Quit smoking at home: proven methods

Two of my colleagues decided to quit smoking at the same time.One of them successfully fulfilled his intention and has not smoked for three years now.And another person, like Mark Twain, gave up more than once - it lasted until the first event with alcohol.

In general, both have a happy attitude towards alcohol and can drink together on holidays, but one person still resists tobacco products, and the other cannot stand it.

At the same time, both lead a busy life, periodically going to the gym, cinema and concerts, rafting, fishing and mushroom picking.They often do this together.

So what is the power of addiction and why are some people able to resist it and others not?

“Let's smoke, comrade, one cigarette at a time…”

Everyone is more or less aware that tobacco addiction develops at the body level and at the psychological level.Physiological dependence develops over time;Nicotine becomes a necessary link in the metabolic process.When its content decreases, the body feels the lack of something familiar and signals: “I want more!”

Advertising of anti-smoking products relies on this addiction, calling for switching to electronic cigarettes instead of regular cigarettes or chewing special gum - that is, trying to trick the body.

But experts (psychologists, narcologists) know that the main cause of addiction is psychological.This is why you started smoking, it was before the first cigarette.Freud called smoking a consequence of closing the mouth, the desire to return to a comfortable and safe state next to the mother's breast.For the same reason, people overeat or chew something endlessly.By the way, because of this, a myth has arisen that people who quit smoking are at risk of gaining weight.This only happens if they fill the void with food without addressing the root cause of the addiction.

There are other reasons for smoking: for some it is a way to concentrate, for others it is an aesthetic ritual or a fabricated image.Please note: in old movies everyone smoked.Aristocrats and actresses aesthetically blew smoke rings;a cigarette between soldiers is considered a symbol of brotherhood;cowboys puffing on cigars or cigarettes;Holmes and Poirot are very talented at smoking;There is nothing to say about India's peace pipeline.Perhaps this is a plot by tobacco companies trying to join the ranks of their victims.“I would forbid it even now if you found an equally beneficial virtue,” said Napoleon III.

Romantic sophistication creates trust: if you light a cigarette, you are a manly man or a fatal beauty;intelligent and mysterious;on others, chosen;a creative person;a good guy, a real friend.Everyone chooses what they want and only one remedy is offered – nicotine.

The environment plays a huge role: if parents smoke, the child will take this as a model from an early age;if there are many smokers in a company there will be a desire to join the majority, especially if this is a new job (class or group of an educational institution) and the person wants to join the group.Teens may experience peer pressure to prove their maturity to them.And of course simple human curiosity.

What happens when you quit smoking?A person finds himself lost in a company, is timid and cannot meet a girl without a cigarette, constantly feels uncomfortable, stressed for any reason, nervous, irritable, etc.Many people are at risk of having their “pacifier” broken and snatched back.

Talking about the dangers of smoking for health: lung cancer, necrosis of the limbs, problems with blood vessels, heart, stroke, heart attack, bad skin, difficulty getting pregnant, problems with potency, risk of early death - does not shed light, but only annoys the smoker.

Even if your voice is hoarse, plaque appears on your teeth and tongue, cough in the chest, shortness of breath, phlegm, pain, insomnia, pulse in the temples - the first symptoms of impending trouble - this does not help you overcome addiction.Education (memoranda for students and parents, lectures by doctors, instructions by sports coaches, etc.) plays a major role at the prevention stage in preventing people from smoking their first cigarette.

Not everyone cares about money: they say, I can afford it.A car, a trip and other pleasures, which theoretically can be bought with the money saved, for a smoker are a symbol of deprivation and limitation in other needs.

That is why, if you decide to quit smoking, it is important to find the root of the problem - understand what smoking gives you (what it helps to get rid of) and how to satisfy this need in a different way.Otherwise, the smoker will be hindered by the fear that he will lose something by giving up nicotine and will not be supported and supported.

Realize that this is an addiction and you don't lose anything but just get rid of it.

Ways to get rid of addiction

• “Various proprietary techniques. Here are two of them: "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" by Allen Carr. I interviewed dozens of friends who used to smoke, and three of them said that this book had helped them.It was written in 1985 and remains the world's most popular smoking cessation guide.premise:It's easy to start a nicotine-free life at any age;Willpower is not only unnecessary but also an obstacle.According to the author, people who quit smoking thanks to willpower will experience torment - due to the feeling that they are overcoming something, enduring hardship.There is no point in fighting against smoking - war is tiring.You just need to make a wise decision and “don't hope, but know that you have quit smoking by making such a decision”.And everything will be painless.The author uses his experience as a former smoker with 33 years of experience and convincingly conveys to the reader that they will only benefit from quitting. “Four stinking sighs” by Vladimir Zhdanov- a famous technique.Designed to awaken aversion to smoking.To do this, the sensation of smoking is maximized: cigarette smoke must be held in the mouth, chewed with the mouth closed and the head tilted back.After 30 seconds, you can push the smoke into your lungs.You will want to cough, choke, start to feel nauseous - but you need to take 2 more breaths while chewing the smoke.The fourth time you need to inhale lungs full of smoke.Then, tense your abdominal muscles, cough out for a long time.Record on the packaging the date and time you inhaled 4 bad breaths.You can't smoke anymore.If it becomes unbearable, chew the smoke again.
• With the help of a doctor.If you rely more on traditional medicine or have chronic diseases, you can contact a medical center.Discuss with your specialist whether you should quit smoking immediately or gradually, whether it is worth initially replacing cigarettes with something else.The doctor will advise on diet, choose sedatives, antidepressants, monitor blood pressure and monitor changes at different stages.
• Coding, hypnosis.It affects the subconscious mind, the goal is to develop conditioned reflexes against smoking.A specialist can put the patient into a hypnotic sleep state, but this is not necessary.

