The Long Game To Quit Smoking

The Long Game To Quit Smoking

Smoking is a harmful and very addictive habit. What starts out as a couple of puffs to “experiment” with friends can soon turn into a pack a day habit. There is so much literature on the harmful effects of smoking, not just on those who cultivate the habit but on others who are exposed to it second hand, that it is a wonder that smoking is still widely practiced today. Stopping that habit, especially if you have been at it for some time, can be extremely difficult. Here are some suggestions to help you do so: 

Substitution Works 

The reason that the volcano vaporizer in Australia https://www.vapesonline.com.au has become so popular is because it stands in for the cigarette or cigar but has only a fraction of the nicotine that makes up the original. It is not cheap, and the high quality brands that mimic the original exactly and yet have no nicotine whatsoever (most simply puff water vapour, hence the name) is a bit of an investment. But so much of smoking is the actual act of taking one out of the packet, lighting one, and then drawing on it. After a while the actual nicotine has little effect. It’s the pathology of the theatrical process that goes into smoking that provides most of the rush. By substituting a harmless toy instead of the silent killer, you are taking a step towards weaning your body off its nicotine addiction and dependence. This can also be achieved through chewing gum instead of lighting up. 

Change the Habit 

As mentioned before, quitting smoking is mostly about re-calibrating muscle memory so that it does not reach for the packet in the pocket. This is where buying vaporizers and online cigarettes no longer work. You need to ‘forget’ smoking and get your nicotine rush elsewhere. Once the physical habit is gone it is easier to wean your body away from the nicotine. Doctors and therapists who specialize in addiction and recovery can help prescribe nicotine patches, which are small plasters with nicotine cream on it. Once placed over a patch of skin, the nicotine is slowly absorbed into the body. Because it happens gradually and not in a rush like if you light up, there is less damage, although the long term consequences are still the same. 

Quit the People 

Every addiction therapist will tell you that the number one reason for relapses is a meeting with a friend or friends who tempted you in the first place. If your entire family drinks alcohol regularly and you are trying to be sober, you should definitely skip Thanksgiving this year. Similarly, stay away from friends and family who will offer you a fag. They may not mean much harm, but they are causing untold damage to you and your psyche by their thoughtless act.