Although the addiction is not, as some advertisements would have you believe, “as great as heroin”, nicotine is addictive. And, when you’ve been addicted to nicotine, the mere thought of trying to quit smoking can be extremely intimidating. People that withdraw from tobacco sometimes go through grumpiness and irritation. At times these can seem to be severe to the person going through the withdrawal. But what I’ve seen in my clients is that breaking the psychological addiction to the habit of smoking is actually harder than dealing with the physical withdrawal symptoms.
If you’re planning to quit smoking you’ve got to put together a mental plan of attack to face those psychological withdrawal symptoms. This can often be even more important than anything else you do since smoking is an emotional and social habit. By the way, it is also a habit of motion, as you move the cancer causing stick to your mouth over and over many times per day.
There are many ways to get psychological help for your addiction. They need to be done in conjunction with the physical removal of nicotine, not just before or after you’ve quit smoking.
One simple method is phone counseling The American Cancer Society offers this service through “Quitline”. Phone counseling puts you in touch with a trained counselor that can help you put together your quit smoking plans and give you advice as you move through the quitting process.
Since these counselors are familiar with the process you are going through they can help you to avoid some of the common traps and pitfalls that usually cause someone who has quit smoking to return to the nasty habit. Phone counseling is a convenient way to reach out for support because it’s available at all times and from anywhere you have a phone connection.
If you have a strong community of friends and family they can be very helpful when you quit smoking. In fact, many people who want to quit smoking don’t need to do anything more than to let their family and friends know they are trying to quit. This can be especially helpful if there’s someone you know who has already quit smoking. Not only will they understand what you’re going through, they’ll also be able to guide you through the process.
Some people prefer to quit in a group. If this is you it’s good to know that there are plenty of programs organized specifically for people who want to quit smoking. Many people find that the support of a group can be very beneficial in giving you the extra support you need in order to break the smoking habit once and for all.
If you feel like your addiction is strong, then try to find a frequent meeting that lasts at least half an hour. Try to find those with lots of experience. Some organizations will be intense, and others more flexible. My belief is that the more intense it is, the higher your chance of success to quit smoking.
You may discover that you prefer individual counseling over group meetings, but either way, counseling helps people quit smoking more than those who try to go it alone. Many people find that a hypnotherapist that is qualified in helping people quit smoking is one of the easiest methods to break the psychological addiction.
No matter what you choose to do, make a choice to quit the habit of smoking for good. It’ll be the best thing you’ve done for your health all year! If you'd like soe help to quit smoking I have a FREE Quit Smoking e-course.
Wishing you only success!
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