for two to four weeks after your last cigarette.
Quitting Cannabis and Cannabis WithdrawalsUnlike nicotine and tobacco, cannabis does not have a high rate of addiction. Those who smoke cannabis have a 10% chance of becoming addicted. This makes it easier to quit than cigarettes.That said, there are still some withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting cannabis, such as:Sleep disturbances, having difficulty falling asleep, or feeling fatigued throughout the dayDecrease in appetiteIncreased feelings of anxiety, anger, or aggressionCravings for cannabisDifficulty concentratingAbdominal painTremors or shakingSweatingFever or chillsHeadaches
Quitting Cannabis and Cannabis Withdrawals
Unlike nicotine and tobacco, cannabis does not have a high rate of addiction. Those who smoke cannabis have a 10% chance of becoming addicted. This makes it easier to quit than cigarettes.That said, there are still some withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting cannabis, such as:Sleep disturbances, having difficulty falling asleep, or feeling fatigued throughout the dayDecrease in appetiteIncreased feelings of anxiety, anger, or aggressionCravings for cannabisDifficulty concentratingAbdominal painTremors or shakingSweatingFever or chillsHeadaches
Unlike nicotine and tobacco, cannabis does not have a high rate of addiction. Those who smoke cannabis have a 10% chance of becoming addicted. This makes it easier to quit than cigarettes.That said, there are still some withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting cannabis, such as:
How to Get Through Nicotine Withdrawals
Dealing with nicotine withdrawals can make a person feel as though they are losing their mind. The mental and physical symptoms of withdrawal can be challenging to cope with, even if you’re aware that it’s simply the nicotine leaving your body.
To cope with these withdrawals, you can:
Knowing and Avoiding Triggers
Reminders If You Relapse
Since quitting smoking is so hard, it’s normal to have a relapse. In fact, it can take anywhere from eight to 10 attempts to succeed.
So, if you do relapse, it’s important to go easy on yourself and give yourself some grace. Quitting smoking is the hardest thing that many people will have to do in their lifetime, and knowing that can make a relapse much easier to deal with.
Other ways to approach another attempt after a relapse include:
What to Do Instead of Smoking
There are many things you can do instead of smoking while going through withdrawals and dealing with cravings. They can include:
Choosing the Right Way to QuitThere is no right or wrong way to quit as long as you succeed eventually. The critical thing to remember is that although quitting smoking is challenging, you can do it with the right help and support in place.
Choosing the Right Way to Quit
There is no right or wrong way to quit as long as you succeed eventually. The critical thing to remember is that although quitting smoking is challenging, you can do it with the right help and support in place.
Resources to Support Those Working to Quit Smoking
There are many resources you can turn to if you want to quit smoking. They include:
These resources are available to people who need support when trying to quit, whether it be someone to talk to when going through a terrible period of cravings and withdrawal to meetings and community support.
Nicotine Anonymous has meetings all over the country that could help connect you with other people who are quitting smoking as a way to push you toward success.
Summary
Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do, and if you’ve tried to quit before, you already know that. While the physical addiction is challenging in and of itself, the mental habit can be just as hard to break because of how used to smoking you may be in specific situations.
While quitting is difficult, dealing with the consequences of long-term smoking is something that no one wants to have to face. That’s why it’s vital to stop, even if it takes 100 tries. The more you try to quit, the closer you will be to becoming a person who used to smoke.
If you need help, contact your healthcare provider and support resources. With the right mindset, know-how, and support team, you can do anything, including quitting smoking.
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