How to Get Rid of Nicotine Addiction

How to Get Rid of Nicotine Addiction

How to Get Rid of Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine: it's easy to get hooked, but for many people, it's almost impossible to let go of it. Nicotine is an addictive drug that causes changes in the brain that make you want to use it repeatedly. Many smokers have tried to get over their addiction, but they soon relapse, succumbing to painful withdrawal symptoms. While breaking nicotine addiction is admittedly a tough task, it is far from impossible. If you're tired of the smoke that destroys your body, and you care about your relationship with the people dear to you, the following tips can help you get rid of your nicotine addiction as soon as possible.

• Tell everyone you're quitting: Quitting smoking and ending your nicotine addiction is not just a commitment to yourself. In fact, one of the reasons why so many smokers fail to quit smoking is because they go through the ordeal alone. By telling your family and friends that you've finally made up your mind to stop smoking once and for all, you're making a commitment not only to yourself, but to your whole social circle. You may be surprised at how supportive people are, even smokers themselves. You can start by telling someone really close to you, like your significant other.
• Set a date: If you want to stop smoking for the very last time, you have to know when exactly you'll light that final stick. You don't have to do it instantly. Give yourself plenty of time to get used to the idea that you're quitting, like two to four weeks. As your pack dwindles and the quit date draws nearer, you may slow down smoking and stretch out a pack longer. The slower pace reduces your nicotine intake and readies your mind and body for the final stick ahead.
• List your reasons for quitting and read them daily: The grim effects of nicotine addiction on your health and relationship with other people are countless. Some people stop smoking because they're concerned about their health, while others have more personal reasons. Whatever your reasons are for quitting, it helps to list them and read them every day, so that you'll always be reminded of the purpose of your objective, and you won't lose your focus.
• Avoid smoking triggers: There are many triggers to smoking, such as: drinking alcohol, coffee, and hanging out with friends who smoke. Try to avoid these triggers as much as possible as they increase your urge to smoke significantly. If you do go out to drink, don't drink so much that you lose your inhibitions. Instead of drinking coffee, try black tea, which is very similar to coffee, and comes in either black or with cream and sugar. The real challenge is hanging out with smokers without smoking a stick. You may be surprised though at how supportive your friends are with your decision to quit.
• Throw away everything that's related to smoking: Nicotine addiction is as much a psychological phenomenon as it is a physical phenomenon. As your body craves nicotine, your mind will look for anything that's smoking-related. While forgetting about smoking completely is not in your short-term goal, it helps to get rid of everything that reminds you of cigars, cigarettes, even nicotine gum. Get rid of all your lighters, matches, and ashtrays. Don't even let yourself use a lighter for simple purposes such as lighting candles. Just get them out of the house for a couple of months until you're doing fairly well with your quitting program.
• Take some nicotine replacement drugs: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) involves the use of drugs that substitute nicotine from cigars or cigarettes for a period of time until you can handle withdrawal symptoms better. NRT gives your body nicotine in a safe form to give you some relief from withdrawal symptoms. The following are some of the most common and effective drugs used in NRT today. Take note that you should only take these drugs after consulting a medical professional:
  • Nicotine patch: The “patch” is a small rectangular bandage that gives the user a controlled dose of nicotine that's absorbed through the skin throughout the day. It's simple to use and comes in different dosages, depending on your level of nicotine dependency. You can use it even when you're in the shower or bathtub. Possible side effects include: diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and vomiting.
  • Nicotine gum: As you chew nicotine gum, a small of dose nicotine is released and absorbed by your mouth tissues. Each piece of nicotine gum is chewed for about 30 minutes. You have to pinch the gum between your cheek and gums when you notice a peppery taste and tingly sensation while chewing. When the tingling stops, chew the gum again until you notice the peppery taste, then pinch the gum in a different area of your mouth. Repeat this process until the nicotine is gone from the gum. Possible side effects include: jaw muscle aches, mouth ulcers, upset stomach, and dizziness.
