Want to quit smoking? Simple method from expert

The biggest motivation to quit smoking

According to the doctor, frightening images of the consequences of long-term smoking do not affect a person’s decision to smoke or not. However, the financial side of the issue plays a much more significant role.

When it hits your wallet, and when a person cannot afford to buy something, that is truly an effective method of dealing with it. Abroad, cigarettes are much more expensive than here. And fewer people smoke there, he notes.

So if you want to quit smoking but haven’t succeeded, calculate how much you spend on cigarettes per month and year. Then think about something you’ve long wanted to buy or do. The money you use to buy cigarettes could be directed toward other financial goals.

How to quit smoking

First of all, this should be done abruptly and by finding other sources of dopamine or relaxation.

It’s the same work as with other addictions. First, we must shift our focus to other types of activity. If you work somewhere, work more. If you feel like smoking, redirect your attention. Do 20 push-ups, talk to your loved ones, in other words, you need to find something that will bring you more pleasure, the addiction specialist advises.

You can also use various patches that work by replacing nicotine in the body.

Some medications are approved by the FDA. Bupropion is a drug used to treat nicotine addiction, the expert says.

During the first two weeks after quitting nicotine, irritability, anxiety, and sleep disturbances may develop, but this is temporary. The next step is not to give in to temptation.

Two weeks pass, a person has held on and then thinks, why not try one or half a cigarette? This is psychological dependence because, for many people, smoking is a form of meditation, tells Skrypnyk about the process of quitting nicotine.

The craving for nicotine can intensify monthly, so it is important to stay strong and not give in. Over time, the body gradually gets used to being without nicotine and no longer needs it.

When the smoking history is shorter, it’s easier to quit. The longer the smoking history, the harder it is to quit. Because we simply get used to it. So, quit as early as possible - the sooner, the better, the specialist urges.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.