Stop smoking at home: proven methods

Two of my colleagues decided to quit smoking at the same time.One of them managed to realize his intention and has not smoked a cigarette for three years.And another, like Mark Twain, stopped more than once - it lasted until the first event with alcohol.

In general, both have a happy attitude to alcohol, they can drink together on holidays or vacations, but one remains resistant to tobacco products, and the other is not.

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

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

"Let's smoke, friends, one by one..."

Everyone is more or less aware that a smoker's addiction develops at the level of the body and at the level of the soul.Physiological dependence develops over time;nicotine is a necessary link in metabolism.When the content decreases, the body feels the lack of something familiar and signals: "I want more!"

Advertising of anti-tobacco products relies on this addiction, asking to switch 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 reason for addiction is psychological.This is why you started smoking, it was before the first cigarette.Freud called smoking a consequence of oral fixation, the desire to return to a comfortable and safe state next to the mother's breast.For the same reason, people overeat or chew things endlessly.Because of this, by the way, the myth has arisen that those 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 an image created.Please note: in old movies everyone smokes.Aristocrats and actors blew smoke rings aesthetically;a cigarette among soldiers serves as a symbol of brotherhood;a cowboy puffs on a cigar or a cigarette;Holmes and Poirot excel when smoking;nothing can be said about India's peace pipe.Perhaps this is a ploy of tobacco companies trying to join the ranks of their victims."I would ban it even now if you found the same advantage profitable," said Napoleon III.

Romantic talent creates a belief: if you light a cigarette, you are a macho man or a deadly beauty;smart and mysterious;above others, chosen;a creative person;good man, true friend.Everyone chooses what they want, and only one drug is offered - nicotine.

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

What happens when you stop smoking?A person finds himself out of place in a company, shy and unable to meet a girl without a cigarette, experiencing constant discomfort, depressed for any reason, nervous, irritable, etc.Many face the risk of breaking and grabbing the "pot" again.

Talking about the dangers of smoking for health: lung cancer, gangrene of the legs, problems with blood vessels, heart, stroke, heart attacks, bad skin, difficulty getting pregnant, problems with potency, the prospect of early death - does not enlighten, but only irritates the smoker.

Even if your voice is hoarse, plaque has appeared on your teeth and tongue, chest cough, shortness of breath, phlegm, pain, insomnia, throbbing in the temples - the first symptoms of the coming problem - this will not help you overcome your addiction.Education (memos to schoolchildren and parents, lectures by doctors, instructions from sports coaches, etc.) plays a major role at the prevention level to prevent people from smoking their first cigarette.

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

That is why, if you decide to quit smoking, it is important to know the root of the problem - to understand what smoking brings to you (what can be eliminated) and how to meet this need in different ways.Otherwise, the smoker will be hindered by the fear that he loses something by giving up nicotine and will be left without support and support.

Realize that this is an addiction and you have nothing to lose, but get rid of it.

Ways to get rid of addiction

• "Various proprietary techniques. Here are two of them: "Easy Ways to Quit Smoking" by Allen Carr. I interviewed a dozen friends who were ex-smokers, and three of them responded that this book had helped them.It was written in 1985 and is still the world's most popular guide to quitting smoking.Postulate:It's easy to start living without nicotine at any age;willpower is not only unnecessary, but an obstacle.Those who quit smoking with the help of willpower, according to the author, experience torment - because of the feeling that they overcome something, endure difficulties.There is no point in fighting tobacco cigarettes - the war is exhausting.You just have to make a conscious decision and "not hope, but know that you have already 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 convinces readers that they will only benefit by giving up the addiction. "Four Rotten Sighs" by Vladimir Zhdanov- a well-known technique.Designed to induce aversion to smoking.To do this, the sensation from smoking is brought to the maximum: tobacco smoke must be kept in the mouth, chewed with the mouth closed and your head thrown back.After 30 seconds, you can push the smoke into your lungs.You will want to cough, you will choke, you will start to feel sick - but you have to take 2 more puffs while chewing the smoke.The fourth time you need to take a lung full of smoke.Then, straining your stomach muscles, cough it up for a long time.Record on the pack the date and time when you took 4 sniffs.You can't smoke anymore.If it becomes unbearable, chew the smoke again.
• With the help of a doctor.If you believe more in traditional medicine or suffer from chronic diseases, you can contact the medical center.Discuss with a specialist whether to quit immediately or gradually, whether it is worth replacing cigarettes with something else at first.The doctor will advise the diet, choose sedatives, antidepressants, monitor blood pressure and monitor changes at different levels.
• Coding, hypnosis.It affects the subconscious, its goal is to develop a conditioned reflex to smoking.The specialist can put the patient in a state of hypnotic sleep, but this is not necessary.

