SAJEELA’S QUIT SMOKING PROGRAM

A Structured, Personalised Approach to Breaking Free from Tobacco Addiction

Your Journey Towards a Tobacco-Free Life Begins Here

Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program, developed by Dr. Sajeela Maini, is a structured tobacco cessation programme designed to help smokers and tobacco users overcome their dependence through personalised counselling, medical support, and behavioural interventions.

The programme aims to help participants begin their quitting journey from the very first day, with a comprehensive approach to managing cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and the behavioural patterns associated with tobacco use.

Smoking often involves a complicated relationship between the individual and the cigarette. As described by Dr. Sajeela Maini in The Last Puff:

“I love you; I hate you!”

Smokers may enjoy the immediate experience of smoking while simultaneously disliking their dependence on cigarettes and the harm they can cause. Although many understand the health risks, awareness and fear alone are often not enough to overcome nicotine addiction.

What smokers need is not simply another reminder that smoking is harmful, but a structured and supportive route towards quitting.

Understanding Smoking Addiction: A 360-Degree Approach

Smoking is more than a physical habit. It is closely connected with psychological patterns, emotions, daily routines, social influences, personal beliefs, and lifestyle choices.

For some individuals, smoking becomes associated with stress relief, social interactions, work breaks, emotional comfort, or particular everyday situations. These associations can make quitting challenging even when the individual is strongly motivated.

That is why Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program follows a comprehensive, 360-degree approach. It focuses on understanding and addressing the smoker's:

  • Mind: Psychological dependence, motivation, thoughts, and behavioural patterns.

  • Body: Nicotine dependence, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.

  • Emotions: Stress, anxiety, frustration, and emotional triggers.

  • Beliefs and Myths: Misconceptions and justifications associated with smoking.

  • Habits and Reasons: Situations and routines that encourage tobacco consumption.

  • Lifestyle: Daily habits, social environments, and coping mechanisms.

By addressing these interconnected factors, the programme aims to support a more sustainable quitting journey.

Some Important Mantras to Quit Smoking

Inspired by the principles explained in The Last Puff by Dr. Sajeela Maini, these mantras encourage smokers to approach quitting with clarity, commitment, and preparation.

Mantra 1: Set Your Goal – Zero Cigarettes

The first step towards quitting is making a clear decision: ZERO CIGARETTES.

Instead of repeatedly reducing the number of cigarettes or postponing the decision to quit, establish a clear goal of complete tobacco abstinence. A firm commitment gives your quitting journey a definite direction.

Mantra 2: Understand the First 72 Hours

The initial period after quitting can be challenging because of nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The intensity and duration of withdrawal vary from person to person, but the first few days are often particularly important.

Understanding what to expect and having appropriate medical and behavioural support can help you prepare for this phase.

Mantra 3: Adopt an Attacking Attitude

Your mindset can influence how you approach the quitting process. Instead of constantly worrying about the possibility of failure, focus on your decision to overcome dependence.

Replace thoughts such as “I might not be able to quit” with a determined commitment to work towards a tobacco-free life.

Mantra 4: Remove Tobacco Triggers

Keep cigarettes, bidis, lighters, tobacco products, and related smoking accessories away from your immediate surroundings.

Reducing access to tobacco and avoiding familiar smoking cues can help limit unnecessary temptation and support your decision to quit.

Who Can Enrol in Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program?

The programme is intended for individuals who want to overcome dependence on different forms of smoked or smokeless tobacco.

Smokers

  • Cigarettes

  • Bidis

  • Hookah

  • Cigars

  • Pipes and other smoked tobacco products

Smokeless Tobacco Users

  • Khaini

  • Gutka

  • Zarda

  • Tobacco-containing paan

  • Other chewing tobacco products

Whether you have been using tobacco for a few months or several years, seeking appropriate cessation support can be an important step towards better health.

Our Structured Tobacco Cessation Programme

Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program follows an individualised treatment approach. Each participant receives an assessment based on their tobacco-use history, dependence patterns, previous quitting attempts, psychological factors, lifestyle, and relevant health concerns.

The programme combines intensive psychotherapeutic interventions with appropriate pharmacotherapy and lifestyle guidance to help participants manage cravings and withdrawal-related discomfort.

1. Detailed Assessment and Evaluation

A detailed assessment helps understand the individual's tobacco dependence and identify factors that may influence the quitting process.

The assessment may include:

  • History and pattern of tobacco consumption.

  • Duration and frequency of tobacco use.

  • Previous attempts to quit and reasons for relapse.

  • History of alcohol or other substance use.

  • Caffeine consumption and relevant lifestyle habits.

  • Psychological and social factors associated with tobacco use.