  • Nicotine lozenges: Nicotine lozenges are very similar to nicotine gum. You also absorb the nicotine through your mouth tissues while you suck the lozenge. Pinch the lozenge between your cheek and gums when you notice the nicotine flavor, and then suck it again when the flavor disappears. Repeat the cycle until the lozenge is gone. Possible side effects are: coughing, headache, dizziness, flatulence, indigestion, and insomnia.
  • Bupropion (Zyban): This drug blocks the uptake of the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine by the body to reduce the desire to smoke. Dopamine is a chemical associated with feelings of pleasure, orgasm, love, anger, and others. Norepinephrine, on the other hand, is released by the body during stressful situations to make you feel better. Nicotine causes both of these substances to be released by the body, increasing your addiction to smoking.
  • Varenicline (Chantix): Varenicline is a prescription drug that blocks nicotine from entering receptors that are mostly reserved for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Cigars and cigarettes will taste really bad once you start taking this drug. Some smokers even compare the taste to burnt plastic.
• Don't take a puff; take a walk: For a lot of smokers, replacing smoking with something that relieves stress or cravings is necessary, at least in the early stages of quitting. One very cheap alternative to nicotine gums or regular chewing gums is walking. When you feel like smoking, instead of taking a puff, stretch your legs and take a walk outside your house or office. This is admittedly a hard thing to do, but once you try it, you'll see how much it helps take away your urge to smoke. You don't need a long walk, just long enough for the desire to pass.
• Eat some healthy snacks: Smokers often trade tobacco with food, so make sure you always have some healthy snacks with you. Fresh or canned fruit, pretzels low in sodium, and a bag of baby carrots will do the job perfectly. It's understandable that smokers aren't the most health-conscious people, so if you can't get into eating healthy initially, that's OK. It's quite common for smokers to gain a few extra pounds after quitting. After all, it's much better to gain a few pounds with food than to relapse into addiction with another stick of cigar. Remember though to watch your diet, or you may be dishing one bad habit for another.
• Do not make excuses for smoking: Your body will use every possible means to satisfy its addiction, even your reason. Lots of people talk themselves into smoking, especially when they encounter stressful situations that they used to deal with in the past by smoking. As your body craves nicotine, you'll find yourself rationalizing smoking until you decide to smoke a single stick. If this happens, shout the word “Stop!” in your head, close your eyes, and try to relax. Never give in to smoking even if it seems sensible to smoke in a stressful situation.
• Always talk to a person who has successfully quit smoking: As a smoker, you likely have many friends and acquaintances who smoke. While you don't have to leave your friends when you quit smoking, it helps to try and search for people who have successfully quit smoking. Talking to these people will help you stay on the right path, as their mere existence proves that your goal isn't impossible. It's much better if you have a friend who has quit smoking because you can talk to him anytime you encounter difficulties along the way.
• Try hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy modifies a subject's behavior and attitude to make him cope better with stressful situations and more resistant to dysfunctional habits. A consultation with a hypnotherapist typically involves gathering information about your personal reasons for deciding to quit smoking. Hypnosis sessions will include hypnotherapy techniques and positive affirmations to change your views about smoking. The hypnotherapist may also give you a hypnotherapy CD you can listen to at home. The cost of a hypnotherapy session is very small compared to the financial and health costs of smoking.
• Reward yourself: Remember that your task is not an easy one, and that people fail by the thousands to achieve the goal you're trying to pursue. Reward yourself whenever you get past a certain milestone, say, the first week or month. Treat yourself to something good and healthy or indulge in something nice. See also how your health has improved; for instance, the color of your teeth and skin. Tell your friends and family about your success, and then set your next milestone even higher.

Don't let your nicotine addiction further damage your health and ruin your life. Just imagine what you can achieve with a healthier body and a healthier mind. There's no better time to quit smoking than now.

* The best way to get rid of your nicotine? Say goodbye to smoking, and stick to your decision. It can be difficult at first, but as long as you have the right mindset and determination, you'll succeed. Follow these simple how to quit smoking tips.

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