Hello doctor. My father age 54 has a habit of taking tabacco I advised not to take and he did it also. But after 2 weeks he started again taking it when I asked my dad he said its a difficult to leave without tobacco its just hypnotising my dad. Kindly advice me what to do.

Dr. Saul PereiraPsychologist48yrs exp

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Do be sympathetic to the man: it is very difficult because there are so many conditions associated to the habit. But the good news is that even if you fail many times, he must try to stop it again. It is through perseverance that success can be achieved especially in this habit. If is too difficult then he can go for counseling to get the necessary support and to help identify the emotions, the stress, and the situations that make him want to smoke. When he decides, it must be done immediately and abruptly. Waiting another day will jeopardize the decision. He needs to identify with why he smokes: there is an oral need, the nicotine effect, the psychological effect of covering up some other issue, for style, to impress, etc. He should start vigorous exercises, gradually increasing it over a period of time. Do deep breathing exercises every time he feels 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 he could use nicotine chewing gum or nicotine patches, for a little while until the smoking drive reduces, substantially. He 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 him 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 he has quit smoking. He must persevere with the best support until he defeats this addiction. 

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Dr. Manjit SinghPsychiatrist22yrs exp

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Nicotine patch are available. First try this and if it does not work other options are also there. 

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