Iam 30 yrs old I daily smoke 15 cigarettes. I want to reduce this smoking number how should I do?

Question

You are consuming way too many cigarettes per day! The way to go about quitting is to do completely: not just reducing it. That will not work. Let me take the liberty of assuming that you really mean that you want to stop smoking. On that assumption I must congratulate you because that is the foremost requirement to help you with that decision. But it is not easy because there are a lot of conditioning associated with it and these can be spread over the whole day and night!!! When you decide, it must be done immediately and abruptly. Waiting another day will jeopardize the decision. Since you want to do it I recommend that you seek the help of a counselor and do it with support. You need to identify with why you smoke: there is an oral need, the nicotine effect, the psychological effect of covering up some other issue, for style, to impress, etc. You may discover that the reasons may be unimportant at this stage because you have become too addicted and the habit has become compulsive. You should start vigorous exercises, gradually increasing it over a period of time. Do deep breathing exercises every time you feel like smoking (try Yoga), and replace the oral urge with some healthy food substitute to satiate the need, for a little while. If the urge is too strong, then use nicotine chewing gum or nicotine patches, for a little while until the smoking drive reduces, substantially. You may join Smokers Anonymous in your city where the support is really extraordinary for like-minded people who are also in the same situation. Keep yourself occupied or engaged with interesting activities during the times when it is most tempting. Keep the company of non-smokers for some time i.e. at least for the first 21 days. Above all, announce it to everyone that you have quit smoking. Here?s a piece of very good advice: even if you accidentally/willfully take a cigarette, it is not the end of the world ? you can start the cessation all over again. You must persevere with the best support until you defeat this addiction. To help process all of the above and to get support, go for counseling and persevere with it until you are completely over it.

Saul Pereira · Accepted Answer

You are consuming way too many cigarettes per day! The way to go about quitting is to do completely: not just reducing it. That will not work. Let me take the liberty of assuming that you really mean that you want to stop smoking. On that assumption I must congratulate you because that is the foremost requirement to help you with that decision. But it is not easy because there are a lot of conditioning associated with it and these can be spread over the whole day and night!!! When you decide, it must be done immediately and abruptly. Waiting another day will jeopardize the decision. Since you want to do it I recommend that you seek the help of a counselor and do it with support. You need to identify with why you smoke: there is an oral need, the nicotine effect, the psychological effect of covering up some other issue, for style, to impress, etc. You may discover that the reasons may be unimportant at this stage because you have become too addicted and the habit has become compulsive. You should start vigorous exercises, gradually increasing it over a period of time. Do deep breathing exercises every time you feel like smoking (try Yoga), and replace the oral urge with some healthy food substitute to satiate the need, for a little while. If the urge is too strong, then use nicotine chewing gum or nicotine patches, for a little while until the smoking drive reduces, substantially. You may join Smokers Anonymous in your city where the support is really extraordinary for like-minded people who are also in the same situation. Keep yourself occupied or engaged with interesting activities during the times when it is most tempting. Keep the company of non-smokers for some time i.e. at least for the first 21 days. Above all, announce it to everyone that you have quit smoking. Here?s a piece of very good advice: even if you accidentally/willfully take a cigarette, it is not the end of the world ? you can start the cessation all over again. You must persevere with the best support until you defeat this addiction. To help process all of the above and to get support, go for counseling and persevere with it until you are completely over it.