  • Relevant medical history and co-existing health conditions.

  • Appropriate psychological assessments and physiological evaluations, where indicated.

This information helps guide the development of an individualised cessation plan.

Treatment and Intervention Module

Effective tobacco cessation requires attention to both physical dependence and the psychological and behavioural patterns associated with tobacco use. Our intervention model focuses on three important areas.

1. Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Psychological and behavioural support plays an important role in helping individuals understand their tobacco-use patterns and develop healthier responses to cravings and triggers.

The programme may incorporate specialised cessation counselling and evidence-based behavioural techniques, including:

Motivational Enhancement Therapy: Helps individuals strengthen their personal reasons for quitting and build commitment towards a tobacco-free life.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and modify thoughts and behaviours associated with tobacco consumption.

Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT): Helps individuals recognise unhelpful beliefs and develop more constructive ways of responding to challenging situations.

Adaptive Coping Skills Training: Encourages healthier strategies for managing stress, cravings, emotional discomfort, and situations that may trigger tobacco use.

Relapse Prevention Therapy: Helps participants identify high-risk situations, understand warning signs, and prepare strategies to maintain abstinence.

2. Pharmacotherapeutic Interventions

Nicotine dependence can cause cravings and withdrawal symptoms when tobacco consumption stops. Appropriate medical treatment can help manage these challenges and support the quitting process.

Based on an individual's medical history, tobacco-use pattern, and clinical assessment, a qualified medical professional may recommend suitable cessation medications or other pharmacological support.

The treatment plan is personalised, and medicines must be taken strictly as prescribed. Medical monitoring helps assess response, manage side effects, and make adjustments when necessary.

3. Lifestyle Modification Therapy

Lifestyle changes can complement medical treatment and behavioural counselling during tobacco cessation.

The programme may incorporate:

  • Yogic Exercises: Suitable breathing and yoga-based practices to encourage relaxation and general well-being.

  • Stress Management: Techniques to manage everyday stress and reduce reliance on tobacco as a coping mechanism.

  • Healthy Lifestyle Habits: Guidance on improving daily routines, physical activity, rest, and overall well-being.

  • Naturopathy-Based Practices: Appropriate complementary wellness practices where suitable.

  • Relapse Prevention Habits: Encouraging healthier routines and coping strategies that support long-term abstinence.

These practices complement tobacco cessation treatment and do not replace medical care or reverse lung damage caused by smoking.

The Bigger Question: How Do You Stay Quit?

Quitting tobacco is a major achievement, but maintaining abstinence over the long term is equally important.

Some individuals experience renewed cravings months or even years after quitting, particularly when they encounter familiar triggers, stressful situations, or social environments associated with tobacco use.

This is why relapse prevention is an essential part of Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program.

Understanding the One Puff Syndrome

One of the important concepts highlighted in The Last Puff is the “One Puff Syndrome.”

The idea is to recognise that even a single puff can reactivate old smoking habits and increase the risk of returning to regular tobacco use. For someone who has quit, avoiding even occasional smoking is an important part of maintaining abstinence.

Our Relapse Prevention Approach

Participants are guided to:

  • Identify personal situations and emotions that may trigger tobacco cravings.

  • Understand the risks associated with experimenting with occasional smoking.

  • Develop healthier responses to stress and emotional discomfort.

  • Manage social pressure and tobacco-related situations.

  • Strengthen motivation and commitment to remaining tobacco-free.

  • Seek timely support if cravings return or a lapse occurs.

Our focus is not limited to helping individuals quit; it also emphasises preparing them to maintain their progress and protect their smoke-free future.

Quit Success Rate of Sajeela’s Program

Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program uses a combination of personalised assessment, intensive counselling, medical support, behavioural interventions, and relapse prevention strategies.

As reported by the programme, it has achieved an approximately 80% quit success rate over a three-month follow-up period.

This figure reflects the programme's reported outcomes and should be interpreted in the context of its participant group, follow-up process, and success-rate measurement. Individual results may vary depending on tobacco dependence, health factors, treatment adherence, and ongoing support.

We continue to work towards making tobacco cessation more accessible and helping individuals and families move towards healthier, tobacco-free lives.

Take Your First Step Towards Quitting Tobacco

You do not have to fight tobacco dependence alone. With the right assessment, professional support, and a structured quitting plan, you can take meaningful steps towards breaking free from tobacco.

At Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program, Dr. Sajeela Maini's approach brings together behavioural understanding, personalised guidance, medical support, and relapse prevention to help individuals work towards lasting change.

Make the decision today. Choose freedom over dependence. Choose a tobacco-free life.

Sajeela’s Quit Smoking Program – Your Last Puff Can Be Your First Step Towards Freedom.