Hendra Kharisma

One of the presuppositions of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is that there is a positive intention behind all behaviors. And based on that presupposition, when it comes to successfully eliminating negative behaviors, there is formula that we must always keep in mind. I’ll let you in on the secret in a minute. But first, I have a riddle for you to solve.

Riddle: A minister made his son drink lye, which burned out his vocal chords. What was the positive intention behind his behavior?

If you are like 99.9% of the clients who have come into my office since 1978, you’ll indignantly say something like: There’s no positive intention behind that behavior. But you would be 100% wrong. To answer this riddle, first you have to separate the behavior from the positive intention of the behavior.

The minister’s son was cursing. And the minister believes that if a person curses, his soul will be condemned to Hell. So the answer is that the minister was burning out his son’s voice box so that he couldn’t curse. So he was saving his son’s soul from being condemned to Hell.

The secret formula for success works as follows:
We must always respect the positive intent behind every behavior. If we have a compulsion to use a behavior that we don’t like, we can easily get rid of the compulsion to use that behavior providing we find another behavior to substitute in it’s place that is as effective and available at accomplishing the same outcome, but is more consciously acceptable to you. This is called a REFRAME.

When clients come into my office, one of the first things that I do is to take a through case history. Let’s say that they come in and ask me to help them overcome their appetite. Conventional wisdom tells us that the two main reasons that people eat excessively are:

(1) For relaxation and pleasure;

(2) Because eating can be a conditioned response. For instance, if a person eats while they are watching TV, they will develop a conditioned response, and thereafter, every time they sit down to watch TV, they’ll get cravings and an urge to eat.

However, the above answer only takes into consideration the possible positive intention behind the eating behavior. What if they also have another behavior that is involved in the equation? For example: What if being fat is also a behavior for this person? I can hear your mind grinding right now as you think, Being fat isn’t a behavior, what are you talking about?”

Sorry but you could be 100% wrong. Here is one simple classic text book example that will illustrate the fact that being fat can be a behavior. It can be a behavior because it can accomplish positive outcomes.

Example: A woman is deeply in love. Her boyfriend breaks up with her, and breaks her heart. Her unconscious mind wants to protect her emotionally and prevent her from having her heart broken again. So it motivates her to get fat to keep her out of relationships. That way she won’t get her heart broken again. The point is that everyone is totally different. And sometimes there are hidden elements at work causing compulsive behaviors. These are elements that are different for each person.

Here is another example: A woman comes into my office complaining of an uncontrollable urge to overeat at dinner time. During my case history, upon questioning, the woman explains how she was never been able to satisfy her father.

We did an age regression, and one of her earliest memories was of eating dinner with the family. And dad was insisting in a very loud voice that she clean her plate, even though she was full. So she cleaned her plate out of fear, and dad commended her for eating everything. It was one of the only times in her life that she could recall her dad telling her that he was happy with her.

Shoot forward to present day. Dad’s been dead for years, but the unconscious program he installed is still working. She still has a compulsion to clean her plate, even if she is feeling stuffed, because by cleaning the plate she is getting dad’s approval, and eliminating her fear!

So if you are having a problem making personal changes, keep in mind that there is a positive intention behind all behaviors. And keep in mind “The secret formula for success.”

© 2006 By Alan B. Densky.

It is now a fact that smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general. It is also a fact that quitting smoking has immediate as well as long–term benefits. Smoking cigarettes with lower machine-measured yields of tar and nicotine provides no clear benefit to health.

Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. In fact, smoking tobacco is the major risk factor for lung cancer. People who smoke are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke. The longer a person smokes and the more cigarettes smoked each day increases the risk for developing lung cancer.

People who quit smoking have a lower risk of lung cancer than if they had continued to smoke, but their risk is higher than people who never smoked.

You Can Quit Smoking! If you have tried to quit you know how hard it can be and the reason is that nicotine is a very addictive drug. Usually people make two or three tries before they successfully quit. Each time you try to quit and fail, you can learn what works for you and what situations are problematic. If you use proven cessation treatments it can double your chance of success.

