Once upon a time, there were no alternative methods for quitting smoking.  No prescriptions, no patches or gums, and no group therapy.  Smoking cessation was simply of matter of saying “no more” and meaning it.  Today, there are so many products on the market that are designed to make quitting seem easy and possible.  The funny thing is that it was possible before these products came along.

The astonishing fact is that, despite the plethora of aids available, the most successful method is still “cold turkey”.  Over 90 percent of long term ex-smokers quit by just laying them down.  These people aren’t superheroes and have no more will power than you.  They simply were willing to subject themselves to the nicotine withdrawal, recognize it for what it is, and wait for it to end.  That may be the reason why they are so successful at not going back. 

 

The first 72 hours of nicotine withdrawal can be difficult, but it will pass.  After that, it becomes less and less with each passing day.  That does not mean that all of these people did not suffer some sort of a relapse; they just controlled it if it happened. 

The problem with such stop smoking aids as support groups (online or physical), educational programs, and audio tapes to reinforce our commitment to quitting is that they absorb too much of our time.  This places smoking in the forefront of our thoughts constantly.  While perhaps useful for the first few days, many believe that these programs often allow cigarettes to control as much of our life after smoking as they did before. 

 

Why can this be bad?  Constantly thinking and talking about smoking can lead to a constant awareness of its absence.  A national survey by the CDC found that, of smokers who had tried to stop in the previous decade, over 47 percent of those who tried to quit on their own were successful and only 23 percent of those who used some sort of cessation program succeeded.  How much they smoked and for how long had no effect on the outcome. 

The problem with nicotine replacement therapy is that it addresses the nicotine addiction later.  While this seems to be the point of the therapy, it can cause problems for those trying to quit.  They can develop a false confidence believing that they have kicked the habit, when in fact they are simply still medicating their addiction in a different way.  Six months down the road, many ex-smokers are still using their NRT products.  If the product is not available, they will not hesitate to medicate with a cigarette.

 

Long term use of any NRT product is not believed to have any adverse health effects, and is preferable to smoking.  A nicotine patch addiction will not give you cancer and emphysema – the entire reason for quitting in the first place.  However, unless that addiction gets addressed, you are vulnerable to starting smoking again, which is exactly what happens to approximately 90 percent of those who use the products.

The fact remains that any attempt to stop smoking has to be internally driven.  If you are motivated to quit, you can do it without any additional help.  No one said that it would be easy, but quitting is not life threatening and totally within the abilities of the average smoker.  Nicotine may be addictive, but thinking of it as something that your brain or body requires to function is wrong.

 

It does not control you; only you control yourself.  The best program or stop smoking aids will only work if you are willing to quit.  If you allow yourself to believe that you “need” a cigarette or nicotine, then you have already lost the battle.  Instead, develop some coping mechanisms to deal with the withdrawal and habit modifications.  Exercise, practice relaxation or meditation, or simply keep busy with a project.  All of these are far less expensive and far more likely to work.