Best Way to Quit Smoking

What is the Best Way to Quit Smoking?

People who smoke always want to know the best way to quit smoking. Unfortunately, this is hard to determine because it depends on the person who is trying to kick the habit. What works for one person may not work for the next.

The most important thing is that you truly want to quit. Without this desire, you stand little to no chance of succeeding on your quest to stop smoking. You must also understand that beating a nicotine addiction isn't easy.

Nicotine is just as addictive as heroin and cocaine. After smoking for a period of time, you become dependent on the drug both physically and mentally. When smokers try to cut back on the amount of nicotine they ingest, they immediately experience nicotine withdrawals. These withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Restlessness
• Trouble sleeping
• Depression
• Increased appetite
• Headaches
• Dizziness

If you experience any of these symptoms upon quitting, know that they are common reactions. Within two to three days, your withdrawals will become much less severe.

Your Options

Mark Twain once said "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times." Perhaps like Mark Twain, you have also tried to quit before. The difference between those times and this time can be boiled down to one word: commitment. If you are committed to the cause, you will be able to quit.

Here are a few methods you may want to consider trying this time around:

• Cold turkey: If you want the nicotine out of your system and you want it out now, quitting "cold turkey" is the way to go. With this method, you simply stop smoking cigarettes. There is no medicine to take and nothing to ease the withdrawals. Though many smokers have had success with this method, it can be a difficult process.
• Nicotine gum: One of the first quit smoking aids on the market, nicotine gum is meant to give a smoker something to do with their mouth, while easing them off nicotine little by little. The most popular brand of gum is Nicorette.
• Nicotine patch: A nicotine patch is worn on the skin and is designed to wean you off nicotine in a gradual fashion. Such patches have been around for some time and many smokers have used them to successfully kick their cigarette smoking habit. A popular brand of patch is Nicoderm CQ.
• Prescribed medicines: If you aren't interested in over-the-counter aids, there have been several different medications that can be prescribed to you by a physician. These medications range from pills to inhalers and can be of great assistance in your quest to stop smoking.

To determine which of these methods will be the best way to quit smoking, you can take the Stop Smoking Quiz that appears on the American Cancer Society's website. This quiz will help you learn more about your smoking habits and determine the method that fits your individual situation.

A Final Note on the Best Way to Quit Smoking

Though all of the methods mentioned above have worked for other smokers, the best way to quit smoking is to think about what smoking will do to you if you don't quit. If necessary, keep a list of smoking side effects on your fridge, hang pictures of smokers' lungs around your home and office, and do whatever it takes to remind you how unhealthy this habit is.

Remember, the only way to quit is by being committed to the project. Stay strong and stay healthy!