How to stop smoking? The famous British writer Allen Carr studied nicotine addiction in detail, tried to understand the thinking of smokers and, based on this, published a book called "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking", and also opened a network of clinics of the same name. Allen Carr's recommendations were so effective that his "method" became national property, and his book is still published throughout the world. According to some reports, Allen Carr's book was able to help 10 million smokers get rid of their addiction.
Why is it easy to quit smoking?
Allen Carr's position is somewhat paradoxical. He guarantees: to get rid of an addiction as powerful as smoking, you don't need willpower!
In his opinion, any violence against himself will only worsen the problem. You need to act delicately: based on logical arguments and facts, convince yourself. Well, the book will help with that.
The text is written in lively and figurative language, with many examples and analogies.
Allen Carr expresses his thoughts openly, clearly and without any sign of demeaning a smoker. The author treats the reader positively, does not intimidate or scold, but tries to convince the smoker: friend, you objectively do not have an urgent need to smoke several cigarettes a day!
The need for tobacco is an illusion
Why do people smoke? Most claim that this way they are trying to get rid of problems, relieve stress or is just a way to have fun. In other words, smoking is an effective, albeit harmful, type of action.
Allen Carr thinks differently. He declares: this is self-hypnosis! The brain's attempt to justify itself, to pass off addiction as a conscious choice. Subconsciously, no adult wants to be a smoker.
In fact, smoking does not bring any positive results. Each new cigarette just gives you the opportunity to not suffer withdrawal symptoms for some time. But those who don't smoke won't suffer at all!
According to Carr, the only objective reason smokers continue to smoke is fear. On the one hand, the person is afraid of not facing the situation, of "falling apart". On the other hand, he is scared of the upcoming painful sensations caused by withdrawal symptoms. If you overcome this fear, your body will quit smoking easily and painlessly.
Trader's Enemies
Allen Carr, studying the problem of smoking, considered the issue broadly and fully. He conducted countless opinion polls, collected statistics, and delved into psychology and physiology. In many ways, it was this profound approach that determined the popularity of his teaching.
He paid close attention to the "external enemy" – those who make money from selling cigarettes. Carr describes marketers' tricks to force people to buy more and more packages and encourages them not to give in.
The book "The Easy Way" was written in 1985. At that time, smoking was considered fashionable and was actively promoted by the media. Now the situation is different – at least in our country. A smoker should not be afraid of external pressure. Society will approve and support your desire to quit. In stores, cigarettes are not shoved under the nose, but hidden.
And television reliably broadcasts that smoking is bad and harmful.
Still, it's worth reading about these "enemies" of the modern smoker. If only to be sure of the advantageous position it occupies in relation to the English of the 80s. You can also draw analogies and discover what marketers are intensely feeding us today.
Programming in Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking"
If we consider Allen Carr's work from the perspective of programming, we can highlight several interesting points.
The main idea that is constantly repeated in the book is that anyone can stop smoking and that it will be easy for them. These phrases are probably deposited in a person's subconscious, programming, inspiring and motivating them to realize the "ease" of this decisive action.
The word "easy" appears more than 60 times in the book.
The book also regularly conveys the idea that smoking does not bring any advantage to the person and, on the contrary, describes many negative consequences of smoking.
"Smoking is a drug addiction, a disease and the number one killer. "Becoming addicted to nicotine is terrible, but staying addicted to it for the rest of your life is even worse. "
The book contains constant repetitions that encourage action:
"Try to look at the shiny cigarette packs in a new way - try to see the rubbish and poison inside them. Don't be fooled by the cut-glass ashtrays, the gold lighters and the millions who have already been fooled. Start asking yourself : Why am I doing this? Do I really need this? NO OF COURSE NOT! ". . .
"Take six deep puffs of this excellent tobacco and ask yourself, "What's so good about this flavor? . . .
"First of all, identify those moments or events in which smoking seems absolutely necessary. If you are a businessman and smoke for the illusion of relieving stress, choose a period of relative calm, such as your annual vacation. If, as a rule, you smokes out of boredom or idleness, proceed by choosing the opposite state. In any case, take the problem seriously and make this attempt the most important event in your life. "
These are all quite simple methods of influencing a person. But, interestingly, it is with simple techniques that great effectiveness can be achieved. However, it is important to note that this effect is short-lived. According to our observations, 7 out of 10 people still return to smoking after some time. This probably happens when the attitudes that a person received are forgotten and weakened.
Revolutionary technique!