So, my good friend once downloaded for his mother, a smoker of almost 30 years of experience, a psychotherapy session aimed at quickly getting rid of addiction.Mom watched the video and a few days later, the family suddenly realized she didn't smoke.It didn't last long, I even threw away the opened package.Surprising but true: more than 10 years have passed since then.

• Neurolinguistic programming.One of the presuppositions (axioms) of NLP is: “Change can happen instantaneously”.Various NLP techniques aim to quickly replace negativity with positive, reprogramming consciousness.You can contact a psychologist who uses this method.
• Acupuncture.Change the conditioned reflex that is smoking.The acupressure practitioner acts on certain points and interrupts the chain of impulses.

You yourself can, whenever you want to smoke, use your fingers to massage the pressure points in the front of the throat, in the middle of the hollow at the nape of the neck, in the depression.

Press firmly until painful, counting to threeand let go.Repeat 15 times.It is better to do the procedure while sitting or lying down - muscle weakness and dizziness may occur due to reduced pressure.

• Quit smoking suddenly in a new environment with one move.Settle in a remote location without access to tobacco products or travel with non-smoking friends.In a month, you can change: take a shower and get used to not smoking.Basic and effective.
• Throw yourself into work, sports and creativity.Participate in congresses, festivals, competitions, etc. You need to have a schedule with no days off or a busy schedule to quit smoking.The point is to make it fun, then you'll be less likely to remember your habit - sorry, addiction.
• Restructuring of consciousness: passion for spiritual teachings, healthy lifestyle, departure to an ecological village, pilgrimage to holy places, etc.A friend of mine quit smoking because he was fascinated by Torsunov's teachings, Ayurveda and Krishnaism.Many years have passed since then, she is no longer Hare Krishna, she is neutral towards religions, but she still does not smoke.

Here it is important to monitor your own roof, that is, your psychology;There is a risk of becoming fans, sectarians, hostages of black teachings.But overall it's an effective way;It is not without reason that at drug treatment centers, they often exchange alcohol or drug addiction for following a certain religion.

• Alternative products: Electronic cigarettes.This method is controversial.Now they say that using it is harmful, the substances inside are toxic and the effect of cigarettes as a means of quitting smoking is very small.However, there are people for whom it really helps.Nicotine gum, tablets, patches, hookah, herbal cigars, electronic cigarettes and the like.Allan Carr strongly calls for quitting smoking immediately, once and for all, and forgetting about such tobacco substitutes.However, as practice shows, many people use them successfully.For example, colleagues mentioned at the beginning of the document to quit smoking, gradually reduce the number of cigarettes, and use popular anti-smoking medications.He has strong motivation.So you can choose any method, just keep your decision to quit smoking forever.
• Leave it - that's it.An old friend of mine, a former heavy smoker of 20 years, did just that - without books, techniques, gum or e-cigarettes.And he doesn't believe that coping on your own is difficult.After all, the main thing is the decision!

Advice for the brave

When is the right time to start a new life?There is an opinion that if smoking helps you relax after hard work, you should give it up on vacation, when you don't feel stressed.On the contrary, if you are used to smoking on vacation, then during the period of quitting smoking you need to perform activities at the maximum level.

Another approach- on the contrary, choose a situation that makes your head spin to understand: if you overcome such stress without cigarettes, you can continue to live without cigarettes.Carr, too, after going through these options, came to the conclusion that it is not necessary to choose the moment, so as not to delay and not to deceive yourself.The best time is NOW.

1. If possible, remove anything related to smoking from sight, hearing and smell.Put away ashtrays, lighters, and cigarettes.
2. If you decide to quit smoking gradually, only buy one pack after you have finished the previous pack.Don't take the block.Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.Only smoke half a cigarette and do not take deep puffs.Wash your hands and change clothes so you don't smell of cigarettes.
3. Try to consciously stay in a balanced state, avoid stressful situations.
4. Try to get interested in something.If you already have a hobby, spend more time on it.
5. Create interesting physical activities for yourself: slow jogging in the morning, gym, bodybuilding, yoga, wushu...
6. Breathing exercises have been shown to have great effects in the fight against smoking.Try yoga breathing or other similar exercises.They help saturate the body with oxygen, calming the mind and soul.It is better to train with a trainer in advance - he will make sure that you perform the exercises correctly.
7. Massage and meditation will also help you relax and have fun without using nicotine.
8. Avoid places and companies where people smoke, try not to inhale cigarette smoke.But don't go to extremes so as not to be isolated from society and feel lonely.If your friends smoke, this is not a reason to stay away from them or be jealous of them, change your attitude to the situation: you have freed yourself, but they have not.It's not that smoking brings them joy, but they cannot enjoy life without cigarettes.
9. Those who have followed this path say that the first week is the most difficult (but completely bearable!), and after three weeks without nicotine, the body will be cleansed, regenerated and improved.

