People who are trying to give up smoking can find it really difficult to control their cravings for tobacco. The urge can be too strong and not without reason. It is difficult to reduce and completely eliminate the dependency on cigarettes. This is why it is important to remember that no matter how strong the craving is, it is mostly short-lived and passes on quickly enough.
Here are five ways how you can control your tobacco cravings and lead a healthier life.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – If you are seriously considering quitting smoking, then talk to your doctor and ask him/her to help get started on the NRT. You can purchase the nicotine nasal spray and inhaler on your doctor’s prescription. You can also buy the anti-smoking medicines like varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban). Still, there are some other types of NRT that includes patches, lozenges and chewing gums that can be purchased over-the-counter.
Physical Activity – Physical exercise has proven really helpful in curbing cravings for tobacco. Indulging in thirty minutes of moderate physical exercise can make the urges fade away. Try going out for a jog or a brisk walk. If you are not an outdoor person, try working out at home – doing squats, pushups, and stair climbing can help you get all the physical activity you need.
Avoidance of Triggers – The cravings for tobacco will most likely be highest in certain types of situations where you have previously smoked in. These can include parties, car drives, or even as simple as strolling in the balcony. Identifying these trigger areas can help you avoid these situations completely and prevent you from going into a smoking relapse.
Relaxation Therapies – Most people depend on tobacco to deal with their stress and anxiety issues. It helps initially, but when the dependency becomes too strong, smoking just becomes a habit, and a dangerous one at that. Resisting an urge then naturally becomes difficult. You can try out various relaxation therapies such as practicing yoga, listening to music, and so on. Even hypnosis can provide you the relief you are looking for.
Support Groups – Join a group that supports “how to quit smoking”. Such groups consist of members that are most likely going through the same withdrawal symptoms as yours. Talking and engaging with them can really help you control your urges and move on to lead a smoke free life.Apart from these, there is also a new way of controlling the dependency on tobacco and it is called electronic cigarette. Studies conducted by researchers have shown that using an e-cigarette is a plausible method to aid smokers in giving up the habit once and for all. A clinical trial was conducted by a team at the University of Auckland (New Zealand) where e-cigarettes were compared to nicotine patches in 657 people. The subsequent results were published in Lancet which reported that 7.3% of the sample population using e-cigarettes had given up smoking after six months, as opposed to 5.8% of those using nicotine patches. The study, however, didn’t include enough people to reach a definite conclusion as to which alternative is better. But in spite of this, it was found that “the 57% of e-cigarette users had halved the number of cigarettes smoked each day compared with 41% in those using patches”
If you are really trying to give up the habit and concentrating on getting happier and healthier, then trying one or all of these aforementioned ways can be of significant help to you. Remember, trying is always better than doing absolutely nothing. And every time you manage to resist an urge, you are one step closer in beating the habit for good.