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Money not spent on cigarettes today: $16.00 (2 packs at $8 each)
Money not spent on cigarettes total: $2,880.00
Money spent on Green Smokes: $171.15
Total Savings: $2708.85
Why do so many people continue to smoke despite repeated pleas from their friends, families and doctors? Is it because they really enjoy smoking? No – it’s because they want to avoid suffering through withdrawal side effects from quitting smoking. These smokers may need a medical scare like a heart attack before they seriously look for the best way to quit smoking.
Cold Turkey
According to the American Cancer Society, most ex-smokers believe that the best way to quit smoking is by suddenly stopping their habit. This is usually known as “cold turkey.” The quitting smoking side effects will begin in just twenty minutes after your last puff or twenty minutes after you first wake up. Although withdrawal symptoms are painful, they are temporary and often go away in one week.
Physical symptoms include the heart beating faster than usual; diarrhea or constipation; dizziness; suddenly breaking out into a sweat; dry mouth; headaches; problems sleeping; sudden intense cravings for food or alcohol; a feeling of squeezing or tightening in the chest and a runny nose. These symptoms can differ with each person. It can be very difficult to go through all of this without medical help.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Other ex-smokers claim that nicotine replacement therapy is the best way to quit smoking because the withdrawal symptoms are not so intense. Products like “the patch” and nicotine gum are now sold over the counter, but some devices like certain nicotine inhalers are available only by prescription. Many of these products also offer helpful tips and a website in order to get tips for dealing with withdrawal symptoms.
In order to cut down on emotional quitting smoking side effects like depression, mood swings and racing thoughts that can contribute to insomnia, your doctor may recommend that you take an antidepressant. Many effective antidepressants are now available in a less expensive generic form.
Hypnotherapy
Still other ex-smokers insist that hypnotherapy is the best way to quit smoking. This way, there is no need to use expensive nicotine replacement products. Also, there are no worrisome side effects. But there is no clinical evidence that hypnotism is reliable in helping people to quit smoking. But hypnotherapy or self-hypnotism can be safely integrated into other smoking cessation plans.
Your doctor can recommend a licensed hypnotherapist. Check with your health insurance to see if they will help cover part of the cost. You may need multiple sessions in order to learn self-hypnotism, but some people are able to get the hang of it in only one or two sessions.
