It’s Time to Quit for Good, but How Do I Do It?

Some Common Smoking Cessation Methods
Cigarette smoking and nicotine addiction afflict many people and the numbers continue to rise. Studies show that high school kids continue to pick up the habit at an alarming rate. But, with research over the past several decades, we know today that smoking is a fatal habit. Like many, you may have made the big decision to quit. So let’s look at a few different assistance programs available to aid in your cessation goals.

Hypnosis
There are a couple of different ways to use hypnosis to stop smoking. One option is to go to a therapist who specializes in hypnosis and have them perform the procedure. You can also practice self-hypnosis to create your own hypnotic state. Either way, the method is the same. Once in the hypnotic state, either by therapist or self, the subconscious mind is in the driver’s seat. Messages are given directly to the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind is always in control of behavior, so addressing the subconscious directly can actually affect behavior patterns. The messages given to the subconscious mind will redirect or reprogram the behavior of smoking. You can actually train your brain to believe you are a non-smoker. This method will take more than one session to work. It usually requires up to three to four weeks to change the smoking habit.

Nicotine Gum
Nicotine gum is another cessation aid. It is gum with nicotine in it, as the name suggests. When you have made the decision to quit smoking, adding in the gum to fight off urges can be extremely helpful. You must quit smoking before using the nicotine gum. Smoking and chewing the gum at the same time can be extremely dangerous. But, since the gum helps with the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, quitting smoking can happen with less physical stress than going it cold turkey. Most people will chew up to a dozen pieces of gum in the first month, but will chew less and less as the urges slow.

Prescription Medication
There are many prescription drugs on the market to help with smoking cessation. The most common names, Wellbutrin, Zyban and Chantix, are nicotine-free. They work by increasing the chemical messengers in the brain which ease the nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This treatment is usually started at least one week prior to quitting smoking and it generally takes two to three months for the nicotine replacement therapy to work effectively. If you are considering this treatment for quitting smoking, you should consult your doctor. There are some side effects but generally is a great alternative to cold turkey.

Natural Remedies
Herbs such as ginseng, St. John’s Wort and lobelia have been used with varying effectiveness to aid in quitting smoking. Ginseng works to block the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is what creates the sense of pleasure while smoking, to curtail the addiction factor. Lobelia acts in the complete opposite way, replacing the nicotine which is the addictive drug that triggers the release of dopamine. The lobelia will trigger the same effect in the brain. St. John’s Wort has generally been used to treat depression, but seems to have a calming effect on those going through withdrawals.

Never a Better Time to Quit
This is the 21st Century and there are more tools to help you reach your non-smoking goals than ever before. Your health is too precious to waste another day as a smoker. Consult your doctor and choose the plan that’s right for you. Then, enjoy the pleasures of a smoke-free lifestyle.

How Prescriptions Can Help You Quit Smoking

There have been many medical advances made in the past twenty years to help those who need to quit. If you have tried to quit but have not had success with other methods of cessation, talking to your doctor may prove to be a great option for you. Your doctor can prescribe a few different options to help you quit smoking. There are a few different drugs that act in different ways to help you achieve your ultimate goal.

Nicotine Replacement
There are a handful of medications on the market that are nicotine replacement. They do the same thing as nicotine gum or a nicotine patch. You will be able to quit smoking, but still have the nicotine addiction. Nicotrol, one of the most noted brands, offers a nasal spray and an inhaler for nicotine delivery while Habitrol offers a prescription patch. There are also a few over the counter versions of the patch as well as nicotine gum. Using a nicotine replacement can help you break the habit of smoking cigarettes while slowly weaning yourself off of the nicotine. Your doctor will most likely put you on a step-down program to accomplish this. Nicotine replacement has shown a lot of success for those who want to quit.

Non-nicotine Replacement
Some of the newest forms of smoking cessation programs are those that perform the same response in the brain as the nicotine without the nicotine. Varenicline, found in Chantix, one of the newest medications available, does not contain nicotine but interacts with the same receptors in the brain that the nicotine would. Once the Varenicline has intercepted the receptors, the nicotine is blocked. This type of medication will help to break the “pleasure cycle” in the smoking habit. After all, if it wasn’t so enjoyable, would you do it? Varenicline is generally started at least one week prior to quitting smoking and continued for around three months for full effectiveness. This new form of battling nicotine addiction has a lot of promise for those who have had trouble with other methods of smoking cessation.

Anti-Depressants
As odd as it may sound, some drugs previously prescribe to treat depression have had success in helping people quit smoking. The Drug bupropion hydrochloride, found in Wellbutrin and Zyban, work by easing the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The bupropion hydrochloride boosts chemical levels in the brain, which eases the withdrawals and decreases the urge to smoke in most people. This treatment process also begins while still smoking. You will begin approximately one to two weeks before actually quitting smoking and continue for a few months.

Turn Your Life Around
Quitting smoking is truly one of the most difficult things to do. But with so many options, the goal is becoming easier for more people to accomplish. If prescription drugs are the right course for you, you should talk to your doctor. Each drug has side-effects that your doctor will share with you. But this is a great tool that can help turn your life around. Take advantage of the many choices you have today and change your life for the healthier.

Hypnosis Could be the Answer to Quit Smoking

Vince Robertson asked:


  When people decide to stop smoking it is always best to know exactly why you want to quit.Are you quitting for your self or someone else?If you are quitting for someone else you chances of succeeding is very unlikely.It’s always best to quit for your self,but what if you like to smoke?That is going to make things very difficult to succeed.Even if you don’t like smoking and it’s just a habit for you.You would think it would be easy to quit,but it’s not as easy as people think.The reason is your body gets use to the nicotine in them.When you go without your body don’t like it.So you start getting angry,upset,sad,nervous,rude just plain hard to deal with so you usually give in with in a week or two.

 

  Nicotine is a part of the chemical makeup of a cigarette.Nicotine is a drug that is why you get addicted to smoking so easily.Once you smoke for a while it becomes very difficult to stop smoking.This also has created a whole other market just to stop smoking.

 

  As you probably know there are many quit smoking methods on the market today.You have probably tried two or three of them.Patches,inhalers,chewing gum,pills,prescription drugs,shots,even smoke less cigarettes.They claim to cut back on cravings,who knows they might help some people.Some of them like gum just keeps your mind off smoking.It does help by keeping busy when trying to quit smoking.Never start using food as a way to forget about smoking.Many people do eat more when trying to quit smoking. This is where Hypnosis can help many people.

 

  You must get in the right mind set when trying to quit smoking.Also You must get in your head you are going to quit for good!This will take alot of discipline and Will Power.If you have had trouble doing this,Hypnosis maybe your answer.Hypnosis works on your mind and conscious to help forget about smoking.Remember smoking is just a habit so you must keep your mind on something else.Hypnosis can help you forget about smoking.

 

  Before you try anything else to stop smoking may I suggest,looking into Hypnosis further to see if it could be right for you.It has been very successful for many people.When you buy just one pack of cigarettes a day and smoke them you are spending nearly $25.00 a week.What if you smoke two packs a day?Many people do and this gets very expensive.Also just think about the health issues you might have latter in life.Can you actually afford to keep smoking?