Studies have shown that these five steps will help you quit and quit for good. You have the best chances of quitting if you use them together.

First set a quit date and get rid of all cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters. Don´t let people smoke around you. When you quit, don´t smoke at all! Not one single puff or cigarette.

Second – get support from telling your family and friends. Tell your co-workers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or offer you cigarettes. Talk to your health care provider and get individual, group, or telephone counseling. The more help you have, the better your chances are of quitting.

Third – learn new skills and behaviors so you distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task. When you first try to quit, change your routines. Use a different route to work and drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place. Drink a lot of water and other fluids.

Fourth – Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to smoke. The FDA has approved six medications to help you quit smoking and a couple of them, like Nicotine gum, are available over-the-counter. Your health care provider can advice and you should also carefully read the information on the package. These medications will double your chances of quitting and quitting for good.

Fifth – You shall be prepared for relapse and difficult situations. Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Don’t be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit. The following are some difficult situations you may encounter:

Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success. Being around smoking can make you want to smoke. Many smokers will gain some weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active.

I smoked for at least 40 years. I really enjoyed it and had no intention of ever quitting, even though I had frequent bouts with pneumonia and related problems. I loved my Marlboros and kept them close to me through every personal crisis that hit me…death of friends & family, loss of jobs, financial problems, broken marriages, illnesses, dysfunctional relationships…normal things that usually happen to normal people.

I tried to quit three or four times and actually did for a week here and there before some perceived crack in my comfort zone drove me right back to my best friend, Marlboro cigarettes. I read all the steps to quit; even followed some of them for a few minutes or days. I even “worked down” from my beloved red pack to the light version.

I made a general announcement, “This is my last cigarette! I quit!” My belief was that I would chat myself into a public hole that would embarrass me enough to prevent relapse. Wrong!

I found things to keep in my mouth to distract me from smoking…hot cinnamon candies, mints, fake plastic cigarettes, nasty-tasting mouthwash. Wrong! Nothing tasted like my Marlboros and I was never distracted from the craving to smoke.

I read that after 3 days, the physical addiction was gone and the rest was emotional, Well, after 3 days my emotions were pounding a drum beat inside my head and I was sure I was going crazy. But I thought about that emotional thing for a while…while I was happily relapsing into nicotine heaven and working up to another bout with pneumonia.

One day, while taking a shower, it came to me that I was using cigarettes as my personal reward system…do the dishes and have a cigarette…take out the garbage and have a cigarette…wash clothes and have a cigarette…put them in the dryer and…you get the idea.

Being somewhat logical, I decided to try quitting smoking in a new way…one I designed myself. I gave myself permission to get some Marlboros anytime I wanted to, but I had to wait 30 minutes before I did it. This removed the “absolutely forbidden” component of trying to break this habit. While waiting for the 30 minutes to pass, I got busy doing something I enjoyed…like playing computer games, writing my genealogy, watching a really good video.

When I felt a need to smoke, I took notice of what task I had just finished…dishes, picking up dog poop on the lawn, etc. This brought the entire nicotine addiction problem down to something I could handle and could understand. Most times, when I got myself involved in some distracting activity while waiting for the 30 minutes to pass, an hour or two had actually gone by.

I have to admit that more than once I grabbed my keys and started out the door to buy some Marlboros. Once I analyzed my own need to smoke (reward system) I could say to myself, “You’ve got to wait 30 minutes,” and it worked. I haven’t smoked for over 10 years.

I still feel a twang of wanting a cigarette when I am stuck in traffic on Southern California freeways. I look around and people in most of the cars around me are smoking. But it is a momentary passing urge that disappears in a moment and no longer controls me. Hope this helps you.

When you decide to stop smoking, you’ll bring on other changes in your life as well. Smoking is a very addictive habit, meaning that it is very hard to quit. There are a lot of changes that take place, although exercise can be a big help to you when you decide to quit.

