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Jakarta Post

The best way to stop smoking: stop trying

Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, May 30, 2016

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The best way to stop smoking: stop trying Several factors make quitting difficult, especially when a smoker maintains the habit to fulfill certain emotional needs. (Shutterstock/-)

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uitting is not easy for most smokers. While some methods may work, others may drag smokers deeper into their addiction. Several factors make it hard to quit, especially when smoking has become a habit to fulfill certain emotional needs. Consuming cigarettes affects smokers both physically and psychologically.

Cold turkey, a popular method to quit smoking by cutting down from four or five packs per day to zero in one go, is not a solution.

Reza Gunawan, a renowned self-healing expert, believes that when a smoker forces himself to quit, his subconsciousness gives him additional stress. Many people smoke because they are addicted to the feeling of comfort and relief, and when there's pressure to stop, the additional stress will create the temptation to light up.

(Read also: The smoking dilemma)

Hypnotherapy is one of the most popular methods to help smokers ditch the habit. However, not all methods used in hypnotherapy are suitable for everyone.

“Hypnotherapy can help, but it is better to learn how to have a healthy lifestyle and be disciplined in self-healing before trying to quit smoking,” Reza explains.

Instead of forcing themselves to quit, smokers are advised to start consuming healthy food and try to get proper sleep at night as the first step toward a healthy lifestyle.

Reza suggests three simple exercises for smokers to help in the quitting process. The first one is postponing, where a smoker consciously tells himself to delay smoking for just an hour.

If the first attempt succeeds, try to prolong the delay to a day, then a week, and so on. Dizziness and other discomfort might be felt as a reaction but can be mitigated by taking a deep breath, drinking mineral water and moving around.

(Cigarette ads: A powerful temptation targeted at teenagers)

Conscious breathing without a cigarette is another exercise that can help smokers smoke less. It's as simple as taking a deep breath and really paying attention to it, especially when inhaling and exhaling.

Lastly, Reza believes smokers should focus on their cigarette when they smoke. Focusing means smoking without distractions like TV, talking to other people or doing other activities. “Make every smoking session only about you and your three cigarettes for the day.”

“By doing this, smokers will lose the psychological effect of smoking. Sometimes, smokers even start to realize that smoking is not all that enjoyable,” Reza explains.

However, smokers must realize that the possibility of relapse is always there. “All methods come with the risk of relapse,” says Reza.

“Self-healing is not solely intended to help smokers quit, but it is intended for the practitioners to be skilled in maintaining physical and psychological health," he added. (asw)

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