Many people who want to stop smoking cigarettes can't imagine how they became addicted. They sometimes suppose it was a gradual process that occurred over their extended history of smoking.

You probable remember your first cigarette tasted really dreadful. You coughed and wondered if you were chocking. You decided that there was no way you were going to be addicted to those nasty tasting, smelly cigarettes.

Consequently, you felt secure in smoking another time. Of course, you just smoked occasionally in specific social situations.

But, you continued using cigarettes. After all, you did feel a little more alert while you were smoking. Also, if you were anxious, you appeared to quiet down a bit as you smoked. Overt time, you discovered increasingly more occasions when a cigarette helped. You started using cigarettes every day.

Finally, you noticed that you really felt bad whenever you didn't smoke a cigarette. Within a few hours following smoking you started to feel edgy. Perhaps your hands started to tingle. You might have started to get a headache. You had to have another cigarette to re-establish the pleasant feelings.

That is most likely when you first realized you were addicted. Perhaps you tried to stop smoking cigarettes right then and there. But, the withdrawal symptoms were excessive and you soon reached for yet another cigarette.

If you'll acknowledge the truth, over the course of your years of smoking, those cigarettes never tasted any better. In the beginning you forced your system to adapt to the smoke from those burning leaves. The smoke irritated your mouth and throat. You began to hack and cough every morning as your system tried to expel all the soot from your lungs. Now you just endure it.

Right now you desire to stop smoking cigarettes. In all likelihood you are frantic to stop smoking cigarettes.

But, you've found out that whenever you stop smoking cigarettes you feel bad and suffer powerful cravings to smoke. Hence, you are looking for help.

There are a number of methods people employ to help them stop smoking cigarettes and kick the habit for good. Here are some broad classifications:

- Cold Turkey: You stop smoking cigarettes abruptly. You must possess the appropriate attitude and powerful determination to succeed with this technique.

- Nicotine Replacement Therapy: The is cold turkey with assistance. You swap cigarettes as the nicotine delivery system with other, safer alternatives similar to electronic cigarettes, nicotine nasal spray or the nicotine patch. You might also reduce cravings with a medication like Zyban or Chantix. Over time you decrease your nicotine intake until you are free of nicotine.

- Gradual Smoking Reduction: You continue to smoke, but gradually reduce the quantity of cigarettes each day. Medications like Zyban or Chantix are often helpful.

Besides these fundamental methods, there are a number of other techniques smokers have used to make the cessation attempt succeed. Some optional techniques include:

- Hypnosis / meditation
- Acupuncture
- Behavioral therapy
- Motivational therapy

Another notable strategy to stopping smoking is membership in a group of quitters. Some groups have their own program that members follow while other groups basically back your efforts. Support and encouragement are valuable whenever you are trying to stop smoking cigarettes.

Whatever strategies you select, it's essential to be persistent and committed so that you can successfully stop smoking cigarettes. Make that a goal and be committed to it.