Being human means having to deal with all sorts of temptations, not many of which are beneficial to us. Human kind has managed to develop very bad things both for themselves and for the rest of the planet, causing destruction and health problems on numerous levels. Perhaps the worst are those that are easy to get hooked on and very hard and near impossible to break. These mainly include drugs, alcohol, and of course, smoking.
For the purposes of this article we will be solely focusing on smoking and nicotine addictions and talk about how you can control it if you are growing increasingly tired of tobacco products. Keep reading to learn how best to take your life back and take the initial steps towards controlling your nicotine dependency.
1. Replace Nicotine
There is something called nicotine replacement therapy and it is quite effective for anyone who wants to control and reduce their addiction. Different methods are used in this therapy, but three approaches proved to be the most efficient. The first are over the counter products that you can get virtually anywhere.
They can be patches, gum, or lozenges. Depending on what you are the most comfortable with, this is a wide enough choice for your initial cravings to start decreasing. Patches can be applied anywhere on the body, you can chew the gum multiple times per day, or take lozenges whenever you feel like smoking. The best results happen for those who combine all three of these solutions.
The second replacement approach revolves around nasal sprays and inhalers. These are more on the medicine side of things and not something you can always get over the counter. As a matter of fact, most are prescription products which means you cannot get them freely at a drugstore. You will need to consult with your practitioner and ask them for the prescription. Inhalers and nasal sprays are more potent and they are capable of lowering your cravings better than patches, gum, and lozenges.
Third option you can choose is prescription medication that contains no traces of nicotine. Two of the most popular and commonly used include bupropion, or Zyban, and varenicline, or Chantix. If you want something more serious than the short-acting replacements discussed above, this is the way to go. Again, combining the long-acting with the short-acting solutions depending on your cravings and the overall degree of your addiction is still the best course of action.
2. Vaping as a Substitute
You have probably heard of vaping, vapers, vape pens, and the rest of the terms surrounding the best alternative for smoking that exists. While its effects on the human body are regarded as more dangerous than nicotine by some, there is still not enough proof to confirm it.
In addition, since the products that these electronic cigars and pens use contain no tobacco, they cannot be nearly as toxic for the body. Because of this, vaping is a great way to control your nicotine addiction and to break away from the regular, daily need of tobacco products.
Numerous smokers who wanted to stop in the recent few years have first switched to vaping and similar modern solutions before stopping completely. It is said that no inhalable product is good for us because the lungs are not created to handle that type of work. This means that vaping is also not good in extreme amounts, but as a smoking substitute it is your best bet. It is so efficient because it mimics the actions you take when you smoke.
The movements you do with the hands, the holding of the e-cigarette, and the whole idea behind it are enough for the subconsciousness to cut its ties to tobacco over time. If this sounds like something you can take the advantage of and control your nicotine addiction easier, make sure to check out vapingvibe.com to learn more.
3. Avoiding the Triggers
Most smokers reach for their cigarettes in certain scenarios simply because they are used to. There are many who catch themselves smoking and not enjoying that particular smoke session, asking themselves why they even decided to light up.
The power of a habit is real and it holds great power over us. To limit your nicotine intake and slowly start to control it, try to avoid the triggers that usually make you reach for the cigarette pack.
Being at parties or in bars, drinking coffee, and the feeling of stress are the most common triggers for smoking. If you can somehow limit them for a while, just until you break away from your need to smoke, you may start to realize that you do not need five cigarettes a day, or even three. Soon, that will become one or two, before you are able to say no when you grab them. The final step is to begin your journey of quitting for good.
4. Delaying the Inevitable
If the above method sounds good but you just cannot do it yet, try this neat trick. Whenever you want to smoke and grab the cigarettes, make a short delay. Even a few minutes are enough in the beginning. Sooner than later, you will be able to postpone your smoke session for 10 to 20 minutes, and before you know it there will be no time in the day left to consume your usual number. While you are delaying the smoking, do something to pass the time quicker. The mind, and therefore your addiction, can be tricked in the easiest of ways only if you have enough patience, strength, and willpower to persevere and do it.
5. Give Your Mouth Something to Do
One final piece of advice for those of you who are well on their way towards completely controlling their nicotine addiction deals with being busy with your mouth when that sudden craving hits. If you take some sugar-free candy, fruit, seeds, nuts, or veggies, and chew or nibble on them for a few minutes, the craving may stop. It is all about the psyche and it could be the aforementioned habit kicking in, not your need for nicotine. Try it a few times and you will get hooked on something far healthier than tobacco that will replace your mouth’s cravings.