Stopping smoking cold turkey is actually the best method of quitting, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. You might be tempted to cut back a little bit at a time, but the best approach is to quit all at once. Making sure you have strategies in place to help you deal with cravings and temptations is an important part of quitting cold turkey.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy offers you a nicotine substitute in the form of chewing gum, lozenges, patches, nasal sprays and inhalers. Nasal sprays and inhalers are only available by prescription. According to the American Heart Association, nicotine replacement therapy increases your chances of success when used in combination with a smoking cessation program. You can also use it without a program but then it might be less effective. Nicotine replacement therapy provides your body with a safe form of nicotine to help you deal with cravings and withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, irritability and difficulty sleeping. These cravings are often what triggers a relapse in many smokers.
Support
Getting social support, whether from friends and family, support groups, online stop smoking forums, a therapist or a combination of one or all of these is vital when you quit smoking cold turkey. According to the American Cancer Society, the mental part of quitting is often the most difficult because you have to change your routine and sever your emotional ties to smoking. Support groups such as Nicotine Anonymous may also offer a chance for you to get support from others who are going through or have already gone through this process. All 50 states have a free telephone counseling service to provide support to smokers when they quit. You can get information and a referral to a counselor in your state by calling Smokefree at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
New Habits
Many smokers have incorporated smoking into their daily routine. You might have a regular routine where you smoke a cigarette during your morning coffee break, for example. Or you smoke whenever you feel stressed or anxious; a cigarette is the first thing you grab in stressful situations. Having replacement activities for smoking that create new routines increases your chances of successfully quitting, according to the Federal Citizens Information Center. Try doodling, calling a friend, eating a piece of fruit or chewing gum whenever the urge to smoke strikes.
Smoking Cessation Programs
Smoking cessation programs teach you strategies to quit, methods to deal with cravings and offer support and information. Your place of employment, local health center, community center, religious organization or school may offer free or low-cost smoking cessation programs. You can also use the American Lung Association's free online smoking cessation course, Freedom from Smoking.
