Which quit smoking treatment is right for you?
There are two general types of anti-smoking
medication approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Nicotine replacement therapies
will work to deliver the chemical nicotine that you’re
addicted to in small, consistent doses, in order to
help relieve physical withdrawal symptoms. By leaving
most of the physical addiction management work to the
medication, you are freed to concentrate on what many
consider to be most difficult aspect of the quitting
process – managing the psychological addiction.
Common nicotine replacement methods are nicotine gum and
nicotine patches. There are even nicotine inhalers,
(some are even shaped like cigarettes!) which release
a mist of nicotine and may help to relieve oral
fixation and give your hands something to do.
Non nicotine anti-smoking therapies work to block the
pleasure receptors which are activated in your brain
and which you associate with smoking.
Sick of patches and pills? Take a look at the Quit Smoking Today Method
Some treatmentsare actually mood stabilizers that were found to have
side effects beneficial for quitting smoking. You
could also become involved in a clinical trial of
nicotine vaccination, usually found in large cities at
research hospitals. Some nicotine vaccination
approaches include an injection that activates your
immune system to completely block nicotine from ever
reaching your brain, and may work for up to a year.
You might prefer an approach that does not involve
medication such as Quit Smoking Now, or just want to increase your chances of
success by combining chemical treatment with an
additional method of quitting. One of the most common
medical uses of hypnosis is for smoking cessation
therapy. Ask your primary care physician to recommend
a qualified hypnotherapist near your work or home.
Acupuncture is another alternative, which is thought
to work by triggering your body to produce endorphins
that help to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
Or you might want to try broadening your existing
support system. Many states have dedicated quit
smoking toll-free hotlines for you to call when the
craving hits. If your state doesn’t offer one, many
nonprofit organizations offer nationwide phone support
services for free. Use these phone lines on an
as-needed basis to talk you through your craving,
which will fade out in about five minutes. In recent
years the medical community has recognized the
effectiveness of focus groups dedicated to overcome
specific addictions. Alcoholics Anonymous is probably
the most recognizable and successful of these, but
they have been shown to be effective in treating all
types of addictions due to their use of the “whole
person” approach. If you can’t find a smoker support
meeting in your area, try starting your own!
The best quit-smoking treatment for you is obviously
the one that works. Make sure that your method is
practical for your lifestyle and either directly or
indirectly addresses some of the reasons you used to
smoke. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed the
first time around, instead congratulate yourself for
your effort, and have another go!
Click HERE to take the first step to quick your habit.