The Quick Fix

A large majority of those who come to X Smokers have tried one or more quick fixes.
There are several reasons we smokers try these often magical sounding “cures.”

1. We’re all busy and we don’t want to put our lives on hold while we deal with the monster. Just give us a magic pill, a nicotine substitute, put us in a trance or zap us with some magic beams. Or maybe a needle will do it this time.
2. We’re desperate. We’ve tried everything on the market and nothing’s worked so far, but every time something new comes along, far-fetched as it may sound, we have to try it just in case this is the magic bullet we’ve been looking for.
3. We often don’t understand that smoking-dependence is far more powerful than heroin, cocaine or alcohol addictions. It’s not just a dirty little habit we can control with willpower.
4. We may say, “Wife, husband, friend, get off my back. You’ve watched me try everything. None of them work. I’m not wasting any more time and money on useless cures. I’m just someone who can’t quit. So quit nagging.” Usually, “everything” is the quick and easy methods which often don’t involve any real effort on our part.
   

The unfortunate thing about the quick fixes is that they often set us up for disappointment. They make wild promises, suggesting it’s easy to get rid of a lifetime addiction in an hour, an evening, or even less. Because of this, we sometimes a) blame ourselves or b) we start to feel that every stop smoking method is useless.

The quick buck, um, fix artists don’t want you to know that smoking’s a complex problem, requiring time, counselling and support for permanent freedom.

�They teach only failure because their answers are presented as easy solutions.� Judi Hollis, Ph.D.The business-success of these methods is based on your probable inability to stay quit. Many of their clients fail to quit long-term and often end up buying the product or using the system repeatedly, thinking, “This time it’ll work. It was just poor timing last time,” or “I just wasn’t ready.” Does this sound familiar?

X Smokers’ philosophy is not based on repeat business. Instead, we want satisfied clients who’ll refer their smoking friends to us for a final, permanent solution.
Of course, we all know someone who’s quit with one of the popular, quick and dirty methods. Hey, we’re all for whatever works, different strokes for different folks and all that. But you need to examine the odds.

Before you jump into yet another scheme that sounds so easy on the surface, ask yourself ten important questions.

1. Does the strategy wean me off the physical, mental and emotional aspects of smoking progressively, or do I have to quit everything cold turkey?
2. Can I still satisfy my nicotine dependence by smoking for a few weeks as I gradually learn how to function as a non-smoker, or am I deprived of my cigarettes suddenly—cold turkey?
3. Does the procedure focus strongly on the emotional elements of my addiction?
4. Will I be helped by counsellors who’ll teach me instead of preaching? Have they also been addicted smokers? Do they appear to understand my challenges from a smoker’s point of view?
5. Will I receive support and counselling for as long as I need it—even long after I’ve quit?
6. Does the technique focus strongly on my long-term future as a nonsmoker? Will I learn to stop for good, or does the plan appear to be just another temporary remedy?
7. How long has the system been around? Does it have a proven success record? Does it sound believable? Are success claims credible and supported by legitimate sources?
8. Does the system offer a free trial before I’m fully committed?
9. Do the providers of the technique seem willing to answer all my questions patiently, completely and honestly?
10. Does the plan provide a written money-back guarantee?

If you’re serious about quitting smoking comfortably and permanently, you need affirmative answers to all these questions.

You can’t get education from a pill, a patch or a needle. As a smoker, your desire for a lifetime of freedom needs support from empathetic former smokers, a thorough understanding of your addiction and techniques to sustain you against relapse.

We believe X Smokers’ nearly three decades of excellence will stand the most intense scrutiny. Check us out carefully.