Try to set a new routine, such as working out or going to the gym. If that isn’t possible, you should try waking up earlier and going for a short walk. If you can turn that walk into a run or a
jog, it is going to be very stimulating and the best way that you can start your day.

Keep in mind that exercise doesn’t really mean pumping metal. If you don’t have the time to stop by the gym every day, then it isn’t really that big of a problem, as you can always choose to workout at home.

Whether you choose to workout at home or at a gym, you should always remember that regularity is the
key. It isn’t getting started that’s the difficult part, it’s sticking to a regular exercise program
that is difficult and proves to be stumbling block for most people.

Some people have a great start. They will buy track suits, gym wear, running shoes, and a lot of other gear, so their first day at the gym is almost like a celebration. As the days go by, they find it very difficult to meet the demands and their routine will slow down a lot and finally come to a complete exercise burnout.

One mistake that several people make is choosing the evenings to exercise. If evenings fit your lifestyle, then it’s fine. For most people however,the evening hours are when they are completely pooped. By the evening most of us are drained, and simply too tired for exercise. Therefore, it is always best to set some time aside for exercise in the morning.

In the morning, wake up a half an hour or so earlier, put on your shoes, and hit the road. Most roads are less crowded in the morning and less polluted as well, making it a wonderful and relaxing
way to start the day.

You should also steer clear from the coffee and try tea instead. If you are moving around in the house, try playing music. You can also redecorate your room by adding a few pictures around. When you redecorate, you should get rid of everything that reminds you of smoking.

Plan your day where you’ll have something fun to do at the end of the day. It doesn’t need to be something that involves money, as you don’t want to end up bankrupt. Spending time with family, playing games, or going for a walk with your family are all good activities.

Watching television doesn’t really fit into the list. The reason is because television isn’t something that demands a lot of attention. You can easily do something else while you are watching television.

You should also make a list of things that build up your stress and try to avoid them. If it isn’t possible, you should try to find out some some ways to bust stress and use them. Whatever you do, you shouldn’t use stress as an excuse to start smoking.

There are many other methods that you can use to beat stress. You can try breathing exercises, mediation, or even music. Another great way to beat stress is using the distressing ball. If you don’t have one or access to one, you can always wiggle your fingers and toes. This too is a great and natural method to beat stress.

The Chinese are known for their ancient healing techniques that make use of nothing but nature’s best. Once such technique is acupuncture which dates back 2,000 years.

Acupuncture is based on an ancient Chinese belief that the body is made up of mystical energy streams. This could be correlated with our knowledge of nerves today and that the nerves are all entwined with each other. The nerves for the shoulders may be next to the nerves for the toes. This means that by stimulating the nerves on the toes, you as well stimulate the nerves on the shoulders. Stimulating one nerve therefore will stimulate another.

Acupuncture does not promise to be a weight loss miracle. What it promises is to affect symptoms related to or that may contribute to weight gain to help being about weight control. Acupuncture therefore can help make weight loss easy and effective.

One example is stress. Stress has been identified as a key factor in certain people’s weight gain. Some people feel the need or urge to eat a lot when they are stressed and they find comfort in doing so. Acupuncture can help promote stress relief and relaxation.

Acupuncture for weight loss involves inserting needles in specific areas or points of the body through which endorphins are known to pass through, to promote calming and relaxing effects.

Endorphins are also known to affect the digestive system, especially metabolism. Therefore, by targeting these points in acupuncture, it is hoped that weight loss can be promoted.

A visit to an acupuncturist for weight loss begins with an assessment of one’s general health. Pulse points are checked, along with the stomach and tongue.

When used to support weight loss goals, acupuncture counts the mouth as an important point, especially for impulsive eaters and heavy smokers.

It also focuses on the stomach for people who continue eating even if they are already full, and the endocrine system for water retention that can cause bloating and weight gain.

