Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in Australia, with over 24,000 deaths every year from different diseases. Because smoking harms nearly all of your organs, quitting the habit is be the best thing you can do for your health.
There are ways to ease the transition from traditional smoking to completely quitting the habit, and e-cigarettes are one. But there are countries with strict laws regarding the use of e-cigarettes unless you have a prescription. Fortunately, some companies offer this service that has a variety of products that could help you.
Choosing The Best Plan
It is said that the first step is always the hardest, in the case of quitting smoking, choosing the best method which suits your lifestyle might be the hardest step because there are many available methods. Some methods may work better, or not, for you. Below are some known ways you might want to consider:
Behavioral Therapy
This method involves working with a trained professional or a counselor who will help you find the most effective way to quit. With professional help, you will be able to pinpoint key factors regarding your tobacco addiction like your triggers (such as emotions, events, and other factors when you find yourself wanting to smoke), the emotions that you feel when you start and after you are done smoking, and your realizations about these findings. With all this information, you and your counselor will be able to formulate a plan on how you will avoid the triggers so you can get through the craving phase.
Cold Turkey
This method is tricky as you will rely solely on your willpower without outside intervention. This method is usually the first choice of most who try to quit smoking, but it is also not the most successful because with no one else knowing what you are going through, they might be unknowingly enabling or tempting you when they smoke in front of you.
Medications
Medications such as Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion (Zyban) are options you can ask your doctor about. These medications may be added to your treatment plan. These medications are designed to reduce withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings and positive feelings when smoking tobacco.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Most of these products can be conveniently purchased over the counter, such as nicotine gums, lozenges, inhalers, sprays, and patches. These products contain the chemical substance nicotine, without the harm brought about by burning tobacco. As a result, the success rate for those who have chosen this method is high. For some, combining this method with behavioral modification, or support from a peer group, family, or friends, will give a higher success rate of ending your addiction to nicotine.
Combination Therapy
The likelihood of successfully quitting for good is highest when you combine two or more treatment plans, such as using nicotine replacement products with behavioral therapy. Another combination is prescription medications together with NRTs. But make sure to talk to a professional when you combine two treatment modalities because some medications might be contraindicated with each other. Once you are given the signal to combine treatment modalities, you can contact clinics like Smokefree Clinic online for nicotine prescriptions products.
The most important part of your success is your commitment to sticking to your chosen plan, no matter which method you choose. You can enlist the help of your family, friends, and loved ones to help you stay on track.
