With over 1000 people a day dying from tobacco related issues, it’s no wonder smokers are desperate to find help in quitting. But, is there one stop smoking tip that will help you kick the habit for good?
Smoking is a physical addiction and a mental habit which can be very hard to break. I know because it took me over 10 years to quit myself! I tried tons of different methods - gum, cold turkey, hypnoisis - but I was a failure at all of them. You see, there is no “one size fits all” method of quitting that works for everyone.
If you have tried to kick the habit but not succeeded, it might be that you just haven’t tried the right method. Just because you know someone who quit using a particular method does not mean that method will be the one that works for you. Don’t be disappointed though, there are plenty of methods, you just need to find the one that will work for you.
So, what kind of a quit smoking tip do you need to help you get on track?
There are a lot of ways to quit smoking. The patch or nicotine gum can help with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Using hypnosis to help break the habit works for a lot of people. You can cut down gradually and lessen those nasty withdrawal symptoms. Going cold turkey can be the best way for some.
If you have tried everything and still can’t quit, there is one method you may have overlooked that might be the one for you - tapping into your mind to help you change your habits. If you think about it, it’s mostly the way you think about smoking that is stopping you from quitting. So, using simple techniques to reprogram the way your brain thinks about smoking could be the one thing that helps you kick the habit for good!
By reprogramming your mind, you can start to think about cigarettes differently – seeing them as an enemy to your body instead of as a “treat” that you deserve. You owe it to yourself to start doing this today. See the link below and find out how to get your mind to think like a non smoker today!
Next, learn about the amazing book that can help you stop smoking by changing the way you think about cigarettes - Click Here!
Nobody ever said it would be easy to quit smoking, but if you are reading this, then at least you have made the first step and have started thinking about it. Many smokers have no intention of giving up, often because they do not have the willpower and they do not have the belief that it is actually possible.
By following these tips and really taking them to heart, you really should be able to quit over a certain amount of time. Start by thinking about what made you smoke in the first place, why you continue to smoke and, most excitingly, the benefits of giving it up. Set yourself a day to quit and really try to stick to it. Make sure this is not too ambitious and know what your limits are. You may find the best way to quit is by slow the weaning yourself off them, smoking less and less every day.
Motivation is also very important factor and you will do far better if you have friends and family who are encouraging and supporting you. If you don’t have to give up alone, then don’t. If you have friends or colleagues to are also wanting to quit smoking, then do it together. Motivate each other. Giving up a bad habits alone is much harder at all times. Likewise, try to avoid being around people who smoke so that you can avoid the temptation until you have thoroughly given up.
Going hand in hand with the previous point, try to avoid any triggers that make you smoke if you can. One of the most common triggers, is when people are smoking around you. Others are straight after a meal or when you are stressed. Figure out something else that you can do when you feel a craving for a cigarette coming on.
Another important factor is to have a backup plan, when you have a craving. Going out for a walk were doing something different take your mind off it is often the best way to deal with a craving.
Both men and women are dealing with the nasty habit of smoking. Smoking is an addiction that is spreading throughout the world faster that we can say “quit smoking.” If you have been smoking, then we believe you should quit. When you smoke, you are not only affecting your own health, but you are also ruining those around you through second hand smoke. Within this article, we are going to give you some stop smoking techniques for both men and women. Would you believe it if we told you that you could trick your mind into thinking you never smoked before?
To trick the mind, you need to find a person that is a professional at hypnosis. The mind can be tricked into quitting and there has been cases of it working.
A lot of you right now may think it didn’t work, but in order for it to work, you need to believe that it is going to work one hundred percent.
As we all know, no two people are exactly alike, therefore, there are strong willed people out there that do not need support.
For those individuals that do not need support to quit, that is good. However, for those of you that are not able to quit on your own, you should follow through with some type of product to help you quit. There are many different products out there that will help you kick this habit.
Many lives have been destroyed by smoking and many families have been torn apart. Is that really what you want you loved ones to go through? With that said, we highly recommend you looking into some stop smoking techniques so that you can have success in your life once and for all. Remember, in order to quit smoking, you have to be willing to let go of that addiction.
Do you know how many people in the world will eventually be killed by tobacco? 650 million people. That is half the people in the world who smoke regularly today. Are you going to be part of this statistic? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the second major cause of death in the world is tobacco.
Smokers know the dangers of smoking and are aware of what it does to their body. Unfortunately, once the habit of smoking forms, it is difficult to escape from it’s clutches. The addiction is strong and hard to break. From the mouth of a smoker referring to shocking, gruesome pictures used in anti-smoking campaigns, “they are only sick to look at and I don’t think smokers will be affected.” This just proves that knowledge is not enough to get a smoker to quit smoking.
