anyone who can give me basic steps on quitting smoking?

Question

My husband wants to quit smoking but he is having a hard time because habit is a habit and is not easy to quit...anyone who can help?

Answer 1

There are two elements to smoking addiction - physical and mental. Nicotine causes a physical addiction. It affects the brain by increasing dopamine levels - dopamine is the brain chemical associated with pleasure. Who wants to give up something that literally makes you feel pleasure? His body tells him that he NEEDS the nicotine, and that's a hard thing to fight. He can get over that through the use of a nicotine patch or nicotine gum. There's a new one out that has a candy coating to make it more pleasant tasting. There's also a nicotine product called an inhaler, that looks sort of like a cigarette. The physical addiction is usually overcome within a couple of weeks, although he'll be a bear to deal with during that time.

The mental addiction is the hardest to deal with. He needs to "just do it," and will power is a difficult thing to control. Different things work for different people. Some use hypnosis and reinforcement tapes. This worked for my brother, but if you have just one cigarette, you'll be back to your original habit within a week. My brother started smoking again after a couple of years. He quit a second time by using the tapes he bought from the hypnotist, playing them at night while he slept.

My father quit when I was a baby. He smoked three packs a day, and just stopped. He carried an open pack of cigarette around with him for a month after he decided to quit, and never once smoked. My grandfather did the same thing. Neither one ever smoked again. Of course, we define ourselves in this family by our stubbornness...

Other people need some sort of goal. Try planning a special event - a trip, a night out at an expensive restaurant, a show, a game - something that he will enjoy, but that he couldn't do every day. Agree that if he quits smoking, you'll do this special thing. If he smokes, it won't happen. It's even better if you put the money he would have spent on cigarette in a jar where you can see it accumulate. Use that money toward the special event.

Still others are able to quit by focusing on the long term. They think about the effect their smoking has on others around them - their spouse, their children. They think about the effect of long term smoking on their own health.

Finally, see if there are any support groups in your area for people who are quitting. Sometimes they just need to talk to someone else who is going through the same thing.

Answer 2

The most successful route is the hardest. Going cold turkey. Any other method generally leads to smoking again. It is hard but it can be done. I've seen 30 year smokers do it.

I've got a tip below but first a comment...

There is a mental mindset that one has to be in. First, is accepting the basic fact that you can't die from quitting cold turkey. It's uncomfortable but you aren't hurting yourself in any manner. While nicotine is extremely addictive, the body will more readily accept withdrawal from nicotine use than any other addictive drug. Second, he must commit to the act, and here's where you can help...not cheating. Allowing just one cigarette will lead to one more, and so one. Help him. DO whatever you can. I used the following technique on my friend...

He told me he was 100% committed to quiting, so we set up a rule. He could smoke if he wanted but he had to leave his pack with me and he couldn't buy another pack until the existing one was finished. I was allowed to do anything to the pack accept damage the cigarettes. So I would make it very difficult to get into the pack (I'd wrap it in tape, I'd put it up in the ceiling and tell him it was there, etc.)

Eventually, he realized, by the time he actually got the pack open his craving was gone. And THEN he realized if a craving can pass that easily, then it can't be an addiction that really has a hold on him. It worked great. He had maybe three or four cigarettes early on and then he was done for good (that was 12 years ago)

Good luck

Answer 3

I was hypnotised 5 years ago, smoked 40 per day went there for 1 hour and have not smoked since. Its a learned habit or function. When you a baby you learn to walk one step at a time. You then put all these learnings in the back of your mind, your sub conscious. The same happens when you take up smoking, your first few ciggies you will cough and splutter, learn how to do it right and put that at the back of you mind. So if someone tells you not to smoke, or you tell yourself not to smoke, you sub conscious is telling you to do it because you can. Think what if someone tells you not to walk, Your answer would be that silly because I can walk.
I had booked a session and the day before I was due to go , my mum died so I was under a tremendous amount of pressure, But 4 weeks later I went and its one of the best things I have every done. (MY mum did not die from Smoking related illness).
I went to a group called positive health in the London area and They guarantee the you will give up in one hour. It worked for me. For a fee of £250 I have actually saved a fortune. Good luck

Answer 4

If he really wants to quit he can. I used to smoke 60 per day, and I've quit 19 years ago. No regrets.
I smoked a pipe for about a year before quitting completely. keeps the hands busy. But the main thing is the will- if he wants to quit he can. Or else face the fact that some weed is stronger than he is.

Answer 5

It will cost a few bucks but it is also Free. Try a nutritional whole food product called Via Viente. I have several friends that have successfully quit using this product without having the usual ill effects usually associated with quiting like jitters or gaining weight. See the Peggy Fleming video at http://www.12weeks.info
I don't know exactly why this works but it does. Not only will you have the benefits of quiting but your health will improve so rapidly, you may choose to keep using this great natural product from now on. If you want to know more, write back to [e-mail]. There are answers to many health issues in this simple solution.

Answer 6

Giving up is unique for everybody, so find an approach that will work for you. This may be either the cold turkey strategy (stopping unexpectedly and absolutely) or a more steady reduction in the number of cigarettes you smoke daily. Set a date to quit-- and stick to it. Make it sooner as opposed to later. If you are giving up on your own, it is advised that you stop smoking completely on your give up date.

Answer 7

First he needs to set a date to quit.Second, he needs to go to his doctor and get his opinion on what he should use to help him quit.I quit September 06.I used the nicotine patch.Its going to take a tremendous amount of Will power and Patience.Your husband will also need support from his family, friends and coworkers.So make sure he leaves everyone who is in his life know he quiting.

Answer 8

I stopped two years ago cold turkey and chewed nicorette gum. My dr. says chew this gum forever just DO NOT smoke. I had a stroke due to smoking and taking hormones. First above ALL you have to have the will to stop. It is VERY hard. The answer is different to all but my answer has been nicorette gum. I use fruit chill, it is the BEST.

Answer 9

Toss out all cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters and anything else that might advise you of smoking cigarettes. Wash your clothing and clean your vehicle to get rid of the scent of smoke.

Answer 10

He just needs to really want to give up. Will power is all in the mind. Hypnosis may help to strengthen his mental state.