Treat your condition as a mild illness, try not to succumb to the brain's tricks like "just one cigarette", "it's hard not to smoke now, I'll choose a more suitable time to quit".Write in a diary: “I quit smoking – day by day consequences.”Record how you feel and record the results: one week, one month, three weeks without poisoning.

If you find it difficult to quit smoking right away, try this plan:

The first 10 days - 15 cigarettes per day.
20 more days - 10 cigarettes.
Next month - no more than five pieces per day.
Then, each week, reduce the number of "nicotine sticks" you smoke to exactly one cigarette.As a result, in three months, you will reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to 0.

Review your diet

In general, sweets help overcome drug addiction, but preference is given to slow carbohydrates, such as fruits (instead of candy).

• Drink more clean water - it cleanses the body and reduces nicotine cravings.
• Remember to eat honey - stir a teaspoon into a glass of water in the morning and drink on an empty stomach.
• Replenishes vitamin C reserves - nicotine removes it from the body.Citrus and grape juice will replenish your supply of this vitamin and help in your anti-smoking campaign.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and coffee.Eat less spicy, smoked and salty foods - all this causes smoking.Recommendedliver, boiled potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, peanuts, peas, beans, bread, sea fish, carrots and other products with small amounts of nicotinic acid.

Therefore, it is known to reduce the desire to smoke.cold salad (!) fromboiled potatoes, fried eggplant and fresh tomatoes.

• Carry with you and chew when you want to smoke: cheese "strings" (if desired, in a cigarette pack, just watch the calories so as not to gain weight);pineapple - fresh or sugar-free candy;nuts, seeds (preferably pumpkin seeds);dried fruit.
• Drink milk - now it's up to you “for its harmful effects”, it cleans the lungs, throat and bronchi.
• Grinding lemon and honey through a meat grinder (1:1) will also help you get rid of the harmful effects of smoking.For a month, take a spoonful before meals.

How to reduce cigarette cravings - popular advice

1. Chew horseradish and plantain (fresh leaves in equal amounts).The juice should be swallowed and the greens should be spit out.Don't drink alcohol or get drunk.Repeat several times a day.

For the same purpose, use ginger, calamus root, a branch of fresh cherry or radish.

2. Before smoking, dip the cigarette in some fermented milk product (kefir, yogurt, etc.).Smoking will be unpleasant, the habit will weaken.
3. The old way is to mix dry oats into tobacco.
4. Pour boiling water (1 liter) over the oats, rye, millet and barley (all 100 g) and cook on the stove for 8-10 minutes.Filter the broth and put it in a thermos.It will be ready in a day.Drink half a glass 3-5 times a day before meals.

Oats are generally good for withdrawal symptoms.It perfectly restores vitality, soothes, improves sleep and creates a feeling of aversion to nicotine.

There are many recipes.Before going to bed, you can grind cereal (1 tablespoon) and add cool water (2 cups).Boil it in the morning and drink it instead of tea.

5. Decoction: St.John's wort (1 tablespoon), wild rosemary (0.5 tablespoon), boiling water (600 ml).Keep at low temperature for 20 minutes.Then dilute half with water.Sugar, honey or jam - depending on taste.They drink this tea 5-7 times a day, but you should not drink it late in the evening.The admission process is one month.Attention: use is dangerous for pregnant women and during lactation, tuberculosis patients and people whose skin reacts to sunlight.

Attention: use is dangerous for pregnant women and during lactation, tuberculosis patients and people whose skin reacts to sunlight.

6. Add chicory, nettle, mint and valerian to black tea (ratio 2:1:1:1:1).Use as tea.
7. Take equal proportions of blackcurrants, oregano leaves and mint leaves.Prepare the infusion in a thermos (5 tablespoons per liter of boiling water).Drink 100ml 30 minutes before meals.The course is one month.
8. Eucalyptus (1 tablespoon leaves) plus boiling water (400 ml).After an hour, add glycerin and honey (1 tablespoon each) to the resulting infusion.Drink a quarter cup 4-5 times a day for a month.
9. Burdock juice mixed with water.Drink before going to bed for one month.

By the way, burdock is actively used in the treatment of cancer patients, so it is very useful in all respects.

10. And finally, the strangest way.You need to take the shrimp, dry it in the shade and then grind it into powder.A small amount of this powder is mixed with tobacco and smoked.After this, even the most addicted smokers should forget their addiction.

Good luck and may the Force be with you!