James, age 19, has tried to quit smoking several times, but hasn’t succeeded.
He’s now dating a woman who is allergic to cigarette smoke, so James decided to seek professional help.
His therapist conducted an initial interview to determine the reasons why James wants to quit smoking.
and to identify the situations that trigger the most intense craving for a cigarette.
Then the therapist devised a treatment plan. At each treatment session,
James was required to smoke cigarettes two at a time, consuming eight cigarettes in the amount of time
he usually spends smoking one or two cigarettes. The sudden rush of nicotine to his brain made James dizzy.
His heart began to race and he felt nauseated.
After five sessions, James was finally able to quit smoking.
He still feels an occasional craving for a cigarette, but when he picks up the cigarette, he feels sick.
So he’s able to put the cigarette down and do something else instead.