Having finally decided to stop, she did not rely on her own willpower, but sought out a man who promised deliverance in a medical session. Well, two at most. The miracle doctor pierced my mother's ears with needles and from time to time twisted them, like the dials of a radio receiver. Mom steadfastly endured the pain, trying to quickly catch the desired wave, but she did not know in which range to look. "Do you want to smoke? "- the magician asked angrily. "Want! "- Mom answered honestly, and he cheered even more. After five visits, tired of the exoticism of oriental medicine, with her ears red from the injections and her "qi" devastated, she stopped going to the sorcerer.
Mom stopped smoking after a month. To my question "how? " replied: "I was angry with myself. She not only endured all these needles, but also paid in cash. It would be better if I bought shoes! " And then she shrugged: "Or maybe the needles have worked. . . "
I "gave up" tobacco overnight. That's what I tell everyone. And I immediately add: however, this was preceded by four years of torment. During that time I tried everything. I reduced the number of cigarettes (following my father's example). Traditionally held on Monday, New Year's Day, birthday and May 31st; from early morning and at full moon; on an empty stomach and on a full stomach. I tried to "replace" it by eating handfuls of barberries and biscuits. I tried an e-cigarette—those vapor-powered nicotine crutches. I asked my friends not to smoke in front of me. He even left town. I have read hundreds of scientific (and not so scientific) articles on the problem of smoking. I picked up a book by Allen Carr, which was out of stock at the time, and read it cover to cover. All in vain! Why didn't Allen Carr help me? I think that at that time I already knew almost everything that could be learned from this book, so while reading it, the necessary wow effect that the author was counting on did not happen. I was desperate. To all the complaints about the futility of my attempts, dad replied: "In life, only the first fifty years are difficult. Then you get used to it. "
I had practically worn out my nerves, my self-esteem went down the drain, and my loved ones would shy away from me if they didn't see a cigarette in my hand. What made me especially angry was the fact that I, a healthy man, had to suffer and humiliate myself, begging daily to be free from something essentially absurd: smoke. It seemed that the hated habit had taken possession not only of my consciousness and my body, but also of quantities of a different order - my past and future. Repeatedly, the cigarette looked at me expressionlessly with the red eye of the Terminator, and I seemed to hear his voice: "I'll be right back. "And so on for four long years. But one day everything changed. . .
It doesn't matter when the decision to get rid of the addiction is made. It doesn't matter the amount of effort spent along the way. Each of us has a similar story, and all of these stories are not about the main thing. One door closes, another opens and we make a decision that at first we don't give much importance to - we simply take a step from the past to the future.
One beautiful morning I woke up. I took a shower. Got dressed. I had breakfast. I drank coffee. I read the news. Left home. I got on the bus that took me to work. I didn't yet know that this was the first morning of my new life. I couldn't hope. I was busy with something all day, chatting with colleagues and friends. He talked, answered questions, laughed, joked. And every minute, every hour, my confidence grew and strengthened – it had happened. One of the most important events of my life happened! I came home from work. I had dinner. I watched a movie, surfed the Internet. Lie down on the bed. Falling asleep at the very beginning of that day, I said to myself:
You. More. No. You smoke.
And the next day there was life. Jobs changed, friends left, new ones appeared. I fought stress, celebrated some personal victories. I learned to accept big losses and enjoy small gains. Everything is like everyone else. It's been five years since I've been single and I've never wanted to smoke again! Even to test himself (although that would be completely stupid). I could only rejoice at the changes and wonder why I didn't do this sooner, because it's so easy to quit smoking!
"The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" – Quit Smoking Using the Allen Carr Method
Smoking tobacco is a bad habit that leads to addiction. The symptoms of quitting smoking are so recognizable that even strangers may ask the addict, "Why are you so angry? Are you quitting smoking?
Narcologists believe that it is difficult to get rid of nicotine addiction. But Allen Carr, an accountant by profession, invented an easy way to quit smoking and wrote a book about it, which became a bestseller.
Allen Carr – Biography Facts
A. Carr (1934-2006) himself began smoking at the age of 18, during his military service. He worked as an accountant and smoked up to 5 packs of cigarettes a day. Allen Carr suffered from addiction and tried unsuccessfully to get rid of it. When he had been using for about 33 years, he saw a hypnotherapist, but "started smoking as soon as he left the clinic. "
However, this visit was beneficial. The hypnotherapist explained to him that "smoking is just an addiction to nicotine. "A little later, Carr read in a medical manual that the physical symptoms of withdrawal consisted of a feeling of emptiness and uncertainty. Comparing these two facts, he came to the conclusion that giving up the bad habit was really easy and felt the desire to tell all smokers about it.