So, if you are a smoker, what do you need to do to quit? The first and most important step is to make the decision to do so. The motivation has to be right. Quit because you want to and not because someone else wants you to. Then you have to back up your decision with will power. Do not get disheartened if you relapse. Take courage from knowing that others who have freed themselves from tobacco dependence have walked the road you are now taking. Be determined and believe that you can do it.
There are two components to consider when you try to quit smoking: physical and psychological. Physically, you have to fight your body’s need for nicotine. Psychologically, you have to change your ingrained habits and avoid situations that have become strongly associated with cigarettes.
There are medical aids to help you overcome the physical addiction. The nicotine path, gum or inhaler can be used for nicotine replacement therapy. There is also a drug known as Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) that works to alter your brain chemistry to reduce your desire for smoking.
The psychological aspect to cease smoking seems to be more difficult to battle. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help. It addresses the smoker’s way of thinking, changing the way they feel and behave. The coping skills learned through CBT helps a smoker who is in the process of quitting maintain their abstinence.
The best approach to quitting smoking combines both the behavioral approach and medication. Research shows that combining the two can double your success rate.
Decide today that you are not going to let smoking kill you. If you stay smoke free for 15 years, your risk of death is almost the same as a non-smoker. It is amazing how your body is able to restore itself. The way to a smoke free life may not be easy, but it is worth it. Your strongest weapon will be your determination and will power. Believe in yourself and you can come out victorious.
All habits, inhibitions, and mental blocks are stored in our subconscious mind. With each of these factors there are associated feelings and sensations. Some time in the past these emotional inputs - feelings and sensations - were experienced repeatedly. The repetition reinforced those emotions and made them more dominating than other emotions. The subconscious mind tries to re-live the experience, creates situations so that dominating emotions appear again and again and get further reinforced. As a result the subconscious mind creates and maintains self-made limitations.
To take an example, say a person has a habit of smoking. There are physical and mental sensations connected with smoking. The subconscious mind will try to experience those sensations again. It will create a situation in which smoking will become a “necessity”. The data stored with the subconscious will be confirmed and the subconscious mind will happily conclude that smoking is a necessity.
To break any bad habit or limitations set up in the subconscious it will be necessary to change the conviction held by it. The stored emotions of bad habit will have to be replaced with desirable emotions. Hypnotism is one of the methods for changing the beliefs held by the subconscious mind.
There are two broad stages in the process of hypnotism.
1. Relaxation
2. Focus on the problem
In the relaxed condition the subconscious mind is more receptive. You will need to have some perfection in achieving relaxation by practicing stage 1 several times. This is a necessary precondition for hypnosis. After you are sufficiently trained in relaxation you can divert your attention to problem solving. By this technique it is possible to solve virtually any personal problems.
Relaxation
Try to recall an event in which you felt totally relaxed. It could be your recent vacation or meeting with old friends or time you spent in reserve forest away from daily problems. It could be any situation with which memory of your relaxation is connected. If you cannot recall any event you can invent one in your imagination. You can have a combination of real life and imaginary situations.
After deciding the situation you will mentally go there. Write down the steps for going there from your present position. Your steps could be something like this.
1. I am sitting comfortably on my favorite chair.
2. Now I am shutting out my worries.
3. My nerves have calmed down and I am feeling more relaxed.
4. My breathing is becoming more rhythmic and relaxed.
5. I am breathing more deeply. (Concentrate on your breathing for a minute or two.)
6. I am feeling that I have descended into Endcity Park. (Try to remember the park in detail.)
7. I am enjoying the natural surroundings, the smell of fresh air, all around there is feast for my eyes.
8. The atmosphere is so soothing and relaxing.
9. I feel totally relaxed.
10. I am totally relaxed.
After writing these steps, revise and remember them thoroughly because once you start the process of relaxation you cannot break to consult your notes.
In the entire process of relaxation you will be talking to yourself. You can silently talk to yourself or record your talk in your voice and play the recording when you want to relax. While recording speak in slow and soothing voice. For each step give sufficient time in your recording to experience the feelings as if you are really there.
When you are ready to start the process, sit comfortably in your favorite chair. Close your eyes, silently start talking to yourself and go through the steps one by one. (Or play the recording). Give sufficient time and stress to each step to capture the emotions. After you reach equivalent of step 10 given in the example above you can retrace your steps and return back to normalcy. You should practise these steps few times so that you are able to relax quickly at will.
Now you are ready to focus on your attention on resolving the problems. From step 10, or its equivalent, you can go directly to the next stage.
Focus on Problem Solving
There are several methods of concentrating on the problems. A method called ‘pattern interrupting’ works well for eliminating habits like smoking. In this method you start with writing the steps and feelings associated with execution of your bad habit.