Other points act on the spleen for sugar imbalances, the kidneys for hormonal and nervous imbalances as well as water retention and the thyroid for metabolism. Two or more points will be chosen from these depending upon the health and needs of the patient.

Modern technology has also helped the art and science of acupuncture. The acupuncturist may use electro-stimulation to promote the release of endorphins and increase the relaxing and calming effects.

The needles usually stay on for around 30-45 minutes and the number of repeat sessions will depend upon the need of the patient, especially his weight loss goal.

The patient is also taught how to apply the pressure again afterwards for example, when he feels the strong urge to eat heavily or smoke again.

Acupuncture sessions may also be supplemented by herbal medicines as well as counseling on nutrition and lifestyle changes. The acupuncturist may even suggest combining acupuncture with other stress reduction methods. These methods may include yoga and meditation as well as breathing exercises.

Acupuncture is an ancient technique that up to this day promotes several health benefits. Like any other health options however, consistency and determination on the part of the patient is also required.

It does not promise a miraculous loss of weight but it promises to address the problems that lead to weight gain. In the process, the vicious cycle of eating heavily due to stress is put to halt so the weight loss process can proceed.

Acupuncture aims to promote harmonious flow of energy through the body for better health and life.

What would you and your partner do with £407,887.50? Spend it on cigarettes perhaps? Well, if you and your partner both smoke 60 cigarettes a day between you, and you both smoke for another 50 years, this is exactly how much it will cost you.

Maybe you’re thinking that you don’t smoke that much. Ok then, a smoker who smokes 20 cigarettes a day for just 10 years will spend £19,892.50.

A smoker who plans to smoke 30 a day for 30 years will waste £105,941.25.

These figures are based on a packet of cigarettes costing £5 for the first year and then increasing by 10 pence per pack per year thereafter, and this is not unreasonable to assume.

As well as the health dangers, perhaps any smoker should be asking themselves if they can afford to smoke. Over four hundred thousand pounds would pay off more than the average mortgage and buy a few nice cars but because the money spent on cigarettes is passed over the counter daily without any fuss, its absence is not really noticed.

Imagine holding a box containing £105,941.50 in cash and being told that you can have it back in 30 years if you don’t smoke, or smoke 30 a day for 30 years and never see the money again. Incredibly, most smokers would probably choose the 2nd option and then spend a few days or weeks chasing a tenth of a percent on a mortgage deal! These are the smokers that are not ready to stop smoking.

This illogical reasoning is caused by our rational thinking which has to come up with reasons why we do the things we do. The only problem is that sometimes if it can’t find a reason it will come up with an excuse such as “I won’t notice the daily fiver”.

Anyone wishing to give-up smoking and who passes the box test, who is willing to throw their cigarettes in the bin and look forward to getting their hands on the cash in 30 years, need only to put the money that they would have spent on cigarettes in a savings account! Don’t forget that this figure will be even greater because of the interest it earns.

So, how do you stop smoking? Most smokers know that smoking is expensive, both financially and in terms of health, but the fear of stopping seems even worse. Many people think that they will be ratty, not be able to concentrate, need new wallpaper as they will be climbing the walls and generally unable to cope with the imagined withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This fear of stopping is greater than the fear of smoking. Again, our rational thinking sometimes works against us.

If you could stop smoking virtually instantly, feel good, not experience any withdrawal symptoms or cravings and know that this change was for life and costs a fraction of the money that you would have spent if you were to carry on smoking, would you stop smoking now?

The aim of smoking cessation with good, professional hypnotherapy is to help you become a happy non-smoker virtually instantly.

What would you rather do, possibly spend hundreds of thousands of pounds feeding a habit that has not got one single benefit to it or stop smoking easily, quickly, naturally and safely?

Imagine someone offered you a box containing £105,941.50……..

