How to Quit Smoking
If you want to quit smoking, start with your doctor, who can guide you to resources for cessation programs. A common way that many people try to treat their addiction is with nicotine replacement therapy. This means using a patch, gum, inhaler, or another delivery system for nicotine. You can reduce withdrawal and cravings and slowly wean yourself from cigarettes without exposing yourself to harmful toxins. Another common strategy is to go cold turkey or to try certain prescription drugs that don’t contain nicotine. Using behavioral therapies for smoking produces more comfortable and successful methods to stop smoking. Working with an addiction expert, you’ll find the emotional or situational triggers that lead you to smoke. Behavioral therapies, like dialectical behavior therapy, address smoking as a learned behavior. Therapies for smoking reinforce new healthy behaviors and teach coping skills when triggers arise.The Benefits of Quitting Smoking Through a Behavioral Therapy Program
When you’re trying to quit smoking, it can feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs available. But behavioral therapies for smoking give you tools to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. They also help you understand why you smoke in the first place and how to avoid relapse in the future. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits. Some of those benefits include:- Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer
- Improved circulation
- A better sense of smell and taste
- More money in your pocket
- Reduced stress levels
- Improved fertility
Behavioral Therapy Programs to Quit Smoking
Unfortunately, most people are not successful in quitting smoking. It’s challenging to do, and as with other types of addiction, there is no real cure. Medications like those for nicotine replacement help, but they are not complete solutions. Behavioral therapies for smoking and interventions, combined with medications, give you a better chance of quitting for good. The following are some of the techniques and programs that could help you quit:- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – In CBT, you’ll work with a trained therapist who’ll help you learn how to recognize negative thoughts and behaviors and change them.
- Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) – MET is a unique therapy that is short-term and uses techniques to help you quickly become intrinsically motivated to quit. Therapists practicing MET with you will use motivational interviewing, a strategy designed to engage you in conversation and uncover your reasons for being ambivalent about quitting.
- Contingency management – Contingency management can work for smokers more often with addictions to hard drugs like heroin. It involves providing you with rewards for not smoking. This is not a common strategy for smoking cessation, but it has been used with smokers and proven to work.
- 12-step addiction therapy program – Therapy programs based on the 12-step addiction treatment philosophy are available for smokers and can be helpful. The idea of a 12-step program is rooted in social support. You can likely find support groups for smoking cessation in your community, but many are available online.
