How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes with Less Stress

When a person wants to quit smoking, they are in for a war. They have to fight not only the nicotine cravings, but also the physical aspects of keeping their hands busy and mental triggers that scream at them to light up just one more time.

I know. I have managed to quit several times in the past. I have remained smoke-free for up to three months at a time, only to have one of those mental triggers hit and the next thing you know, I am back up to a pack a day. I have found it is not only the nicotine but the act of smoking that keeps me coming back to it again and again.

I started smoking as a youngster. I was about 12-years-old and bored. I bought a pack of cigarettes from a vending machine little realizing that I was embarking on an ongoing war to quit smoking. I thought I could smoke one cigarette at the time. Yeah, right. I finished the pack and was sick for a week, but still craving that next cigarette.

There have been many developments and ways to help a person quit smoking over the years. From nicotine patches and gum to prescription drugs to help you fight the cravings, support groups, and writing lists. I have tried most of them and had more success with some than with others to quit smoking.

The newest development is the electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette was not developed to help people to quit, but to provide those who do have the smoking habit with an alternative to the normal process of lighting up. With electronic cigarettes, there is no second hand smoke for those around you. You get that dose of nicotine your body is craving and a puff of water vapor is all that anyone around you can see. There is no smell, no nasty butts to deal with, and, in theory, no restrictions on where you can smoke.

Along with the development, many people are realizing that this may be the way for them to quit smoking as well. The nicotine replacement solutions are available in a number of strengths and tastes. There is even the option of no-nicotine solutions. In other words, you can still smoke without getting any nicotine. Now, this has a good possibility of actually helping me to break my smoking habit altogether. When one of those horrible cravings comes up, I can satisfy it by smoking and not get any nicotine. In theory, this could actually be the solution I need to finally quit smoking for good.

As with any pro-solution, there are downfalls. First of all, the electronic cigarettes are an expensive investment. The good rechargeable kits run over $100 and that is a pretty good chunk of change to invest in. Considering I also spend about the same amount on cigarettes each month, it is not that bad. However, if it is not going to work, I sure do not want to make that investment.

As a stepping stone alternative, I found an inexpensive electronic cigarette at a convenience store. It was $11.00 for the battery powered cigarette and two cartridges that provided the nicotine. I figured I could afford to experiment for $11.00. The kit is supposed to be the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes. After playing with the kit for a few days, I discovered that it did, indeed, satisfy my urge to smoke. Thus, I am ready to explore the higher priced options with the different levels of nicotine.

Another drawback is a serious one. When you think about how an electronic cigarette works, you have to consider how safe it is. The Federal Drug Administration recently tested two electronic cigarettes and found that they contain dangerous chemicals. Well, my thought on this is that nicotine is also unhealthy, and knowing me, I cannot just quit, no matter how hard I try.

It boils down to keep on smoking regular cigarettes because of the dangers of inhaling the chemicals or use the electronic cigarettes for a short term to help me through the nicotine withdrawal portion of quitting smoking. One other option is to use the non-nicotine cartridges along with the step-down patch system.

For myself, I believe the electronic cigarettes are the way to quit smoking for good. When I am no longer hooked on the nicotine, I can begin to break the habit of lighting up. When those sudden triggers hit, I can take a drag of the electronic cigarette with no nicotine and actually defeat the trigger while caving into it. This does have possibilities.

FDA Alert: Electronic Cigarettes