A. Carr wrote "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" and soon opened his own clinic, which received the same name as the written book. Over time, one institution grew into a network of medical centers around the world. They work according to their own method and guarantee refunds in case of failure.
A. Carr also became the author of books on the fight against alcoholism, overweight, fear of flying and a motivational publication on how to achieve success.
At age 71, he was diagnosed with an inoperable form of lung cancer, which caused his death 4 months after diagnosis.
About the book "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking"
The book "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" is written in simple and accessible language. The author takes a detailed look at the reasons that lead to the formation of a deadly habit, debunks myths and shares personal experiences, and describes how to deal with the "little creature of nicotine. "
Why do people keep smoking?
Smoking leads to physical and mental dependence. A person develops certain rituals associated with cigarettes: nicotine is integrated into metabolic processes. To avoid stress and maintain comfort, the addict must smoke at certain intervals.
Allen Carr said that cigarettes do not give pleasure, but only temporarily relieve withdrawal symptoms. If a person continues to smoke, they maintain the habit. And the feeling of relief that he experiences when he turns on the lighter and takes the first drag after a break indicates a return to a normal, conditionally normal state. To the same place where you constantly find people without cigarettes.
In other words, withdrawal syndrome arises from the fear of being deprived of a habitual activity. If you overcome this fear, quitting smoking will be easy and painless. Only by realizing where he ended up, which is a nicotine trap, will the addict be able to get out of it. Allen Carr shares the secret that the link between quitting smoking and willpower has been overstated. And this thought is a good help to those who do not expect that they "will be able to grit their teeth and hold out as long as necessary. "
A. Carr is convinced that most smokers do not really know why they continue to kill themselves with such unpleasant and expensive means. They feel deceived: to start getting used to smoking, they already had to overcome the feeling that it was downright unpleasant. Implicitly, smokers understand that anyone who is free from this habit knows this. Nicotine addiction and "brainwashing" are two reasons that make you run after a new pack. "Will I really be happy when I stop smoking? "- thinks another addict and continues to destroy his health.
Myths about smoking
In his book, the author debunks myths and describes the traps smokers fall into. "What would you say to your current self when lighting your first cigarette? Would you praise your children for this new activity? "- asks A. Carr. And addicts sadly admit that they would not repeat this mistake and certainly would not be happy for a child who smokes.
So why is the number of smokers only growing? Communicating with them, Carr gathered a "collection" of illusions that sustain addiction:
- in fact, smokers enjoy the process;
- smoking looks cool and manly;
- Smoking is a habit; once you start, it's impossible to stop;
- it takes a lot of will to give up;
- quitting smoking is extremely difficult, withdrawal symptoms are severe;
- the smoker must be regularly reminded that the habit is leading him to the grave;
- Smoking is a way to overcome boredom, relax and overcome stress.
All myths about smoking boil down to three statements: smoking is pleasant, quitting smoking is almost impossible, giving up nicotine is an irreparable loss. Allen Carr ridicules the idea that smoking is a way of obtaining pleasure and unconditional acceptance (by analogy with a child at the mother's breast, Freud's oral stage concept). "That's not true, " says the bestselling author. – People who light a cigarette want to appear mature and courageous. Invite them to go for a walk with a pacifier in their teeth - they will die of embarrassment. "
A little about withdrawal syndrome
Nicotine is a drug. Fast action and exit from organs and tissues just as quickly. What happens if you stop supplying this substance to your body? "Rumors of terrible experiences are exaggerated, " writes Allen Carr in his book. Unbearable "withdrawal" is nothing more than a feeling of lack of internal support or joy.
There is no physical pain in its usual meaning. Smokers may complain of bad mood, anxiety, and an obsessive desire to "have something to do with their hands. "The reason is habit, addiction. It occurs when a person starts smoking regularly. This is the "little nicotine creature" that sits in the stomach and needs food. The urge to smoke a cigarette begins to appear almost immediately after a cigarette butt is thrown in the trash. By choosing to continue, the person is only prolonging a chain of episodes of thirst and short-term relief.
Allen Carr compares smokers to heroin addicts, describing the injection process in vivid color. Changes in perception - completely ugly actions, alien to those who do not suffer from these diseases, cause relief in addicts.
