If At First You Don't Succeed…

The unfortunate truth is that many, many smokers (as many as 90%) do not manage to quit their habit on the first attempt. Most will need at least three attempts at kicking the habit, while others may takes months if not years to eventually end their addiction to cigarettes. It’s a restless cycle that is seemingly endless; you fail, you try again, you fail, you try again but slightly jaded from last time… and so it continues. With each subsequent failure, you become more convinced this is a habit for life, and the belief you can actually quit dissipates – quite literally – in a cloud of smoke.

Motivation is a key factor when it comes to quitting smoking; you need to feel good about your chances of success. If you go into an attempt to quit feeling you probably won’t succeed, you immediately lessen your chances of actually succeeding. It’s a tricky psychological trap to fall in to, but one that nevertheless catches people out every time.

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘mind over matter’? This sums up attempting to stop smoking perfectly. With each attempt, you need to try and place yourself in a mindset that this is your first attempt and it will work. Even though you have historical evidence to the contrary, the only way to kick the habit is to genuinely believe you can.

It isn’t easy; if it was, there wouldn’t be a thousand products on the marketplace offering various ways and means of quitting. If you haven’t been successful in your attempts before, an already difficult situation seemingly becomes impossible. To tackle it, you need to face the issue head on.

Write down why you think your last attempt failed. Be brutally honest; if the answer is ‘lack of willpower’, write that down. If you had outside influences – maybe a particularly stressful time at work, or a friend offering you ‘just one’ that turned into a return to old habits – then record these too.

When you have identified the cause of your stalled attempt, you can begin to tackle it. Look at the problem and work it. If, for example, willpower was the problem – you might need to increase your Nicotine Replacement Therapy for your next attempt. If you had a friend offer you ‘just one’, resolve to inform that friend that you really do want to quit this time and you would appreciate it if they didn’t tempt you. Or even if you suddenly found yourself in a stressful situation and needed the reassurance and comfort of a cigarette, you can try to arrange your schedule so that the first week of your new quitting attempt is as stress-free as possible. Whatever the cause, there is a workaround for it.

Only by identifying where you went wrong before can you really be assured of success in the future. When you’ve noted both the problem and how you’re going to fix it, imagine yourself putting a line under the entire episode and considering it closed. There is no point dwelling on past problems, particularly if they are going to bother your present and future success. With your fix, you can find your closure.

Start every new attempt like it is the first; previous failed attempts are now a closed chapter, something you are not and will not going to return to. Provided you identify the problem and work out how to solve it, there is no reason why this attempt to quit smoking won’t be the one that sticks for good.

Quit Smoking Support Groups: Are They Worth It?

In this therapy-friendly age, it was only a matter of time before attentions turned to those trying to quit smoking. Low and behold, one can now find a wealth of support groups designed to help people kick the habit once and for all – and in some countries, the support group initiative is sponsored with Government money. Support groups would appear to be the latest ‘in’ trend for those looking to stop smoking.

However, many have taken to internet forums to query if such group therapy sessions are really worth it – and with good reason. Group therapy is a recognised treatment pattern for many forms of illness and addiction, but it does seem a little extreme to apply the same therapy principles to smoking cigarettes as one would to crack cocaine or crystal meth. Smoking, after all, is not a lifestyle-adjusting drug and it is not illegal… so are ‘quit smoking support groups’ trying to crack a nut with a sledgehammer?

Whether or not you will respond to group therapy depends entirely on you as a person. For a start, group therapy – of whatever kind – requires an openness and frankness that many of us are just not capable of. While it can be a release in the cases involving alcohol and drug addictions – where the primary addiction is usually hidden from friends, therefore there is a relief in discussing the issue with other people – for most smokers, they have friends and family who also smoke. Therefore, that classic relief is immediately removed – there’s never been anything hidden about a smoking habit for the vast majority of people.

The idea of standing in front of a group and talking about personal problems is something that numerous people, naturally, shy away from. However, for others, there is a lot to be gained – working on the old philosophy of ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. So it really is subjective, and the success of group therapy depends entirely on how you feel about talking on personal issues in front of a group of people.

The aim of support groups is to make people feel less alone, and to invite and trade tips on how to deal with kicking a habit. They also apply a certain amount of social pressure; for example, some alcoholics have admitted fighting cravings solely because they do not want their support group members to be let down. While this is encouraging, whether or not the theory transfers to smoking is open for discussion. Considering you probably have friends who smoke – and therefore, a set of people who would be pleased to see you pick up the habit again – the idea of a disapproving support group is not quite so powerful.

