7 Unconventional Methods to Quit Nicotine Without Nicotine Replacement

At first, I didn’t believe that I was actually addicted to nicotine. After convincing myself that I could easily quit whenever I was ready, realizing the truth about my nicotine addiction shook me up.

That’s when I got creative.

I learned more about why my subconscious mind felt the dependence, why I established the habit and the toll my nicotine addiction was taking on my body.

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And that’s when I realized it wasn’t just about will power or strength.

So if you’re at the point where you want to quit but can’t understand why you’re struggling, try out some of these methods.

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1. Quit Nicotine The “Easy Way”

I don’t recommend spending a lot of money when it comes to quitting an addiction. At least not right out the gate.

There are so many free resources out there that you can use.
However, if you decide to spend money, I recommend buying Allen Carr’s Easy Way.

What is it, you may ask?
Well, it’s a book.

I know, not what you were expecting?
Honestly, it shocked me too.

When I was desperate to find a way to quit my nicotine addiction, a book was never something I thought would be the answer.

Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Quit Smoking changed the game for me when I was quitting nicotine. But in the most unconventional way.
Initially, I thought it would be more of a “How to”.

Where I read the book and I follow the steps outlined after I finish reading. But it was much different from what I expected.
At the beginning of the book, he makes a few things clear.

You don’t have to quit right away.
Read the book at your own pace.
By the end of reading the book, you will be a non-smoker.

At first, I was hesitant to read the book because I wasn’t a cigarette smoker.

I smoked hookah. Which I didn’t think was addictive, but I was wrong.
Nicotine is nicotine.

And it’s pretty tough to quit.
So I dove in and read the book.
Before I even finished reading the book I was ready to quit.

I was baffled.

Instead of stressing out and worrying about how I was going to feel, I was excited.
Now I recommend the book to everyone I know who wants to quit not just nicotine addiction, but any addiction.
There are a multitude of books he’s made since then.

Find More on Benable

Check them out along with other addiction resources on my Benable List.

2. Try Out the Smoke Free App

The Smoke-Free App worked like an accountability coach.

It’s a free app that helps you track your cravings and progress. This app helps track how many cravings for nicotine you have each day and how intense they are.

The smoke-free app tracks all in one place how much you save now that you are a non-smoker, and the more you reduce your risk of nicotine-related disease.

The app also helps you prepare to quit your nicotine addiction before your official quit date.

It coaches you through your pre-quit days for up to a week beforehand and is a great way to track your progress by seeing it all in one app.

Not only that, when you sign up, you receive a one-week free trial for their Pro subscription.
You can connect with advisors who will coach you through your new non-nicotine lifestyle.

I enjoyed this feature because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about my goals who understood what I was experiencing.

After using it for the free week I felt even more confident I could succeed.

If you want to quit your vape, cigarette, or hookah addiction and finally feel free, I highly recommend this app.

3. Stop Smoking Sleep Subliminal Videos

This is one of those tips I feel gave me the extra boost I needed to finally leave my nicotine addiction behind.

The first time I attempted to quit, I was convinced I wasn’t even dependent on it.

I felt I could stop cold turkey and be fine.

But I was wrong, I found myself craving it again shortly after.

By the time I finally quit, I was frustrated, annoyed, and deeply trying to understand what was stopping me.

That’s when I dove deeper into trying to understand my subconscious mind.
I found sleep subliminals.
These provided another layer of support I didn’t even know I needed.

Once I began falling asleep to these videos, not only was I able to quit, but I was also able to work through the reason why I developed a nicotine addiction in the first place.

I recommend this one, but you can find even more on my Benable list.

4. Breath Work to Fight Those Cravings

Learning Breathwork helped as a great substitute when the nicotine cravings hit.

After quitting, my body was craving the act of smoking hookah the most. The deep breaths in and out are the part of smoking that’s most relaxing.

I tried out a few different guided Breathwork sessions to help me through cravings when they came on strong.

Breath of Fire helped the most because it also helped me to relieve built-up frustration. 

However, now that I know more about Breathwork and Kundalini energy, I would practice breath of fire only if you’re also okay with activating the process of achieving deeper spiritual awareness.

Kundalini energy is nothing to play with.

Trust me!

5. Nurse Yourself Back to Health

”When you quit nicotine, baby yourself. Indulge in self-care. Feed your body what it needs. You are the patient and you’re not quitting, you’re healing.”

-Kayla Sharee

This tip is so important. You want to Detox Detox Detox.

You’ll want to

• Be mindful of what you eat.
• Take salt baths.
• Drink lots of tea and water to stay hydrated.
• Take supplements to replenish your body.
• Try light exercise if you can.

Withdrawals from nicotine addiction hit so hard because your body needs to purge and replenish.

For the next 2 weeks or so, your body is going to begin ridding itself of not just nicotine but the other chemicals it used to ingest.
Care for your body as if you’re nursing a cold or the flu, and in a week or two you will feel better.

Baby yourself. Indulge in self-care.

You are the patient and you’re not quitting, you’re healing.

Give yourself grace. Nurse the headaches. Feed your body what it needs.

Focus on the healing because the way your body feels is temporary.

Just think about how great you feel after you beat a cold. Breaking a nicotine addiction feels even better than that.

Try out this Tortilla soup recipe the week of your quit date, it’s nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory if you make it, and makes a lot of servings.

6. Identify Triggers That Make You Reach for Nicotine

Part of this healing is also mental.

There was a mental trigger that influenced you to reach for nicotine the first time.

And then another. And another.

Along with healing your body, part of quitting addiction requires healing your mind.

The quit nicotine sleep subliminals I mentioned above helped to bring that reason to the surface for me.

I had started listening to them before I officially quit smoking hookah. A few days later, I finally decided my Hookah was giving me the ick.

I had an emotional night. I thought back to the time I first bought my hookah and began smoking it regularly.

I had just gone through a breakup and I felt like it would relax me. But I realized that my “relaxation” was just a way I was using to self-medicate and suppress my emotions.

When I first started, I realized I would hookah every night around the time we used to talk. Over time, hookah just became the fix for whenever I was overwhelmed by emotion.

I saw it as a fix for my feelings.

So to break the nicotine addiction, try to identify why you are reaching for it now.

When your cravings pop up, be conscious about what’s happening right before.

What do you feel?

7. Shift Your Identity the Day You Quit Nicotine

One of the biggest takeaways from breaking my nicotine addiction was how to shift my identity.

When I read Allan Carr’s Easy Way, a big proponent of the book was to immediately identify as a nonsmoker.

Do it the day you decide to quit.

Even if you backslide and give in to the cravings.

You don’t smoke.

You’re healing from a nicotine addiction.

That shift was the biggest one to ensure my success.

One day, I decided on three things.

“I was addicted to nicotine, but that was my past.”

“This is my last day as a hookah smoker.”

“I am healing my body, mind, and soul. I set myself free.”

Those three things began my journey. And one day, I tossed my Hookah and never looked back.

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I am wishing the same for you.

As always, I’m sending love and healing your way!