Most people have the intention to quit lighting up but fall by the wayside because it’s not easy to stop smoking.
There’s a lot of information on how to stop smoking, but these solutions aren’t natural. Life Advancer suggests why smokers find a difficult to leave the habit. It also puts forth a few alternative solutions for quitting.
Why it’s hard to stop smoking
No smoker needs reminding that he or she has an unhealthy habit. This person wants to kick it but finds quitting almost impossible. Here’s why he or she might need a bit of encouragement from you.
1. Guilt and Blame
First of all, it’s common for a smoker trying to quit to return to his or her old habits. There’s understandably a lot of self- blame involved when this happens, and the person finds it hard to think about the benefits of quitting.
2. Withdrawal Symptoms
Also, smoking is more than a bad habit like always forgetting to clean the room- it’s an Addiction. Withdrawing from it causes headaches, sweating, constipation, and of course, an insatiable craving for nicotine.
This need for it is because nicotine is highly addictive. Once a person stops smoking, he or she won’t get the Dopamine they need. The shortage causes dysphoria, which makes him feel depressed.
3. Inability to Focus
Smokers also find it hard to concentrate without nicotine. People puff because it helps them think, and cope with stress.
4. Lack of Social Support
Furthermore, smokers need the support of loved ones. All too often, family and friends get irritated with their habit but don’t give them the tool they need to quit. Smokers need the motivation to stop.
How to Stop Smoking with These 6 Natural and Effective Methods
If your medication proves too strong for you or disagrees with you for any reason, you will find these natural quitting methods useful. Not all of them will work well for you, so take the time to discover one that will.
1. Acupuncture
First of all is acupuncture, an ancient Chinese remedy that involves correcting the flow of ‘Qi’ or energy in the body. The Chinese believe that a break in the flow of Qi triggers illnesses. Putting pressure on specific points in the body enables qi to flow and eliminate them.
Studies show that it prompts the brain to produce endorphins and eradicate the pain of withdrawal.
Acupuncturists target the ears to help patients stop smoking because they suppress cravings. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Associationhas protocols regarding ear suppression points for managing addictions.
2. Cardamom Seeds
Cardamom is a spice featured in many curry dishes. You’ll find them in the Indian Subcontinent, particularly in Kerala.
Potent and herbaceous, it functions as an anti-depressant that stabilizes cravings, including those for nicotine.
Commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine, this spice also cures mouth ulcers, indigestion, and depression.
3. Vaping
Vaping refers to the act of inhaling the vapor from an electronic cigarette. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol mist that has fine particles that a person who vapes inhales with a vaporizer.
Vaping doesn’t leave smells behind unlike traditional tobacco cigarettes. The vapors also dissolve fast. Another plus is that they are cheaper than conventional cigarettes. Studies have found that smokers who try e-cigarettes smoke significantly less than before.
4. Ginger Candies
Ginger has a calming effect on the body. It aids digestion, a plus for anyone trying to quit.
Furthermore, ginger enhances focus, which is hard for a person to do when he or she is trying to quit smoking. Sucking on ginger candies can help you concentrate instead of thinking about smoking.
4. Matcha Green Tea
Coffee can bring on relapses, so try a matcha tea herbal blend instead. Matcha tea helps to eliminate the craving for coffee, which determines how successful you are at staying away from cigarettes.
It also has a host of other benefits for the body. A 2014 study reported that it reduced blood pressure significantly and 2011 of research found that it lowered harmful LDL.
5. Aromatic Inhalers
Aroma oils reach the olfactory gland quickly and travel to the limbic system, which triggers emotions.
Different scents have different properties. Black pepper is an analgesic which gives you the strength you need to stop smoking.
6. Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis can eliminate positive associations with cigarettes. It can remind you that they are toxic and that you should avoid them. According to this review, it delivers results.
Things You Should Do If You’re Trying to Quit Smoking
Trying to end the smoking habit isn’t easy, and everyone wants their quitting attempts to last a lifetime. These tips will help you to quit smoking.
1. Have Patience
First of all, be patient. You can’t just decide to quit and stop smoking cigarettes within a week. Replacing the smoking habit with healthier ones will take time.
End the habit gradually. The more time you put between cigarettes, the more strength you will have to stay smoke-free.
2. Don’t Panic About The Future
It can be frightening to think about not having another cigarette. How would you cope when you feel stressed? But limiting thoughts like this may trigger a relapse.
Stay in the present. You can’t change what happened last week or control what happens tomorrow, but you can do everything you can to stop smoking today.
3. Stay Positive
The average person has 66,000 thoughts daily; two-thirds are negative. Banish the ones that won’t help you stop smoking, and be kind to yourself.
4. Don’t drink
Alcohol and smoking are partners-in-crime. Avoid drinking if you’re starting to quit, as it may trigger a relapse. The time will come when you can drink without needing to smoke.
5. Don’t be afraid to seek help
People with a healthy support system experience the highest quitting success rates. Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed at leaving smoking behind.
6. Remember why you wanted to quit
Recall what motivated you to stop in the first place. Staying focused on your purpose and goal will move you forward.
In all, there are no easy or fast ways to stop smoking, but you can do it with effort, patience and time.
Make the start today!
References:
We all aware that Smoking is injurious, and causes many dangerous diseases like cancer, heart disease, lung disease etc. Therefore if you are addicted to smoking, you are not only spoiling your own health and life, but also you are ruining the happiness of your family too. Therefore it is better to quit smoking and take a positive move toward your health and the happiness of your loved one.