Whats the best way to quit smoking? -
Personal experiences?
The 5 most common, worst mistakes made by smokers trying to quit were nearly all mentioned by the first responder. With all do respect, this isn-t a vitamin, chemical or replacement issue...it-s a 100% lifestyle change issue.
1. Tapering-off is the most destructive method to stop smoking forever, because it actually reinforces the smoking habit by using a reward-based philosophy that rewards the brain for its patience with a cigarette. It is the technique that is most commonly used and then cheated on.
2. Using physical replacements are equally hostile to success, because they remind you that you-d rather be smoking than crunching on a carrot stick or drinking copious quantities of water or sucking on a menthol stick, it still keeps you subtly connected to cigarettes...silliness.
3. Nicotine replacements, like the patch is also destructive and expensive because it keeps you connected to nicotine, which keeps you connected to cigarettes. What other addiction do people recommend using a synthetic form of the drug to quit that drug?
4. People trying to stop smoking on a major holiday or weekend or other personal day are setting-up failure.
5. Stop referring to the process as QUITTING. This is regressive and saps motivation. If we learned anything from the no-carb diets of a few years ago, you can-t quit something the brain likes or craves.
You must refer to this process as becoming a non-smoker. This simple change in terminology creates and generates desire, motivation and determination, the 3 essential elements to staying smoke-free for life.
First off, congratulations for WANTING to quit smoking!!
As far as answering, there are a lot of ways, and it also depends on how much you-ve been smoking. The best ways are slowly lowering your dose (takes a long time sometimes), or going cold turkey (which is faster, but harder). Either way, the last thing is making the decision to quit, so you-ll eventually have to deal with the withdrawal.
For the most part, when you deal with withdrawal, you-ll just have to tough it out, but there are some things that can help cleanse out the toxins and may help to minimize some of the effects of withdrawal...
Drinking water will help to detox, and taking some supplements that work as cleansers may help as well. Specifically, Apple Cider Vinegar, Green Tea (decaffeinated), Chlorophyll (fantastic cleanser), and even good amounts of fiber and water helps some people (although it-s not very comfortable for the lower level of detoxification you get).
All that being said, it-s likely that the symptoms should stop relatively shortly after your last smoke (it-s never as long as it feels like it is). Your neurotransmitters don-t take too terribly long to scream for something they are addicted to after you stop.
Another important thing to note is that no matter how bad it gets, taking more of the drug (and yes, nicotine is a drug) will only make the withdrawal last longer and will be harder on you in the long run. Good luck, and congrats again!
i smoked for 20 years and quit 40 years ago and i can-t say it was easy but i did it by taking it one day at a time. after i quit for one day i didn-t want it to go to waste so i wouldn-t smoke that next day and that went on day after day. it-s will power, i didn-t have any help. after i quit i was suprised at how well if felt physcially. food tasted better and my clothes didn-t reek of tobacco. good luck---you can do it