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Treatments to Quit Smoking

by Emily Brown King

Overview

Quitting smoking may be one of the most important things you can do for your health. As you probably know, smoking can cause cancer, heart disease and a barrage of other illnesses. Whatever your motivation for quitting, smoking can be a difficult habit to kick. Luckily there are many products and treatments available to help make quitting not only possible but easier.

There is help for quitting
Nicotine Replacement Therapy

One of the most popular methods used to aid in smoking cessation is called nicotine replacement therapy. This treatment method replaces cigarettes with a product that contains nicotine like a gum. Chewing the gum will help relieve common symptoms of withdrawal, because the body is still getting small doses of nicotine. However, it helps the user break the physical addiction to lighting up a cigarette and allows the user to get the nicotine without the added smoke and tar. It is easier to break a smoking habit because they are not simultaneously dealing with the withdrawal.

Non-Nicotine Medication

Medications such as bupropion and varenicline are also used as smoking cessation aids. The difference with these medications is that they do not contain nicotine, but other substances that can help reduce cravings and other withdrawal symptoms. Currently, these are the only two medications that are approved by the FDA for the treatment of smoking withdrawal symptoms. Their common brand names are Zyban and Chantix.
Hypnosis

In the face of powerful cravings and withdrawal symptoms, you might be doubtful about the effectiveness of hypnosis. However, there is a lot of evidence that hypnosis can be a very useful method of therapy to quit smoking. There are plenty of registered hypnotherapists that your doctor can recommend. In hypnotherapy, the patient becomes very relaxed and then the therapist will make statements that reinforce the strength and desire to quit. In this relaxed state, you are more receptive to these statements.
Accupuncture

Some people rely on the ancient practice of acupuncture. Acupuncture works by placing small needles at specific spots on the body in order to release endorphins that can relieve the symptoms of withdrawal.
Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is used to treat a variety of mental issues like addiction, anxiety, phobias and depression. It can be very effective at changing behaviors and patterns of thoughts. Behavioral therapy can teach you how to break your usual habits that lead you to crave cigarettes. You can learn to replace smoking with a safer habit or ritual.
Motivational Therapy

There are many practical ways to motivate yourself to quit smoking. The self-help books available on this topic are innumerable. Thinking about the benefits of quitting might be enough to keep you dedicated to your effort. Imagine how much money you will save, the years you can put on your life, and the impression that smoking makes on your children or loved ones.