It is also worth remembering that quit smoking support groups are only part of an overall strategy aimed at you quitting smoking for good. They will not work alone, and will also take up time you possibly don’t have to spare. Considering the wealth of information and forums on the internet, it may be best to join up to an internet support group rather than attend a session in person. This way, you can be honest about personal issues as you are shielded by the natural anonymity of the internet – and you won’t need to make space in your schedule, either, as you can come and go as you please.

Nicotine Withdrawal Angst: How To Control It

If anything is a given when you’re quitting smoking, it’s this: you are probably going to be a little more irritable than you usually are. In fact, that’s something of an understatement – many people find themselves becoming an angry, half-crazed person during their first few weeks of kicking the habit.

The reason for this sudden burst of irateness is simple: nicotine withdrawal. It’s a painful, and physical, withdrawal process which leaves most of us wannabe quitters feeling on edge and jumpy. We become more likely to snap at people – often without reason – and generally radiate an aura of unpleasantness. A recent survey of office workers produced results which surprised no one; in terms of office stress, colleagues say having a workmate quit smoking is a high cause of tension and anxiety.

So, how to deal with it? Unfortunately, one cannot complete escape the inevitably of those first few weeks and the damage they can wreck on your emotional well-being. All you can do is learn to manage it, and hope your friends, family members and work colleagues will be understanding of the pressure you’re under in your attempts to kick the habit.

The first, and most important thing, is to tell people in advance that you plan to quit smoking – people need to be warned of the impending annoyance! Be up front and honest, and say that while you very much hope you will remain rational and in control of your emotions; you have to admit that may not be the case. Reassure everyone that if you do go off the rails, it isn’t about them, it’s about you. This may go some way to limiting the damage your seemingly limitless rage has.

Secondly, it’s time to organise your schedule. The worst days for the nicotine withdrawal rage are the first seven days after you quit. Wherever possible, organise things so you’re not having to deal with big, external pressures – if there’s any big meetings or family events you can postpone, do so. Better yet, postpone your quit smoking attempt until you have a relatively clear diary for the first week. By choosing the time you quit wisely, you are both more likely to succeed and less likely to snap at someone you really should not be snapping at.

Finally, when you’re in the moment and you feel like screaming at someone for no reason, it’s time to introduce the old “count to ten” trick. Pause in what you are doing, and silently count – slowly – from one to ten in your head. Say it like so: “one one thousand. Two one thousand. Three one thousand…” etc. By the time you have reached ten, take some deep breaths and do the best you can to calm yourself down. By giving yourself this cleansing, ten second period, you are less likely to lose your rag.

However, even with the above method, you may still have moments when it just doesn’t work and you say or do something you would never normally do. If this does happen, all you have left is the apology. Go and explain, at length, to the offended person – when you have calmed down, obviously – why the situation arose. Be shameless; heap all the blame on yourself and grovel if necessary.

Be assured, however; most people will want you to be quitting, so they’ll be able to take more from you than they normally would. By taking other steps to limit the possibilities of a nicotine-withdrawal-inspired screaming match, you should be able to navigate well – if not seamlessly – through those first horrible seven days.

Reasons To Quit #3: Save Your Looks

What do people usually say when they’re trying to warn you off smoking? Well, usually the same old story we’ve heard a thousand times before – about your health, your lungs, and what smoking can do to your inner body in general. It’s incredible to think, but continued bombardment to this kind of scare tactic can actually become mundane after awhile – who knew humans had the capacity to be bored of hearing about cancer?

In truth, there’s often very little point in telling a smoker that they will probably get cancer if they continue their habit. This is primarily because no smoker will have never heard that before. Most smokers, you probably, are well aware of the risks but continue with their habit regardless. Foolhardy it may be, but it’s true.

The anti-smoking brigade are usually so keen to impress upon people the physical wellness effects of smoking that they forget the other, less publicised problems your habit can cause. Namely, the catastrophic effect smoking can have on your outward physical appearance. It’s a vanity, but unlike the “you’ll get cancer” line, some smokers may well not be aware of the long-term physical damage smoking can do to their looks.

The most compelling impact smoking can have on one’s looks is there for all to see; the face. Smoking increases the risk of deep, lined wrinkles by nearly 400% – particularly those around the mouth and under the cheeks. The vast majority of people will develop laughter (or ‘frown’ – depending on your optimism!) lines in their lifetime; a smoker will not only get the usual dose, but the lines will be deeper and more pronounced. It doesn’t matter how many anti-wrinkle creams you rub into your skin, nothing – and we mean nothing – will be able to repair the damage smoking does to the skin.