Of course, it can be said that cigarette deprivation and food deprivation cause similar suffering. But eating is a vital necessity and smoking is not.
Method description
"It's ridiculously easy to quit smoking, " wrote A. Carr. When describing the methodology, he points out 2 conditions:
- A clear decision that there will be no more smoking.
- Do not be discouraged by such deprivation. We should be happy.
The author of the method explains that people who do not start smoking are actually not weak and purifying. They have the power to deal with stress and anxiety. They are much more alive and active than those who require stimulation in the form of cigarettes.
Anyone can quit a bad habit. To quit smoking on your own, you just need to understand the following:
- You can achieve your goal, in this you are no worse than others.
- There is nothing to throw away, you don't leave, but you acquire.
- There is no single cigarette: each one will be followed by others.
- Smoking is a life-shortening disease.
- Having decided that the last cigarette has been smoked, the person becomes a non-smoker.
According to the author, if you get into the right frame of mind, it will be easy to avoid smoking during the first 3 weeks, when the body is cleansing itself. The reader will find it interesting to know why it is not worth quitting smoking for a certain period of time (a month, six months, a year).
Alain Carr stipulates that his method only works if you completely give up smoking and without replacing it with any product that contains nicotine. Why? The author's view of the problem is described in detail on the pages of the book.
What do readers think? In their reviews, they say that the book really helped them get rid of their addiction. Readers note that the author did not write anything supernatural, but called things by their names and offered a good motivation for action.
Why do crashes happen?
"Quitting smoking is easy. I've quit a hundred times myself" - Mark Twain's famous quote very accurately describes that the intention to part with a cigarette does not always lead a person to become truly free once and for all. Repeated and unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking are what support the myth that it is impossible to get rid of the addiction once it has formed.
In his materials, A. Carr indicates that the effectiveness of his method is 95%. There are two main reasons behind 5% of failures: failure to follow instructions and failure to understand.
Inability to follow instructions - unwillingness to follow the methodology, attempts to adapt it to oneself with distortion of the idea itself. Perhaps the recommendations seem too harsh, but they make the process easier and make the addict believe in the success of the venture. That includes:
- immediate smoking cessation;
- ban on products containing nicotine.
The author agrees that even among those who ignored these tips and sought other treatment options, there were those who actually gave up smoking. However, he recommends not evaluating tricks as ways to help deal with the habit.
The inability to understand is the desire to receive a ready answer. Smoking culture and the tobacco industry regularly transmit thousands of installations to the world. To break the habit, you must choose the affirmations that resonate with your heart and try to understand them. For example, a person may believe that cigarettes are a source of pleasure. You should think about why it is easier to give up other things that bring more pleasant emotions.
Among the dangerous factors that can undermine confidence in the correctness of the decision made are other smokers in the environment and "difficult days" that provoke a habitual need to smoke. "This is not a loss, but a recovery", warns the author.
The book "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" is not a medical publication. However, the rigor and sincerity in describing the problem and the author's proposal for an effective way to get rid of the habit make him a good assistant in the fight against a deadly disease.
Allen Carr - Quit Smoking
Allen Carr became famous thanks to his books in which he talked about an easy way to quit smoking. This method has helped many people to quit smoking.
Allen Carr himself died 23 years after quitting smoking. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. British anti-smoking guru, author of The Easy Way to Quit Smoking.
The Easy Way to Quit Smoking - Allen Carr
When reading Allen Carr's book, "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking, " many are skeptical. And all because they think that now they will see another publication that describes all the delights of the consequences of smoking.
As you read, something changes in your perception and you calmly accept the idea that you don't need to smoke. The book can change you a lot, as it motivates you to quit smoking. Many who have read this book agree with this.
There are no horror stories in the book about the dangers of smoking, the author does not force us to do anything, he even recommends continuing to smoke while reading. The author brilliantly debunks all the myths and fears associated with smoking cessation, while many postulates are tediously repeated from one chapter to another. Upon finishing listening to the book, the reader has no doubt that one day he will smoke again. . . your only wish is to quickly finish listening to this boredom and run out into the street happy like a child because you are a non-smoker.
His method, demonstrating phenomenal effectiveness, has gained recognition among experts, gained great popularity and enjoys enormous success in many countries around the world. Allen Carr created a worldwide network of clinics whose specialists help smokers quit smoking and overcome nicotine addiction. Allen Carr's books have been published in twenty languages and have become bestsellers.