Quit Smoking Safely

It's no secret that there are literally hundreds of companies out there who want you to try their product to help you stop smoking. The problem is with so much competition they're willing to try anything to get your business. For the most part these companies are only concerned with revenue and aren't even thinking about the struggle you'll face and the fight you'll have to put up in order to get the nicotine monkey off your back. You've got to find a way to quit safely and without causing yourself too much trauma in the long run.

Things to Avoid

There are so many get well quick schemes out there that it can be hard to decipher those companies who have your best interest at heart. You don't need some gimmicky gum --that freshens your breath more than it weans you off nicotine. You need to find a cure to your addiction and you need to find one that will help you step away. There are many popular "cures" out there, so here are a few that you need to make sure you try your hardest to avoid:

• n-step programs: any company that claims there are anywhere from three to 12 steps to get you to quit. They're costly and they often times require you to find a nicotine substitute almost as harmful as the stuff itself.

• Nicotine gum: again, you're being asked to choke down more nicotine. It's addictive, remember? If you chew on the gum instead of smoking, the only thing you're ensuring is that you remain addicted, but now instead of sucking, you're biting (neither of which can be appealing).

• Nicotine patches: this relies on your self control. However, if you had any self control you wouldn't need the patch, right? Don't get caught up in the weaning process. It's a crock.

Natural Cures

The best cures are those that are natural that don't rely on your dishing out huge bucks and suffering through disgusting gums and non effective patches to get clean. You need a cure that targets the parts of your mind that control your urge to go towards nicotine whenever you've got a problem or you need a little bit of a pick me up. There are many programs out there that specifically target those areas that release endorphins, therefore increase your cravings for whatever has given you that peaceful, euphoric feeling. Once you've reached the cortex of your addiction problem, your next step is to remove the destructive element from your life and replace it with something productive that induces the same sense of pleasure. That's the only way you'll be able to shake this habit without going through painful withdrawal symptoms. What's more, having found the source of your addiction, you'll be free from your cravings for the rest of your life.