One of the biggest mistakes smokers make when trying to give up is to go it alone. This is both in terms of trying to quit “cold turkey” – i.e. not using any form of nicotine replacement therapy – and by not seeking help and advice from others.

It is estimated that if a smoker goes on a course of nicotine replacement therapy and has group therapy with a qualified counsellor, their chances of stopping smoking for good are as high as 90%.

Unfortunately, many people still have huge reservations about therapy. It is easy to see why people find the idea of sitting around with a group of strangers, talking about personal emotions and issues may seem daunting, and many believe it doesn’t work anyway. But statistics show that when people do seek professional group support while quitting smoking, it genuinely does help lessen their chances of resuming the habit.

It can be immensely freeing to sit with people, from all walks of life, who are in a similar situation to you and talk about it. This is especially true if it’s something you’ve never done before. Quitting smoking is incredibly difficult, particularly if you are the only one in your social circle who has decided to kick the habit. By attending group meetings, you are going to receive support and – most importantly – understanding from people who are in the exact same position. Group therapy is recommended for almost anything – there has to be a reason for that, and the main reason is that it works. Why not try it and see? After all, if you genuinely disliked the first session, there’s no need to go again.

Similar concepts apply to quitting smoking without using nicotine replacement therapy. Many people believe that using aids like nicotine patches and gum simply prolongs their addiction and they want to make a clean break, which is understandable. Yet the chances of someone staying off cigarettes for life doubles when they use nicotine replacement therapy, which is – in the long term – the most effective way of ridding yourself of the addiction once and for all.

Giving up smoking is wickedly difficult for most people, so why not get all the support you need? Smoking may be legal, but it’s still a potent addiction – very few people are expected to stop using heroin or alcohol without support, so why smoking? By getting help, you are genuinely doubling – and in the case of also using therapy, perhaps trebling – your chances of kicking the habit for good.

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