A stick of cigarette has been with you through thick and thin and has given you much comfort and pleasure during stressful situations. This is probably the reason why you just can’t let go of smoking. It is, indeed, a hard habit to break and you have to want to quit smoking before you can get successful with it.

A smoker who plans to permanently quit smoking would have to be fully committed and has a strong desire to do so. Coupled with a strong desire and commitment, he can manage to stop smoking and remain a non-smoker for the rest of his life using any of the following methods.

Medication Treatments

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Products such as nicotine nasal spray, nicotine patches and nicotine lozenges are used in nicotine replacement therapy. Using this therapy, patients are given measured doses of nicotine, which help them stop their cravings and reduce the symptoms associated with smoking cessation.
• Non-Nicotine Medications. These types of medications are anti-smoking pills that are only for short-term use. Currently, there are only two non-nicotine medications proven to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix).

Non-medication Treatments

• Acupuncture. This method involves inserting thin needles into various skin areas that affect the energy that flows to the common organs affected by smoking, such as the lungs, throat and mouth. This method is also known to release endorphins, making one’s body relax and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
• Hypnosis. This process allows one’s mind to relax as he thinks about a desired result. In this case, a person desires to stop smoking and be a non-smoker for the rest of his life. His subconscious mind, which accepts all kinds of information whether real or imagination, will process his desired result and will accept it as a reality.
• Motivational Therapy. This type of therapy won’t really require professional therapists. Self-help books and websites offer thousands of reasons for smokers to quit. These books and websites also discuss things that every smoker needs to know about smoking, from health risks and complications to how they can effectively get rid of the habit.
• Behavioural Therapy. This refers to learning the ways on how a smoker can better break his habit, and cope with the withdrawal symptoms associated with it. Many health organizations, such as the American Lung Association, offer this kind of service and even have free online smoking cessation programs.

While all these methods are known to effectively help smokers quit smoking, the success of such methods mainly depends on the person himself. A smoker wanting to quit has to remain determined and committed to his goal during the whole process.