Wellness 101 - How to Quit Smoking

So..you’ve decided to quit smoking. Congratulations are making one of the smartest decisions of your life. However, it’s not going to be easy…quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult things a person can do…period. There are many different ways to help you quit. But what worked for Jerry down the street, may not necessarily work for you. The key is to find the plan that works best for you…and stick with it! To successfully quit smoking, you’ll not only have to deal with your addiction to nicotine, but all the habits and routines associated with it as well.
But don’t panic, because we’ve got 5 steps to help you kick that nasty habit for good.
STEP ONE: Therapy
Behavioral therapy involves working together with a therapist to find out the emotional situations and triggers that cause you to smoke in the first place. And coming up with a battle plan to help you get through your cravings.
STEP TWO: Gums, Patches, and Sprays…Oh My!
Everyone knows that nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes. Nicotine replacements such as gum, patches, and sprays, give you the nicotine you crave without the use of tobacco. But remember, the idea is to end your addiction to nicotine, not merely replace it. That’s why these items usually come in different strength levels, which allow you to taper your addiction down safely and slowly. A word of caution here though, you can harm yourself if you misuse or overindulge these products, so it’s best to speak to your primary care doctor on how to properly use them, before starting any nicotine replacement regiment.
STEP THREE: Medication
Prescription medicines like Zyban and Chantix can significantly help you with your cravings and withdrawal symptoms while you quit. But these medications are not magic pills, you will still need to work through your old habits and routines.
STEP FOUR: Combo Treatments
You may be likely to quit for good with the use of a few of these practices together. For example, behavioral therapy in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy. Wearing the patch or chewing some gum, can help keep your cravings at bay and allow you to focus on what is really causing you to smoke in the first place.
STEP FIVE: Cold Turkey
When all else fails…you can always go “cold turkey”. Approximately 90% of people who try to quit smoking, do it without aides, therapy or medicine. Unfortunately, this is not the most successful way with only about 5-7% of people being about to quit for good on their own.
Thanks for watching! Repeat after me…you can quit smoking! I get it…it’s a really hard thing to do…but making the commitment is half the battle. The key is to not give up. Find a plan that works best for you…and stick to it. If you happen to re-lapse, don’t beat yourself up about it...just get back on the horse and keep moving forward. Don’t forget to smash that like button, Subscribe to our TH-cam Channel and share to all who are thinking about kicking the habit! Until next time this is Mr. Wellness saying be well and follow the steps to a healthier you!