Preparing for Smoking Cessation
Auriculotherapy for smoking cessation consists of an unlimited number of visits within 45 days of your first treatment. The treatments will mediate the physiological symptoms of nicotine addiction – or what is generally referred to as withdrawal.
Things to do before beginning a treatment…
- Pick a day within the next two weeks that you want to quit and make your appointment accordingly.
You might try a Friday, which will give you the weekend away from the office, or you might choose
a Sunday or Monday if you’re a social smoker. - Tell friends, family and co-workers exactly when and how you plan to quit. The more people you tell,
the more support you’ll get. If you have close family or friends that smoke, ask them to quit with you
or be courteous enough to refrain from smoking in your presence. - In the week or two weeks before you begin treatment, identify the two or three places or situations
that you ALWAYS have a cigarette, and don’t smoke during these occasions. If it’s in the car on the
way to work, have a cigarette before you get in the car and in the parking lot at work, but not in the
car. This will help prepare you for your quit day. - As your quit day approaches, get rid of things such as ashtrays and lighters that remind you of smoking.
Clean out the ashtray and empty packs of cigarettes in your car. Maybe go to the dentist to get your
teeth cleaned. All of these things will contribute to your success. - Have healthy alternatives to smoking, such as chewing on gum or sunflower seeds in the car. Schedule to reward yourself. This might be a 2 weeks or a month from your quit date. Use the money you have saved from quitting, and purchase something for yourself that you normally wouldn’t be able to afford.
- Finally, be aware and anticipate the challenge that awaits you. The majority of those that relapse do
so within the first 3 months. Write a list of the reasons why you are quitting, and refer to them every time you crave a cigarette. If you do relapse, write down what it was that triggered your relapse. Refer to your list of reasons why you are quitting, contact any member you have for support, and start again.
… This will be challenging but you can do it. Remember that you are doing this to improve the quality of your life!
