If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, or Text 838255. You can also call 911.
When you’re ready to quit tobacco, support from an expert can help you succeed. Research shows counseling helps people make changes to their behavior that can last a lifetime. A smoking cessation counselor or therapist can give you one time or ongoing support in building strategies that help you beat your cravings for nicotine and live a tobacco-free life.
Smoking cessation counselors receive training in how to help people quit smoking. You can find one by talking to your healthcare provider or calling a tobacco quitline. Tobacco quitlines are free, anonymous telephone counseling services. When you talk to a smoking cessation counselor, they will work to understand how tobacco fits into your life. This lets them recommend strategies that will be effective in getting tobacco out of your life. You can meet with a smoking cessation counselor once or several times while you are trying to quit.
Longer term support from a therapist can also help people quit smoking. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that focuses on understanding why you are thinking about and engaging in those behaviors. This process takes longer than smoking cessation counseling, with appointments taking place over several weeks or months. However, your therapist can provide ongoing support while you quit and help you deal with the stressors that cause you to smoke.
Mindfulness is a form of meditation where you learn to be aware of your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. Studies show that practicing mindfulness can help people quit smoking. If you’re not ready to talk to a counselor or therapist, you can find free mindfulness mediations online. Research shows people have the best results using mindfulness to quit smoking when they practice six or seven days per week. You can find more information on using mindfulness to quit smoking here.
Counseling, therapy, and mindfulness aren’t the only tools to help you quit tobacco. There are a lot of resources available to help you live a tobacco-free life. You can start by speaking with your healthcare provider or by checking out the tools and resources here.
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