Passive smoke and positives: Second hand marijuana smoke in a car can cause you to fail the next day. It is possible that second hand [marijuana] smoke will raise someone to the 50 ng/mL level; however, extreme exposure is required. For instance, a closed car full of pot smokers and a non-smoker may render the non-smoker positive for both urinalysis and the hair test, provided that they are sealed in the car for a while. The non-smoker would have to take in virtually as much second hand smoke as a smoker. Non-smokers are safe in a ventilated area, as long as they don’t get a hair test. According to Clinton, simply blowing crack smoke on ones hair may cause a positive hair test. Second hand pot smoke doesn’t affect the hair test results as much as crack smoke does mainly because exhaled smoke contains no THC. The only pot smoke that contains THC is the smoke that hasn’t entered the lungs.

Detox your body from daily environmental toxins as well as prescription drug detoxification, drug detox, nicotine detox, alcohol detox product, which helps diminish the uncomfortable symptoms of drug detox withdrawal. Detoxification achieves total body purification, the rapid removal of drug residuals is a key goal in rapid drug detox. Without this rapid drug detox process, drug residues can remain in ones body and cause cravings for years after drug use has ceased. A vital step in a successful drug detox as well as drug rehabilitation is flushing out these accumulated toxic residues so that the individual no longer experiences unwanted adverse effects from toxins.

Avoid all toxins and unnecessary medications for at least 48 hours before your deadline. Do not eat or drink 4 hours prior to using this Clear Choice prodcut. Allow 60 minutes for the Green Clean to become effective. For best flavor, refrigerate the detox drink before opening. Shake well then drink entire detox drink as quickly as possible. Immerediately after consuming the detox drink.

Wait 15 minutes then take the two remaining Herbal Detox Capsules with a 16 ounce glass of water. Individuals weighing 200 lbs. or more should drink an additional 8 ounces of water. Urinate frequently to remove toxins. Continue to avoid food and beverages. The detox drink will become effective one hour after taking all of the detox drink and you will be in the Clear Zone for up to five hours. Maximum effectiveness is achieved within the first or second hour.

Essentially, a few hours before you have to go in to take your drug test, you should drink the marijuana detox drink. How to pass a drug test? How to clean your system from drugs depression drug how to pass marijuana test urine detox? Drink grape!

You must agree not to drink any alcohol when you are going through detox. After a successful detox, some people go back to drinking heavily again at some point. You must agree not to drink any alcohol when you are taking the detox medication. If you are alcohol dependent then detoxification (‘detox’) can help you to stop drinking. After detoxification and staying off alcohol, many people who successfully detox go back to drinking heavily again at some point.

Nicotine is very addictive. This is the reason why a lot of people are chain smokers. I am sure that everyone who smoke knows the fact that smoking is dangerous to one’s health and yet they still go on with their addiction. There are a lot of people who now suffers the consequences of chain smoking – some have emphysema, others have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The most unfortunate ones got hit with lung cancer. It is terrible to realize that these people who are now suffering are actually aware of the dangers that come along with smoking.

I know there are some who would like to quit smoking and live a healthier lifestyle. And I shall say kudos! Wanting to quit is the first step to being free from the spell that nicotine has cast on you. Honestly, it is very easy to start and get the habit of smoking, but quitting is very hard to do. It takes determination and outside support to be able to break the chains that bind you to the nasty habit. It is not easy. But it can be done.

The first thing to do is to consult with a medical professional. Your state of health will be evaluated and then you will be given advice on different ways to stop smoking. Consulting with a doctor is a must so that you will know which stop smoking program will work best for you. Apart from that, if you are working with a professional to be able to break the habit, your progress will be guided and any chance of relapse will get debunked fast enough.

If you plan to embark on this journey without the help of a professional, it is important to have determination. You may consider trying nicotine gums, patches or pills. You may also want to join groups such as Nicotine Anonymous. Private counseling may also be employed. There are other stop smoking programs in the form of herbal supplements, pills and other concoctions. But be very careful before trying them. Do your research and find out everything you can about these products.

