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How not to stop smoking

By on October 31, 2009

Photo © Elena Derevstova

 

If you are a smoker trying, i.e., failing, to stop, what help is ‘out there’?

 

The orthodox approach, promulgated by the medical profession, is curiously called ‘nicotine replacement therapy’. Does this mean nicotine is a replacement for something or is the nicotine going to be replaced with something else? Of course, it is understood that what is meant is cigarette replacement: cigarettes are replaced with a nicotine patch or chewing gum which enables the smoker to put nicotine into his or her body by a different route – through the skin or lining of the mouth, respectively. Therefore, it would better be called nicotine maintenance therapy. But what is the good of that?  If you want to stop smoking you presumably wish to be free of nicotine in any shape or form, so how can using another type of ‘nicotine delivery device’ help you?

 

The idea, I suppose, is that you ‘let yourself down gradually’, by using the cigarette replacement and then wean yourself off the gum or patch.

 

The main problem with this approach is the concept that if you stop smoking with the hindrance of the patch or gum, then Bingo! – you’ll never want to smoke again. This ‘therapy’ implies that smoking is purely or mainly a physical problem. But even if you do stop smoking by using these nicotine-delivering substitutes for cigarettes, what’s to prevent you starting smoking again? 

 

Many smokers have the false perception that smoking is somehow pleasurable – ‘Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to have a cigarette…’, or helpful – ‘I have so much stress I need a gasper to help me relax…’.

 

This is not going to disappear as if by magic when you tear off the last patch or spit out the last piece of gum.

 

So, what can one do then?

 

Successful smoking cessation depends on gaining a proper understanding of why one really smokes, as opposed to why one thinks one smokes. With skilled counselling this can usually be achieved in one session, after which it is easy to stop – and not want to start again.  Further, experience shows the best way to do this is without the use of nicotine products, drugs, hypnosis, acupuncture, or aversion therapy – no ‘horrible pictures’! Smokers can be helped to develop a new attitude, based on the reality of smoking, after which they will not want to do it any more, so they won’t. Will power is not necessary. After all, there should be no difficulty in refraining from something you don’t want to do.

 

Dr Gabriel Symonds is the founder and director of the Tokyo British Clinic which has been serving the expatriate community of Tokyo since 1992.  Comprehensive medical services, including smoking cessation, are available. wwwtokyobritisclinic.com 

Tel: (03) 5458-6099. 

About Dr. Gabriel Symonds

Dr. Gabriel Symonds was the director of the Tokyo British Clinic. The clinic closed down in May 2014 after serving the expatriate community for 20+ years. Dr. Symonds has retired and the Tokyo British Clinic is now closed. Dr Symonds will continue to live in Tokyo and may be contacted by e-mail over any questions concerning medical records or related matters: symonds@tokyobritishclinic.com He will be available from another address for: smoking cessation psychotherapy/counselling circumcision information Tel: (03) 5458-6099 www.tokyobritishclinic.com