Secondly – as a smoker, have you taken a look at your nails recently? Or your fingers in general? Most smokers will develop a yellowing of the fingertips or nail bed, primarily on the fore finger of the hand they tend to hold a cigarette in. This is nicotine staining and well it can be removed if you’re vigilant, it is unavoidable unless you smoke with gloves on permanently. This staining makes your hands look dirty and unpleasant, and is a massive turn off for any non-smoker you should come into contact with.

Continuing the ‘nicotine staining’ theme; the teeth. Smoking causes yellow teeth; it’s as simple as that. While you may think rubbing away at the staining with high-strength whitening products will help, in reality, you could be making it worse. Most teeth whitening solutions involve stripping the top layer of enamel from your teeth, so at to reveal a shiny white layer beneath. However, this makes your teeth vulnerable for a couple of days until they have recovered from the treatment – smoke during that period, and the staining can actually come back worse than ever before.

Smoking also has an effect on your hair; with a continued habit, hair will become more brittle and prone to breakage. You may also find the exposure to smoke means your hair is less shiny and bountiful than it might usually be.

It’s not a pretty picture, is it? Stained teeth, hands and nails; deep worry lines and wrinkles and a generally lacklustre appearance. It might not pack quite the punch as the image of yourself with cancer, but nevertheless… something to think about.

A Beginner's Guide To Hypnosis

Hypnosis is one of the most recognised ways of fighting a cigarette habit, and even receives endorsement from the medical community. However, hypnosis suffers from the same identity problem as acupuncture; namely, it all appears a little too “new Age-y” for the average person.

Just because something is “New Age” in substance does not mean it won’t work. Take acupuncture again; this ancient Chinese method of pain and stress relief has now been incorporated, and recognised, by Western medicine. Hypnosis has achieved the same status, yet the general populace still seem wary about its efficacy.

Here, we’ll try and bust some myths and show just how useful it could be to anyone trying to give up smoking.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis involves you, the sitter, being placed in a highly relaxed, tranquil and almost subconscious state. You surrender your conscious mind – most people will have no memory of what happens to them under hypnosis – and the hypnotist or therapist will then speak to the ‘inner you’. The process bypasses your conscious mind and talks instead to your inner self.

By tapping in to this inner self, a qualified therapist can determine your reasons for smoking and can then correctly go about eradicating them. The idea is that by convincing your unconscious mind you do not need to smoke – your unconscious mind being more receptive to change – then your consciousness will soon follow suit.

I don’t like the idea of being unconscious with someone I don’t know. Could I be taken advantage of?

Hypnosis produces an odd state on the mind. You’re ‘there’, and can communicate, but you’re also ‘not there’. Most likely, you would notice if you were ever in physical danger.

The best step to prevent anything unpleasant happening to you is to select a hypnotist you can trust. All countries have a governing body for hypnotists, much like a workers code, with requirements that must be met. Check any qualifications a hypnotist claims to have and search for the hypnotist on the internet, to try and find user experience.

If this does not reassure you, you can also have a friend or family member present during any hypnosis.

Does it work?

Well, isn’t that just the $64,000 question?

There are two ways of proving the efficacy of a therapy or treatment: clinical proof obtained during controlled tests and trials, and general consensus of those using the therapy. The latter is obviously more woolly and subject to personal experience, and is slightly less trusted than results from controlled labratory testing.

In terms of the first point – controlled testing – there is no definitive study that has proved once and for all that hypnosis works. However, there is no proof to say it doesn’t work, either. Hypnosis is subjective, and depends on the willingness of the subject, and for those reasons it is an unreliable test study.

The medical community, however, are open and accepting of hypnosis as a treatment – largely due to the latter method of proof, general consensus. Essentially, more people claim hypnosis has worked for them than those who say it has not.

Hypnosis is largely reserved as a last measure, when all conventional methods of quitting smoking (or whatever the hypnosis is being used to treat) have been exhausted. However, it has millions of converts across the globe – and they can’t all be wrong.

Paul McKenna's Stop Smoking Guides

Trust is an essential; that’s a given. This simple statement of life fact is all the more true when it comes to handing over your hard-earned cash in an attempt to quit smoking. Most of us know we can’t go through it alone, that we’ll probably need some outside help as we attempt to kick the cigarettes for good, and we find comfort and reassurance with a well-known name as our kind.

