Smoking Cessation: Using Effective Methods to Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking may sound like one single action, but there’s lots of steps to take and hurdles to overcome in order to successfully do it. No matter how determined you are to quit, there are many obstacles to look out for and triggers that can make it difficult to stay the course of quitting. When you consider all the steps, quitting smoking is more than just throwing out your cigarettes and never looking back – it’s more like breaking an extremely addictive habit that’s bad for you.
As difficult as it is to quit, using the right smoking cessation methods and trying out smoking cessation products that work best for you can help you get through this tough process.
It’s never easy to break bad habits, but with the right help and guidance you can make sure that you’re not going through it on your own. The decision to quit is on you, but the process of quitting doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor. Read on to learn more about effective smoking cessation methods and planning your quit in ways that work.
Planning the day of your quit
It’s important to do some planning when you’re thinking about quitting smoking, and that includes choosing the day when you snuff out the cigarette for good. Choosing a specific day within the next month of when you first start planning to quit may be better, as choosing a day too far in the future may make it harder to follow through.1 Planning is important when it comes to quitting smoking so you can go through the process at a pace that works for you. When choosing your designated quit day, make sure you’re really thinking about the date and avoid choosing a day where you know you’ll be busy or stressed out.2 Cigarettes are something you’ve depended on, which can cause the quitting process to be overwhelming. Make your first cigarette-free day one that is stress-free so that the process of quitting smoking potentially runs more smoothly.
Build a support system to help you through your quit
Quitting smoking is a huge milestone and having support throughout the process will be very useful. According to the CDC, 55.1% of adult cigarette smokers made an attempt to quit in 2018, and only 7.5% were successfully able to quit.3 When quitting smoking off of sheer willpower becomes difficult, having an established support system to motivate you and hold you accountable can help. Let your friends and family know ahead of your quit date about your plan to quit and tell them how they can help you best.2 Even if you know your loved ones will support you, it may still be hard to ask for help. You can find extra help by turning to quit smoking resources and quit smoking hotlines to get the support and guidance you need. Find a support group that can help you meet and talk to people who are going through similar situations. Visit your county or state’s government websites to find a support group near you.2
Try smoking cessation products and medications
Smoking cessation products and medications are proven ways to treat nicotine withdrawal symptoms. In fact, using FDA-approved cessation medicines can double your chances of quitting successfully.4 Some smoking cessation products contain small amounts of nicotine that work to gradually withdraw users from smoking. This type of treatment is known as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).4 NRT products help relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms by supplying users with controlled amounts of nicotine while sparing them from other harmful chemicals found in tobacco products.4 Since nicotine withdrawal can make it difficult to stop smoking, getting small amounts of nicotine while drawing away from its dependence may make it easier to deal with symptoms. Although it’s possible to quit smoking without the use of NRT products, most people who attempt to quit smoking do not succeed on the first try.5 Using NRT products immediately after you quit smoking can give you a greater chance of successfully quitting.5
The FDA has approved five forms of NRT products: patches, gum, nasal sprays, inhalers and lozenges.5 Patches, gum, and lozenges can be purchased over-the-counter, while inhalers and nasal sprays require prescriptions.5 If you’re looking to start your quit journey with over-the-counter products, try Nicorette Gum or Nicorette Lozenges for fast relief that tastes great. For those that aren’t interested in a gum or lozenge solution, try the NicoDerm CQ Patch for 24-hour nicotine relief. If you are interested in trying nicotine-free smoking cessation medications, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription. Nicotine-free medications usually come in tablet form and typically work by reducing the rewarding effects of nicotine in your brain.4
While battling with the urge to smoke and other withdrawal symptoms can make the quit smoking process more difficult, using effective smoking cessation methods can help you with the most challenging parts of your quit. Visit the Nicorette Support Hub for more helpful tips and advice on quitting smoking.