So, a good friend of mine once downloaded for his mother, a smoker with almost 30 years of experience, a psychotherapy session aimed at getting rid of addiction quickly.Mom watched the video, and a few days later the family suddenly realized that he did not smoke.It didn't last, I even threw away the open pack.Shocking, but true: more than 10 years have passed since then.

• Neurolinguistic Programming.One of the presuppositions (axioms) of NLP is: "Change can happen instantly."Various NLP techniques aim to quickly replace negativity with positive reprogramming awareness.You can contact a psychologist who uses this method.
• Acupuncture.Changing conditioned reflexes, ie smoking.Reflexologists act on certain points and interrupt the chain of impulses.

You yourself can, whenever you want to smoke, use your fingers to massage the point in front of the throat, in the middle of the hole at the base of the neck, in the depression.

Press hard until it hurts, count to threeand let go.Repeat 15 times.It is better to do the procedure while sitting or lying down - weakness and dizziness may occur due to a decrease in pressure.

• Abrupt elimination of cigarettes in a new environment, with one step.Living in remote places without access to smoking products or traveling with non-smoking friends.In a month you can change: clean yourself and get used to not smoking.Radical and effective.
• Involve yourself in work, sports and creativity.Participation in congresses, festivals, competitions, etc.You need a calendar without days off, a busy schedule to quit smoking.The point is to make it interesting, then you will tend to remember your habit - sorry, addiction.
• Restructuring of consciousness: passion for spiritual teachings, healthy lifestyle, departure to eco-village, pilgrimage to holy places, and the like.One of my friends quit smoking, influenced by Torsunov's lectures, Ayurveda, and Krishnaism.Many years have passed since then, he is no longer a Hare Krishna, he is neutral towards religion, but he still does not smoke.

Here it is important to monitor your own roof, that is, your soul;there is a risk of becoming a fan, a sectarian, a hostage of black teachings.But in general, it is an effective way;it's not for nothing that in rehabilitation centers they often change their addiction to alcohol or drugs to adhere to a religion.

• Substitutes: Electronic cigarettes.The method is controversial.Now they say that using it is dangerous, the ingredients in it are toxic, and the effect of cigarettes themselves as a way to stop smoking is small.Nevertheless, there are people whom it really helps.Nicotine gum, tablets, patches, hookah, herbal cigars, vape and the like.Allan Carr absolutely calls to stop smoking immediately, once and for all, and forget about the cigarette substitute.But, as practice shows, many people use it successfully.For example, the colleague mentioned at the beginning of the material stopped smoking, gradually reducing the number of cigarettes, while taking popular anti-smoking pills.He has strong motivation.Therefore, you can choose any method, just stick with the decision to quit smoking forever.
• Stop - that's it.An old friend of mine, a former heavy smoker with 20 years of experience, did just that - without books, techniques, gum or e-cigarettes.And he did not believe that it was difficult to overcome it on his own.After all, the main thing is to make a decision!

Advice for the brave

What time to start a new life?There is an opinion that if a cigarette helps you relax after hard work, you should give it up on vacation, when you are not stressed.If, on the other hand, you used to smoke while on vacation, then during the withdrawal period you need to load yourself with activities to the fullest.