There are a lot of support groups that aid chain smokers in kicking their bad habit. Call or visit your local community health center and ask for particulars about stop smoking programs. I am sure that the health workers in your community would be more than happy to assist you in finding a support group. It would also be very helpful to have family and friends who would stand by you and support you in this matter. Be patient, stay determined, live a long, healthy and happy life! Break the habit now and embark on stop smoking programs.

With 100s of quit smoking programs on the market, it’s no wonder almost only 3.5%* of the 37.6 Million** Americans who want to stop smoking each year are successful.

The best way to stop smoking was a mystery, until now! Right now, I will share and compare the top seven most used methods to quit smoking.

The first method I will talk about is Acupuncture. Now this thousand year old art has been reported to assist individuals in stopping smoking. My research at my clinic has revealed a less than 1% of people that try acupuncture to quit smoking actually stop. Although, I was not able to uncover or locate any information on the long-term success rate of acupuncture to permanently quit smoking.

The reasons are probably because acupuncture does not stop the cravings or withdrawal symptoms, causing most people to revert back to smoking within only a few short days.

Going “cold turkey” this is not really a method as it is a prayer, it is also what the vast majority of people who try to quit use and fail with… no wonder 93.5% of millions fail 9 each year.

Clearly just declaring that you are quitting smoking will not change your want, need, or desire for a smoke when the time arises.

And within hours or only a few short days into this method most (that is over 99%) will end in frustration find themselves lighting up once again. Probably while shouting some profanities.

There is no evidence to speak about that herbal supplements will assist or make someone quit smoking, or even if they are safe to take (as they are largely unregulated by the FDA.)

Even if these herbs worked in assisting someone to subside their withdrawals and cravings. They do nothing to help “the smoker” psychologically disassociate with their “smoker” identity.

And naturally, if your identity is one of “a smoker” then naturally you will be lead to smoke because your mind set was exactly the same before you took any supplements.

This can be said for all of the products that I have mentioned above in this article.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)11 has around a 4.8-11.5% success rate in assisting individuals to quit smoking.

With regards to the NRT gums, sprays, lozenges, inhaler and the patch some individuals in my office have said to me that they “got sick” and had to stop the above Nicotine Replacement methods immediately.

Clearly if you get sick from something that is supposed to make you feel better, this might be a big clue to stay away from it.

Also there are numerous dangerous side effects from taking any such nicotine replacement therapy in the form of chemicals or drugs.

Some individuals have found themselves addicted to the nicotine replacement therapies that were supposed to help them to quit smoking.

The drug companies saw this as another means to make your money off of smokers.

ZybanWellbutrin12 was initially designed to help people with anxiety. Some how someone figured that it might work for stopping smoking. What a farce this is…

With all of this said, there is evidence to show about a 6.1-8.1% success rate with the antidepressant pill Zyban.

However like all other drugs people have reported side effects such as anxiety attacks, (wait a minute that is what the pill was initially designed to cure and now it is causing the same issue it is supposed to cure) What’s up with that? Other side effects are nausea, insomnia, nervousness, irritability and nervousness and dry mouth just to name a few.

Hypnotherapy is a 25,000 year old Chinese art, that is today clinically prescribed to assist individuals to quit smoking.

Direct suggestion Hypnotherapy 10 has about a 8.0-11.0% success rate to help individuals to stop smoking.

Hypnotherapy is where the Hypnotherapist only uses words to talk directly with and to your nervous system to allow your own nervous system to re-program yourself at your nervous systems level of operation to assist you in becoming a non-smoker.

There are zero side effects. It is 100% safe and effective.

However with that said, recall back to a time when you were around 5 years old and your mother told you to “go upstairs and clean up your room.” Only about 5 to 10 % of the time when you were told to clean your room, were you motivated to clean it, right?

This is what is meant as direct suggestion Hypnotherapy.

Indirect Hypnotherapy 10 is a form of Hypnotherapy has about a 66% success rate.

The language used in these sessions, are so specific unlike the lower success rate of direct suggestion hypnotherapy.

