The journey towards quitting smoking
This great decision to quit smoking is not just an act of Self-empowerment but a devotion to living a healthier, and meaningful life. This transformative journey can be challenging but is filled with praiseworthy growth and a remarkable liberation arising from breaking free from physical, psychological, and societal constraints. We shall explore the methods you can use to quit smoking and unveil the benefits that await you. This journey will make you start fresh unburdened by past limitations. The journey to a smoke-free future begins right here, right now!
Position yourself to quit smoking
– As you position yourself for this journey it is important that you have a purpose as to why you need to quit smoking. This will act as a motivation and a reminder of how worth quitting is important to you. For some it may be because of their children, you do not want your children to end up smoking.
Others it may be because they want to improve their health, some could want to save and become investors and others could be doing it for their loved ones.
Having the purpose gives you the weapon you need to win in this battle.
– After identifying your purpose, you now start to seek support from relevant people. Some prefer seeking support from their family, others prefer seeking support from their peers while others from the doctors. This is a great pillar in this journey as it brings emotional support to an individual, allows you to be accounted for acts as a source of motivation, and as a source of professional guidance.
Once you have positioned yourself, you are now ready to kick start your journey to a happier you. The following methods are essential to help you in the smoke-free journey.
Methods to adapt to quit smoking
As we figure out the methods to quit smoking it is important that we first understand what happens during smoking. When one smokes a cigarette, nicotine found in it rushes to the brain and stimulates the brain to produce hormones that make us feel good this also creates more and more nicotine receptors in the brain bringing more and more withdrawal and stress until we feed the nicotine receptors in the brain.
Therefore, from the above explanation we can see that to stop smoking, we have to find a way to replace the Nicotine from cigarettes to become free from these cravings. The following methods are therefore effective in this journey.
1. Using Nicotine replacements
– Since this is a journey, we have to start with the first step, using Nicotine replacements. This method works by slowly releasing nicotine to the brain gradually reducing nicotine intake thus slowly reducing nicotine receptors with time than when taking cigarettes. There are many types of nicotine replacements ranging from nicotine gums, Nicotine patches, inhalers, nasal sprays, and lozenges.
– Nicotine gums – These are chewing gums that resemble the common gums and come in different flavors such as mint. They allow nicotine to flow slowly to the bloodstream thus helping in reducing the nicotine craving and withdrawal symptoms thus helping the smokers to reduce their dependability on nicotine.
There are strong nicotine gums and low-strength nicotine gums thus one is advised to start with the strong nicotine gums and then later to the low-strength gums. Nicotine gums are readily available without prescription in local pharmacies.
– Nicotine patches – These are small clear patches that are stuck on the skin. They also are divided depending on the amount of nicotine that they possess ranging from approximately 8 to 20 grams. They slowly release nicotine into the bloodstream thus minimizing withdrawal symptoms and smoking cravings. This aids smokers to gradually quit smoking. Again, one is advised to use a stronger patch depending on his or her smoking habits and then gradually reduce the strength as the dependency on nicotine reduces.
– Nicotine inhalers – These are inhalers that offer assistance to smokers by controlling the amount of nicotine taken in this tends to reduce the withdrawal symptoms and cravings for smoking thus aiding in the journey of smoke quitting. Users are advised to follow a top-down approach when using the nicotine inhalers. They are readily available in local pharmacies.
– Nicotine lozenges – These are small circular or oval pill-like lozenges that are dissolvable slowly in the mouth thus absorbed in the bloodstream and thus reducing the withdrawal symptoms and the cravings involved in quitting smoking. One is advised to take around 30 minutes before consuming the lozenges. They are readily available in the local pharmacies.
This being said It is a good practice before using any of the above methods to consult a doctor since some of these methods have side effects that differ from person to person.
2. Use of prescribed medicine
– Chantix – This drug targets the receptors in the brain that nicotine stimulates
thus, reducing the overall withdrawal symptoms and cravings resulting from quitting smoking.
– Zyban and nortriptyline – are antidepressants that are used to divert the neural transmitters in the brain thus reducing the overall cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Benefits that await you once you quit smoking
1. Improved sense of taste and smell
2. Improved appearance
3. Increased lifespan
4. Reduced risks of diseases
5. Improved impact on friends and families
6. Greater sense of control
7. Financial growth