If you wish to quit smoking, make a list of all the steps you take when you smoke. Following steps are only suggestive; you can make your own steps:
1. I am totally relaxed (you will be continuing from the relaxed position).
2. I have an urge to smoke.
3. I take out a cigarette. There goes my 50c (or whatever the cost of one cigarette).
4. I take out my lighter.
5. I can already feel the excitement of smoking.
6. I light my cigarette.
7. I am now smoking (remember the taste and the sensation of smoking).
8. My cigarette is over and I throw away the stub.
9. The evil act of smoking is over. At last!
10. Feeling of guilt.
11. Feeling of mischievous accomplishment because I finished my cigarette before Anita could see me smoking.
12. Comforting feeling that I will not be smoking for some time at least.
13. I am still relaxed.
14. What a great achievement it will be when I totally quit smoking.
After writing down the steps, try to remember them.
Next time after you are in relaxed stage start with the steps to focus on the problem. Try to re-live the experience. After completing the steps again think of steps 2 to 12 but not sequentially. Think of the steps in random order to break the pattern. Try to think of each step randomly about 3 times.
Now think of desirable steps. For example, you can concentrate on these steps:
1. I am totally relaxed.
2. It is good that my last cigarette is over.
3. It feels great just to think that I will not smoke again.
4. I am happy that I will not have to hide anything from Anita.
5. What a sense of achievement. I have finally quit smoking. I have done it!
6. This is the victory of my will power over my useless habit.
7. I am still relaxed.
After repeating those desirable steps few times you can slowly come back to your normal self.
Hypnotism has amazing power. When used properly it can bring about tremendous benefits. It is a formidable tool and should be used wisely.
You’ve been smoking for years but now you decide it’s time to turn over a new leaf and start living a healthier lifestyle. You are done with coughing and hacking. It’s also time to stop smelling like a dirty ashtray. But you’ve probably heard how some smokers have taken years to quit the addiction. Yes, it’s no secret that it is downright tough to quit smoking. You’ll probably fail a few times before finding success. However, to raise your chances of success, it’s good to be aware of the challenges ahead of you. Like if you went to battle, wouldn’t it help to learn more about your enemy first?
1.Withdrawals and Cravings
The biggest challenge would be getting through the withdrawal symptoms and craving for nicotine. The feelings of discomfort is extremely strong especially the first few days of quitting. The addiction to nicotine is as bad as the addiction to cocaine and heroine. So, be ready and have a plan on how you are going to combat the dizziness, depression, frustration, irritability, sleep problems, emotional outbursts, headache and restlessness. Most of the time, the unhappiness people feel due to the bodily changes they are experiencing is what tempts them to light up a cigarette one more time. It will be difficult to stay positive during this time. Just know that if you stick it out, things will get better.
2. Psychological Effects of Smoking
There are two battles to fight when trying to quit smoking. One is a physical battle, the other a psychological battle. More often than not, smoking cigarettes is a way to deal with stress, pressure, boredom, life problems and anger. If this is the case with you, then you need to find a better and healthier way to handle your problems. You have to break out of the habit of reaching for a cigarette when the going gets tough.
3. Breaking The Routine
After years of smoking, when and where you smoke has very much become a routine in your life. For example, you take smoke breaks with your colleagues or light up after meals. Identifying your smoking routine and changing it is necessary for your success. It will be doubly difficult if your smoking is linked to socializing. Nobody likes to be “left out” of the circle of friends they are used to. You have to realize that quitting smoking entails more than just refusing to smoke. It involves a change of lifestyle. Be ready to give up certain routines and be willing to pick up better ones like exercising.
4. Feeling Tired
When attempting to quit, you will find yourself having a lack of energy. Your body is so used to being stimulated by nicotine, without it you feel tired. Also, in the beginning you may have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. That too will contribute to your tiredness during the day. Remember, not only do you have to overcome smoking physically but mentally too. Give your body time to adjust. Allow yourself to rest and to re-energize.
5. Feeling Hungry and Gaining Weight
You may find yourself feeling hungry all the time when you quit smoking. This is because smoking no longer suppresses your appetite. This increase in appetite may last several weeks. So, do you need to worry about gaining weight? Not if you stay away from high-fat and high-sugar foods. The average weight gain is between 6-8 pounds. Many people will substitute a cigarette for a snack. So, watch what you are snacking on. Stay away from junk food. You are safe with fresh fruits, fat-free yogurt, vegetables, air-popped popcorn and full wheat crackers. Also, choose to drink water instead of alcoholic beverages.
6. Encountering Failures
You may succumb to the temptation of lighting up and encounter several failures. Do not be disheartened. Just accept that as humans we have our moments of weaknesses. There is no limit on the number of times you can try. Obviously you will feel bad about it for a while. Don’t dwell on it too much. Pick yourself up and go at it again with renewed vigor.
