Getting the Most out of NRT's (or any quit method)
No matter what method your choose. The biggest factor is the Want to quit smoking.
The American Cancer Society and Verywell both claim that NRT's do work but have significantly better chances of success and keeping quit if used in conjunction with counselling. It also realizes that it does not address the psychological aspect of quitting. (This also applies to Champix, although not nicotine based and cold turkey)
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking/nicotine-replacement-therapy.html
Read under the section entitled:
Getting The Most Out Of NRTs
We here on a quit line are your Councillors for all intense purposes. There are sites with real qualified counselors like the Cancer Society, but i did not like their slow, hard to communicate set up. It also seemed to fixate on NRT;s rather than the larger psychological aspect of the quit.
The Mindset is widely supported here , and a definite part of a successful quit. Not only will it see you through to becoming a non-smoker, but in compelling you to stay a non-smoker.
Once you know something you cannot unknow it. If you fail this quit it is not because of the nrt if used correctly. It is because you did not follow the Nrt instructions and use in conjunction with a quit group or counselling. I bet your doctor didn't even give you a pamplet, just trusted you to read the instructions on how to use the nrt and your good to go. You are overwhelmed by the thought and don't even absorb the significant of what they also tell you to do. Get help to address the 90% psychological aspect of quitting smoking.
You are here, whether informed or by mistake, no matter, you are here thankfully. Years ago, we did not have access to the internet, and were left to our own devices. Willpower. Willpower alone rarely gets the job done.
We now know that with the proper mindset and using the tools we have learned , becoming a non-smoker if not just a dream but a reality. How long and how hard you find it depends on you.
I WANTED to quit smoking. I BELIEVED in could once i joined a quit group. I LEARNED about the 4 D's and understood the MINDSET.
i QUIT SMART TURKEY IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS WITH NO CRAVINGS.(after the first 72 hrs.) It is possible. I am proof. My husband is too.
Yes there's certainly the psychological aspect of it, for me it was mostly that first nicotine hit of the morning when i woke up. I'm over most of it now but still need just a bit of NRT and haven't been able to give that up. It's also quite expensive to quit NRT is good in the short term ive also had relapses too but have been smoke free now for a very long time. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Webbquit. It sounds like you are at the end of your Nrt quit schedule. I did read that an inhaler has about the same nicotene absorbed as 1 cigarette consumed. Enough to keep you hooked , but not free. You need to do the behavioral changes and re train your brain . Sooner or later you do have to go cold turkey. You probably experience cravings on your Nrt, because you are reducing nicotine intake and in constant withdrawal. The cravings you will experience by finally taking the last step off altogether will be no worse. You can do it.
Once nicotine free, visit this site and remember your journey so you do not ever get sucked into thinking you can just smoke one now and again. NOPE. If this site has helped you to quit, please pay forward. So many out there need to know that beating smoking is possible. Not only possible, but easier than they could ever imagine!
I did find further proof of the Mindset. Spiff's story is worth reading from start to finish (5 stories) and the comments which follow them. Thanks for posting the stories of your truly amazing journey!
https://www.icanquit.com.au/story/13220/not-what-i-expected
There are many truly amazing stories on here, and I have only scratched the surface. Great stories get buried over time and i think some have merit to be resurrected. This is one of them.
Smart Turkey is simply cold turkey, but with the knowledge needed to do so rather than willpower alone. When someone says cold-turkey, in these days with internet , they are knowledgeable and actually doing it smart turkey. On this site, we advocate the mindset, also very valuable in a all quits.
I reckon wild turkey may work better than smart turkey .. Seriously though , who cares whether people utilise NRT”s or not to quit the fags . Just quit with whatever works for the individual . If it takes multiple attempts , so be it . You will beat the bastards . 😂👍👍😀
I agree what ever method works ...great. If at first you don't suceed try try again! Just don't ever quit the quit!