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

1. If possible, remove anything associated with smoking from sight, hearing and smell.Throw away ashtrays, lighters, cigarettes.
2. If you decide to stop gradually, buy one pack only after finishing the previous one.Do not take in blocks.Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.Smoke only half of the cigarette and do not inhale deeply.Wash your hands, change your clothes so you don't smell tobacco.
3. Try to consciously be in a balanced state, avoid stressful situations.
4. Try to be interested in something.If you already have a hobby, devote more time to it.
5. Prepare yourself with pleasant physical activity: slow jogging in the morning, gym, fitness, yoga, wushu...
6. Breathing exercises have proven themselves to be very effective in the fight against smoking.Try yoga breathing or other similar practices.They help fill the body with oxygen, calm the mind and soul.It is best to work out with a trainer first - he will make sure you are doing 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 smell the smoke.But don't go too far, so as not to get out of society and feel lonely.If your friend smokes, this is not a reason to avoid them or envy them, change your attitude to the situation: you have freed yourself, but they have not yet.It is not smoking that brings them pleasure, but they cannot enjoy life without smoking.
9. Those who have gone through this path say that the first week is the hardest (but it is quite possible to bear it!), And after three weeks without nicotine, the body is cleansed, rebuilt, and improvement occurs.

Treat your condition as a bit of an illness, try not to succumb to brain tricks like "a cigarette", "it's hard not to smoke now, I'll choose a more suitable time to quit."Keep a diary: "I quit smoking - the consequences during the day."Pay attention to your feelings and record the results: a week, a month, three without poisoning yourself.

If it is difficult for you to quit smoking immediately, try this scheme:

The first 10 days - 15 cigarettes a day.
Another 20 days - 10 cigarettes.
The next month - no more than five pieces per day.
Then, every week, reduce the number of "nicotine sticks" smoked by exactly one piece.As a result, in three months you will reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to zero.

Review your diet

In general, sweets help to overcome drug addiction, but give preference to slow carbohydrates, such as fruits (not sweets).

• Drink more clean water - it cleanses the body and reduces the desire for nicotine.
• Be sure to eat honey - stir a teaspoon in a glass of water in the morning and drink on an empty stomach.
• Increases vitamin C reserves - nicotine removes it from the body.Citrus and currant juices will replenish the supply of these vitamins and help in your anti-tobacco campaign.
• Avoid alcohol and coffee.Reduce eating spicy, smoked and salty foods - all these trigger smoking.Recommendedliver, boiled potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, peanuts, beans, legumes, bread, sea fish, carrots and other products with a small nicotinic acid content.

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

• Take with you and chew when you want to smoke: cheese "strings" (if you want, in a pack of cigarettes, just watch the calories so as not to gain weight);pineapple - fresh or sweetened without sugar;nuts, seeds (preferably pumpkin seeds);dried fruits.
• Drink milk - it is now due to you "for its dangers", it cleans the lungs, throat and bronchi.
• Scrolling lemon and honey through a meat grinder (1:1) will also help remove the effects of smoking.For a month, eat a spoonful before meals.

How to reduce the desire to smoke - popular advice

1. Chew horseradish and plantain (fresh leaves in equal quantity).The juice should be swallowed and the vegetables should be spit out.Do not drink or eat excessively.Repeat several times a day.

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

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

Oats are generally very good for withdrawal symptoms.It restores energy, calms, improves sleep, and creates an aversion to nicotine.

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

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

Attention: it is dangerous to use for pregnant and lactating women, tuberculosis patients, and people whose skin reacts to the sun.

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

Burdock, by the way, is actively used in the treatment of cancer patients, so it is useful from all sides.

10. And finally, the most exotic way.You need to get crayfish, dry it in the shade, then grind it into powder.A small amount of this powder is mixed with tobacco and smoked.After this, even the most avid smoker should forget about his addiction.

Good luck and may the Force be with you!