When it comes to kicking habits and reforming lives, there’s no name quite so prolific as Paul McKenna’s. The British hypnotist has made quite the name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic, helping people to lose weight, gain confidence, cure insomnia and – most importantly in this case – kick their cigarette habit. Celebrities queue up to endorse him; making McKenna one of the most prolific and trusted hypnotists in the world.

Quit Smoking Today‘ – McKenna’s internationally best selling hypnosis book – states its misson right from the off: this book will help you quit smoking. Free of wild claims of success, McKenna’s quiet, simple branding ensures one that this is a serious method from one of the most recognised and respected experts in their field.

The book comes with an audio CD – which you can also rip to become a digital file, so you can listen while on the move – designed to back up McKenna’s words. The words themselves, contained within the pages of the book itself, are straight and to the point. No useless blabbering, no endless repeating of things you’ve heard a thousand times – just simple, understandable tips on how to kick the habit using self-hypnosis and other mind training techniques.

McKenna is a man that has been there, seen it, done it, got the T-shirt and (indeed) written the book about it. In his private clinical sessions – which cost thousands of dollars – he has walked many a person through the stages of quitting smoking, and he can list impressive success rates which sound realistic and encouraging. This book details his own experiences, and the process of trial and error which has resulted in him being able to give such flawless advice.

The audo CD will help prepare your mind for hypnosis, and can also be a handy relaxaton tool – ideal in your tense and nicotine-withdrawn state. McKenna’s calm voice radiates authority while nevertheless allowing you to surrender your mind and begin to take his words in on a powerful, subliminal level.

Continued use of both the tips contained in the book and listening to the audio CD will see results. This guy, perhaps above all others, knows what he’s talking about. Throughout your battle to kick the cigarettes for good, you can refer back to both book and CD for encouragement that is second to none – and as close to the genius of the man as you can get, without shelling out thousands for McKenna’s private clinical sessions, that is!

RATING: 5/5

Buy It Now!

Online Quit Smoking Help That Really Works

When trying to quit smoking we could all do with a friend constantly by our side, telling us to persevere and carry on. This kind of encouragement is always going to be hard to find, so in the absence of a cheerleading friend, one needs to find something that can always be there for us.

It is therefore only natural for the increasingly tech-savvy population to turn to the internet for help – and naturally, the internet provides plenty of answers. There are hundreds of thousands of guides, ebooks and encouragement websites one can sign up for or download… but how do you know you’re getting value for money?

When you’re trying to quit smoking, one needs everything in life to be as simple as possible – and you may not be as ‘on your guard’ as you usually are. That’s why we’ve completed this neat rundown of the three best products on the marketplace for those who want a little active encouragement for their quitting endeavours.

In no particular order…

Quit Smoking Today is an online resource quite unlike any other – and it features some pretty extreme claims. The main one being simple: with this product, you can kick your habit – for life – in a single day.

Thankfully, these claims are backed up by some stellar success stories, so be ye reassured. The product is marketed by a “brain training” expert, and shuns many traditional quit-smoking methods in favour of a downloadable file which you can then listen to on your computer or MP3 player.

Good for: People who want to try something different.

You know you’re in good hands when a website can boast that its expert – in this case clinical hypnotherapist Steve G Jones – has advised the likes of Fox News and CNN! Better Living With Hypnosis is a familiar therapy in the quit smoking arena; the idea of nocturnal, and daytime, hypnosis. The tapes and files can be listened to on computers, mp3 players or even mobile phones and are meant to help calm cravings and reduce the desire to smoke.

The claims and success stories speak for themselves, and there’s also a plethora of free goodies to try if you look through the website. Hypnosis has recognised success in itself, and this is a comprehensive guide and program to help you harness that power.

Good for: People who are quitting for the first time or haven’t tried hypnosis before.

Remember at the top of this piece how we discussed the efficacy of having a constant “cheerleading friend” – but how it wasn’t practical? Well, the Easy Quit eBook is designed to be that friend – only without the hassle and inconvenience! This is a complete coaching guide right from the start of your attempt to quit smoking, right through to the bitter end.

Packed with well written, intelligent and clever information, this book is a total guide and companion which will lend support through your most challenging of hours. We particularly like the email follow up system, and the success stories are certainly inspiring.

Good for: People who need reassurance or will find intensive useful.