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How To Quit Smoking?
Question: 33 year old male here and have bee smoking for 15 years or so, I would like to quit. Is there any suggestions or medications I can use to kick the habit all together?
Brief Answer:
several good ideas on this based on the very lates
Detailed Answer:
data from the XXXXXXX Society of Addiction medicine (of which I am sitting the boards).
First, motivation. Realizing, indeed visualizing the benefits of quitting (money, health, longevity, fitness, better sexual performance, etc.) and visualizing the consequences of Not quitting.
Second, nicotine replacement. Chantix is the most effective medication for quitting but if someone is on a LOT of cigarettes (2 pack a day) I recommend using other replacement (patch, gum, even e-cig)
Third realizing what is keeping you smoking! If you fail (and most do; most fail an average of over 6 times before staying quit), then finding what triggered and why
Several things that are helpful:
1) cravings can be helped by the nicotine replacement .. shown by really needing the nicotine first thing in the a.m.
2) boredom, sadness, needing excitement are other triggers. Visualizing the good and bad consequences when the trigger comes up sets you up to have the pictures pop up automatically with the trigger and will overcome the trigger eventually.
3) Other triggers such as context, visual triggers can be helped by putting a sticky note on top of them when you DON"T smoke.. soon you will be surrounded by signs indicating your success !
4) the overall millieu is very important for quitting. Telling .. (well, Everyone) others that you are quitting and setting a firm date for it is also helpful.
several good ideas on this based on the very lates
Detailed Answer:
data from the XXXXXXX Society of Addiction medicine (of which I am sitting the boards).
First, motivation. Realizing, indeed visualizing the benefits of quitting (money, health, longevity, fitness, better sexual performance, etc.) and visualizing the consequences of Not quitting.
Second, nicotine replacement. Chantix is the most effective medication for quitting but if someone is on a LOT of cigarettes (2 pack a day) I recommend using other replacement (patch, gum, even e-cig)
Third realizing what is keeping you smoking! If you fail (and most do; most fail an average of over 6 times before staying quit), then finding what triggered and why
Several things that are helpful:
1) cravings can be helped by the nicotine replacement .. shown by really needing the nicotine first thing in the a.m.
2) boredom, sadness, needing excitement are other triggers. Visualizing the good and bad consequences when the trigger comes up sets you up to have the pictures pop up automatically with the trigger and will overcome the trigger eventually.
3) Other triggers such as context, visual triggers can be helped by putting a sticky note on top of them when you DON"T smoke.. soon you will be surrounded by signs indicating your success !
4) the overall millieu is very important for quitting. Telling .. (well, Everyone) others that you are quitting and setting a firm date for it is also helpful.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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