Quit Smoking Without Willpower
Quitting can be easy. It doesn’t require going cold turkey. It doesn’t require willpower. What it does require is that you are clear about the reasons you want to quit. And it requires you to list those reasons, keep the list accessible and frequently review and give thought to the reasons you want to quit.
My guess is most smokers would like to stop. Scary medical, dental and social reasons are aplenty. Many smokers try to stop. I know that some of you ‘wanna-be-quitters’ stop for varying periods of time but get back to smoking. Now you are a ‘Stop Smoking Failure’.
It really isn’t hard to stop smoking. The beauty of my method is that you NEVER HAVE TO DENY YOURSELF a cigarette when you want one. Consequently…NO WITHDRAWAL! In fact, don’t ever tell yourself “Don’t Smoke” with this system. For a lot of reasons both your body and unconscious your responds to the word ‘Smoke’ and ignores the word ‘Don’t’. The more you say “Don’t Smoke” the more you’ll want to smoke.
So How Do I Successfully Stop Smoking?
- List all the reasons you want to stop smoking. Each person has their own reasons.
- Review the list frequently throughout the day. Some reasons will be more important than others. These will be the main reasons you want to quit. Make sure you spend time thinking about each reason. Not thinking about why you want to stop can prevent a successful outcome. The two reasons most important to me when I quit smoking 24 years ago were 1. I didn’t want to get sick before I got old and 2. I hated the fact that cigarette companies would kill me to make a profit.
- Make notes on yellow sticky paper about why you want to stop and put them in places to serve as reminders to talk to your self about them. (For example: On the bathroom mirror, on a phone, near where you drink coffee, etc.)
- ANY TIME YOU WANT A CIGARETTE, TAKE ONE...WITHOUT GUILT.
5. You will soon make better and better decisions, conscious and unconscious, about not
taking a cigarette. Soon you will no longer be a smoker.
Try it. It can’t hurt. You can do it! To increase your chance of success:
a. Get a quitting buddy - someone who wants to quit, or a non-smoker to talk to.
b. Speak with your doctor about using a nicotine replacement product, such as the patch or gum, and medication developed to help you not crave nicotine. It can help.
c. Avoid anything that triggers cravings, including alcohol, caffeine, and stress. It also helps to stay away from smokers for awhile.
d. Remember, when you quit, positive physical and psychological benefits start immediately.
e. Put away money you save by not smoking. When you quit, use that money to get yourself and your quitting buddy a treat. You both deserve it.
By Marvin Mansky, DDS, an Upper West Side New York Dentist
© 2007 Marvin Mansky DDS
