Stop Smoking Cold Turkey

Smoking is a powerful physical and mental need. It is an addiction that is very hard to break free from. Every year millions of smokers try and fail to give up smoking. It is estimated that the average smoker will try to quit at least four times before they are successful. (Success is measured by not smoking for at least a year or more.) The programs that are tried can vary for every smoker, and not everything will work for everybody. Finding the right program to stop smoking can be a matter of trial and error and most people will find it beneficial to have a strong support system in place before they even attempt to start. For others, there is another option, one that requires dedication, an iron will and in most cases, very understanding friends and family.

When you stop smoking cold turkey, you are taking a bull by the horns, staring your addiction right in the face. Not only do you stop the behavior, you cut the supply of nicotine off in one fell swoop. If you are planning to stop smoking cold turkey you should keep several things in mind:

1. Smoking is not only a bad habit to break. It is a vicious, serious addiction that will leave you with symptoms of withdrawal to deal with.

2. To stop smoking cold turkey you must have a high drive and strong willpower. If you have a history of poor follow through, this may not be the way for you to go. Think back to prior hobbies, or projects that you have started. Did you finish them, or are there countless, half finished jobs around your home?

3. Remember that smoking has been a big part of your life, so there will need to be something to fill that void. Do not attempt to stop smoking cold turkey without a replacement activity or you may find yourself falling into another unhealthy habit.

4. Smoking is not just physical- some people who never light up again still consider themselves a smoker several months or even years later. It is a mental addiction as well as physical.

5. Know exactly what is motivating you to stop smoking, especially in such an extreme way. If you have recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that makes you think that you must stop smoking cold turkey, you should consider that the additional stress of that alone may make you more likely to feel the need to smoke.

The why is not as important as the how- if you have the willpower and the strength to try cold turkey, then it may be the right method for you to pursue. If you know that you do not, by all means seek professional advice and find the right path to becoming a non-smoker for you. Remember that there are support groups and programs that are designed to fit an individual’s personality and needs. They can help you identify your patterns and triggers and then come up with a plan to change them. Stop smoking cold turkey? It is the least recommended and sadly, the least successful of all methods and only for the strong.