There are no side effects. When used to quit smoking, there are no withdrawal symptoms. Cravings are permanently erased.

It is 100% safe. It is all-natural. It is often done in 1 or 2 sessions. Depending on how good the Hypnotherapist is and/or the creator of the audio hypnosis program.

Not only does Indirect Hypnotherapy make changes to your physical dependencies towards smoking, it also erases all emotional issues relating to smoking. This frees up your body and mind to easily and effortlessly let go of smoking permanently.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming is the science of how language affects our lives. Neuro-Linguistic Programming known as (NLP) has a 97% success rate in assisting individuals to permanently quit smoking.

This field is so far reaching and powerful that since the creation of NLP in 1973 any books written about Hypnotherapy have included some material about the field of NLP in them.

Basically most of the skills used in NLP are the same or similar to many hypnotherapy exercises and techniques.

By combing both Indirect Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming have demonstrated to be the best way to quit smoking in my clinic and with my colleagues.

These two combined techniques, by far produce the most effective method ever invented to assist individuals to permanently quit smoking in only 1 session with over a 97% success rate.

I hope this helps you in uncovering the mystery in evaluating the top methods to quit smoking. If you want to ease your smoking habit, seek out a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Master NLP Practitioner or an good audio program created by one.

Sources:
1 Surgeon General’s Report, 1990
2 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2003, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
9 Depending on the study, success rates are variously reported at 2-5%
10 Hammond, D.C. (1990). Handbook of hypnotic suggestions and metaphors. New York : W. W. Norton
11 Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation, Silagy, Lancaster , Stead, Mant & Fowler, 2002
12 Antidepressants for smoking cessation, Hughes, Stead & Lancaster, 2002

Someone who had quit smoking several times, said with anguish, “No, I don’t want to quit smoking. I have done it on several occasions in the past— what I wish to do now is to kick smoking!”

Only when the resolution is that firm, can something tangible be achieved. All half-hearted measures are bound to fail! Ask any of the galaxies of smokers! Millions and millions! They want to give up smoking desperately. A smoker repeatedly thinks of giving up smoking!

There are several voluntary associations to help the smoker. Every small township generally has a health-care unit. But the unfortunate part of it is that, for every such unit, there are hundreds of small and big tobacco-products selling shops. The promotion campaign for these products goes on unabated, through newspapers, important periodicals, and TV channels (though it is banned to some extent) and the demand for tobacco products goes on increasing relentlessly.

Is it ever possible to quit smoking? Defeat nicotine?

Before trying to defeat your physical and psychological enemy, try to know its strength and to what extent it has taken hold of you because its destructive capacity is no less than additives such as heroin or cocaine.

Remember, in the blood of a hard smoker, each and every cell is surcharged with nicotine. It has become part of the blood. Therefore, pregnant mothers -beware! Your smoking is injurious not only to your health; it is dangerous for the tender baby within. Your smoking alone is responsible for this double tragedy.

With the failure of the first attempt to quit smoking, one should not get disheartened! Simply thinking routinely is not going to solve the problem. Resolute actions must follow. The courses run by the health care centers and hospitals may help you by way of information. But, ultimately remember that, it is you who have to quit smoking, for it is you who started smoking. You can build yourself or you can break yourself. That depends upon your will power.

Each withdrawal symptom is powerful and difficult to endure. At times you feel that the only way to get over them is to smoke- just one. If you succumb and slide, then it is doubly difficult to restart the pilgrimage to the smoke-free zone. So, with lots of determination, this dizziness, depression, irritability, anger headache, restlessness and trouble in concentrating will have to be tackled! But confront nicotine with a challenging poster. Which is better- your company with wrinkled skin, bad breath, bad smelling of hair, black teeth with cavities, and black lips or a glowing skin and a confident sparkling countenance?

Mark Twain said, “Quitting smoking is easy. I have done it a thousand times.” But please remember, Mark Twain has not told you to follow him. Your will power could be stronger than his!