Are you someone who has tried to quit smoking many times but has been defeated by your cravings? Don’t worry. You are not the only one. There are many smokers who have tried and failed several times in this journey. So, how to get rid of smoking once and for all? Let’s look at some of the most effective ways to get rid of this health hazard in this article.
Diseases Caused by Smoking
- Before learning the ways to get rid of smoking, let’s have a look at the harmful diseases caused by this habit. Some of the harmful diseases caused by smoking include the following:
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Lung diseases
- Diabetes
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Heart Disease
It also increases the risk for developing the following diseases:
- Tuberculosis
- Certain eye diseases
- Immune problems such as rheumatoid arthritis.
8 Ways to Get Rid of Smoking
Listed below are some of the most beneficial ways to get rid of smoking:
1. Nicotine Replacement Therapy
You cannot always quit smoking without taking the help of therapies and treatments. It is why many experts advise clients to take nicotine replacement therapy in order to let go of smoking forever. It helps you by making the after-effects of smoking easier, like cravings. Nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, and inhalers are examples of short-acting nicotine replacement therapies.
Long-acting nicotine patches or a non-nicotine medicine are also among these therapies. Furthermore, electronic cigarettes can also be used as an alternative to regular cigarettes. However, you must always consult a doctor before trying any of these therapies because they will advise you on the best one according to your condition.
2. Stay Away from Triggers
Avoid people, places, and things that can urge you to smoke. Stress, alcohol, caffeine, and socializing with smokers are all common triggers. Another tip is to throw away cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays and stay in places that don’t allow smoking.
3. Don’t Give In to Your Cravings
To satisfy a tobacco addiction, you may be tempted to smoke just one cigarette. But you should remind yourself that it will never be enough. Having one usually leads to another, and you may wind up using tobacco again. Have a strong aim and avoid smoking at all costs.
4. Keep Remembering the Benefits of Quitting
Whenever you feel like going back to this harmful habit, just take a moment and remember why you quit in the first place. Think about all the bad things a cigarette does to your body and the diseases it can cause. Many people think about their children, partners, or parents while quitting, so you can picture them as well.
5. Change Your Company
Do you have a lot of office colleagues or friends that get together to smoke occasionally? Maybe they are the ones that are tempting you to smoke. Keeping a distance from these people can be helpful when you want to quit smoking. You can either socialize with other people or ask your friends not to smoke in your presence politely.
6. Keep Your Mouth Busy
To fight a cigarette craving, give your tongue something else to do. Some things that you can eat or chew to avoid cigarette cravings include:
- Sugarless gum
- Hard candies,
- Raw carrots
- Nuts like almonds
- Seeds like sunflower seeds
7. Don’t Think History Will Repeat Itself.
Although you may have tried and failed to quit smoking in the past, don’t give up. Consider what your experience has taught you and how you want to do things differently this time. No doubt that it can be very challenging to overcome your thoughts and to overthink but remember why you want to get rid of smoking and all its disadvantages.
8. Seek Professional Help
There is nothing wrong with you not being able to quit easily. Many people face hurdles and have difficulty because of their emotional and physical dependence on nicotine. Therefore, it will be difficult to stay away from it. To be able to stop, you must first address your dependency. Counseling programs, self-help resources, and support services can all help you get through this difficult period. Your emotional symptoms will improve as your physical problems do.
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Some of the benefits of quitting the harmful habit of smoking include:
- Improves Overall Well-being: improves one’s health and quality of life.
- Reduces risk of death: it will decrease the risk of premature death and can increase life expectancy by up to ten years.
- Low-risk of Disease Development: decreases the chance of a variety of negative health consequences, including poor reproductive health outcomes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer.
- Reduces financial burden: decreases the financial impact of smoking on smokers, healthcare systems, and society.
The Bottom Line
Smoking not only damages your physical health but also makes you dependent on harmful substances rotting your mental health. Quitting this dangerous habit is not an easy task, and you may have failed at it many times before. However, with the tips on how to get rid of smoking given here, you can find a solution and make a plan. Quitting smoking will enhance your health, as well as the quality and length of your life, as well as the lives of people around you. To quit smoking without facing failure, it is recommended to consult a psychologist. You can now consult the Best Psychologists in Pakistan via Marham.