Quitting smoking is a difficult task indeed but not an impossible one. With strong determination, a personal reason to quit, supportive friends and family, and a plan to conquer the challenges ahead, you can do it.
Many experts believe smoking is only about 10% physical addiction and a whopping 90% psychological addiction. Your body will recover fairly quickly from nicotine withdrawals (the worst symptoms usually abate in three days or less), but your psychological dependency on cigarettes can be much more difficult to defeat.
One way to combat this is to do a bit of self-analysis before giving up cigarettes.
Make a list with two columns. Label column one “Why I Started Smoking” and label column two “Why I Want To Quit Smoking.”
In column one, list all the reasons you can remember as to why you started smoking in the first place. Was it peer pressure? Rebellion? Did you think it made you look cool? Did it make you feel like a grown-up? Really try to remember the exact reasons why you started smoking and write them all down.
Now look over that list. Do any of those reasons still apply in your life today? Probably not.
If you’re like most people, you will see that your reasons for becoming a smoker are no longer valid, are often just silly, and are easily outweighed by the risks to your health and your family’s well-being.
So let’s move on to column two… Why do you want to quit smoking?
This one may seem obvious, but it can be a bit tricky. You really need to take some time and think hard about this. Don’t just list the obvious health reasons. You’ve been reading the Surgeon General’s warnings for years with little effect, so you need to come up with reasons that truly have meaning for you.
The things most people write down will NOT help you quit smoking…
- I don’t want to get lung cancer.
- I don’t want to have a heart attack or a stroke.
- I’d like to live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up.
Those are all good reasons to quit smoking, certainly… but they deal in “possibilities” rather than in specifics.
Sure you MIGHT get lung cancer, you MIGHT have a heart attack or a stroke, you MIGHT die young and miss out on seeing your grandchildren grow up…
…or you MIGHT NOT! You’re not likely to break a strong psychological addiction based on what MIGHT happen. Your mind will work hard to convince you that it won’t happen to you! Instead, list health problems that you are already experiencing.
Your list should point out things in your life that you are actively unhappy about and are STRONGLY MOTIVATED to change. In order to break your psychological addiction, you need an arsenal of new thoughts and desires that are stronger than your desire to smoke!
Here are the types of things you want to put in column two…
Why Do I Want To Quit Smoking?
1. Health Reasons
- I get so out of breath when I exert myself even a little bit. Just vacuuming the house makes me pant and gasp.
- My feet are always cold. This could be due to high blood pressure and poor circulation associated with smoking.
- I have a nasty wet cough and I have to blow my nose way too often. Mucus build-up is the body’s reaction to all the toxins and chemicals in cigarette smoke and could be a precursor to serious respiratory disease. Even if I don’t get cancer, I don’t want to be one of those people who has to tote oxygen bottles around everywhere.
- I’m always tired. Could it be that my body is using up all its energy trying to eliminate the toxins and chemicals from cigarettes?
2. Vanity Reasons
- Smoking causes premature aging and drying of the skin. I don’t want to look like a wrinkled up old prune!
- My fingers, fingernails and teeth are all tobacco stained. Disgusting! How embarrassing.
- When I get on the elevator after a smoke break at work, everyone wrinkles their nose and tries to edge away from me because I reek of cigarette smoke. I feel like a pariah. It’s embarrassing to always be the big “stinker” on the elevator. I feel like I have no self-control.
- My breath is awful. Kissing me must be like kissing an ashtray. I spend a fortune on breath mints.
3. Financial Reasons
- If I save all the money I used to spend on cigarettes, I’ll have enough to take a vacation in Cancun (or some other warm tropical place) every winter!
- I could use the money to pay off my credit cards!
- I could donate money to my favorite charity or sponsor a child. My cigarette money could make the world a better place!
4. Family Reasons
- My family can stop worrying about me.
- My spouse will have to find something new to nag me about. Just kidding, honey!
- My children will be proud of me and (hopefully) they’ll never start smoking themselves, having seen firsthand what a nasty destructive habit it is.
5. Cleanliness Reasons
- The walls used to be white. Now they’re a nasty dirty-looking brown. I need to repaint… again!
- I stink, my car stinks, my house stinks, everything I own reeks of cigarette smoke. I can’t even lend a book to a non-smoking friend because they can’t stand the smell of smoke permeating the pages!
Do you see yourself in any of the items listed? You may have many more reasons of your own. Find as many compelling and emotion reasons to quit smoking as you can think of and write them all down.
If you can re-train your mind to think of smoking as a silly and self-destructive thing to do, then you’re almost sure to succeed. And if you need something to do with your hands… try knitting!
