Nothing takes its toll on your mental health quite like trying to quit smoking. However many times you choose the traditional methods, you find yourself slipping back into your old ways and that failure can make you feel pretty badly about yourself. If this sounds all-too familiar, why not try a new method or tool for quitting smoking? Some newer approaches show promise, while other methods are as old as time. Make sure you research alternative methods in detail, as some are not as effective as others. Still, everyone is an individual, so if nicotine replacement therapy and quit smoking programmes alone aren’t working for you, consider these other alternative methods for quitting smoking:
1. Gradual Withdrawal: Also known as nicotine fading, gradual withdrawal is a process in which you either change to a brand with less nicotine content or you cut back on the number of cigarettes you smoke. This helps you to cut back on the level of nicotine you consume, but it’s important to remember that this is a temporary measure; your body gets to adjust to a lower level of nicotine, which makes you more likely to quit altogether. If you’d like to try this approach, bear a few things in mind:
- Unfiltered cigarettes or filtered cigarettes that do not contain the words “light” or “ultra light” are often a high-nicotine brand.
- Filtered cigarettes that contain the word “light” or “mild” are a medium-nicotine brand.
- Filtered cigarettes that contain the words “ultra light” can be considered a low-nicotine brand.
- Smoking fewer cigarettes and smoking low nicotine cigarettes is still hazardous to your health.
2. Cold Turkey: Most people try going cold turkey at least once. This involves forgoing the use of medicinal aids and just giving up smoking abruptly. However, the problem with this method is that you don’t make the kinds of mindset and lifestyle changes that come with other methods such as quit smoking programmes. Rather, you don’t make any changes at all to your daily routine, which just highlights the fact that this one, big thing is missing. More active approaches, such as nicotine replacement therapy and behavioural counselling, have been shown to be more effective.
3. Hypnosis: If you take part in hypnosis, you are put into a deeply relaxed state so that your mind is more open to suggestions that strengthen your resolve to quit. Hypnosis also aims to increase your negative feelings toward cigarettes.
4. Acupuncture: This is one of the oldest medical practices in the book, and is believed to trigger the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones) in your body so that you are more relaxed. When it comes to quitting smoking, acupuncture is often used to help quitters manage the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
5. Smoking Deterrents: You can get products over-the-counter that aim to change the taste of tobacco so that you don’t like it anymore. Smoking deterrents also include diets that claim to curb nicotine cravings, and combinations of vitamins. However, you should consult your doctor before embarking on any of these smoking cessation methods.
6. Supplements: Because supplements and herbal remedies are marketed as dietary supplements (as opposed to drugs), they do not require FDA approval. This means there is no evidence to prove that these pills are effective or safe to take. Again, consult your doctor before taking anti-smoking supplements, and be sure to look closely at the product label of any product.
7. Nicotine Vaccines: These are currently being developed and tested in clinical trials and aim to prevent and treat nicotine addiction. If approved, NicVAX triggers your immune system to block nicotine from reaching the brain, and should work for a year following each injection.