The Trick to Help You Finally Quit Smoking
…and it’s not to go “cold turkey”
Always Quit With Someone
Let me explain with some numbers.
Quitting with someone means two things:
- Teaming up with fellow smokers
- Trusting a professional
Two (or more) is Better Than One
Don’t want to do something? Do it with someone. This has been the hack since the beginning. You’d drag a friend to catch a horror flick, hit the gym, or ask a girl out (back when we did it in person). Having someone there when you try to quit smoking for the 10th time would absolutely help. What’s better is if your buddies are also trying to quit.
According to a large meta-analysis conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service (a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), group counseling increases ones chances of successfully quitting by about 30%. — Source Article
You may have noticed that the study was looking at group counseling. That’s because it’s always better to do it with professional help. Here’s what I mean.
Let The Pros Handle It
You’ll likely attempt and fail several times before successfully quitting and there’s no shame in that.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests 8 to 11 attempts. The American Cancer Society believes 8 to 10. The Australian Cancer Council is less optimistic with 12 to 14 attempts. — Source Article
Increase your chances by getting assistance from the professionals. There are effective smoking cessation programs out there like group counseling, independent counseling, physician/pharmacist-supervised cessation programs, and the list goes on.
Seventy percent of the 46 million Americans who smoke want to quit. But successful quitting rates are dismal. Smokers usually try to quit several times before permanently kicking the habit, and smokers who don’t participate in a smoking cessation program fail 95 percent of the time. — Source Article
Physicians and pharmacists grant access to medications while counselors provide valuable non-medicinal therapies that drastically increase your chances of quitting. A combination of professional assistance is the most effective.
Set up appointments with a few local healthcare professionals to see who you click with. Find someone who is likable, respectable, nonjudgmental, and competent.
Do Not DIY This
You’re saving a life, not building a bookshelf. As previously stated, you will likely try and fail multiple times before succeeding. Make sure you take advantage of all the tools around you to increase your chances. Keep it up and congratulations for trying.
Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. — Winston S. Churchill
