Everyone who smokes knows that they need to quit. Have you, in your entire life, ever heard a smoker talk about how great smoking is for their health, or how physically good it makes them feel? It can be difficult for a non-smoker to understand how difficult it is to quit, and that is where the ex-smoker becomes the expert. Keep reading to learn about quitting – successfully.
If you want to quit smoking, the word for you is “No”. Every time you’re tempted you have to disallow yourself the ability to say “Yes” to a cigarette. If your only answer is “No” you’ll find that you can’t cave in to a craving. No cigarettes, no “Maybe”, leads to no smoking!
Deal with nicotine withdrawal. Once you quit smoking, nicotine withdrawal can make you anxious, frustrated, or depressed. It’s all too easy to revert to your old habit. Nicotine replacement therapy can really help to relieve these symptoms. Whether it’s in the form of gum, a patch, or a lozenge, using one of these will probably double your chances of succeeding.
Try to drink a lot of fruit juice as you begin quitting. The fruit juice will help cleanse your body of all the nicotine that is stored in your system. This will help you better resist cravings that you are bound to get if you do not do this sort of cleanse.
Talk to your doctor if you plan to quit smoking. Your doctor may have resources for quitting that you may not have. Your doctor will also be able to write you a prescription for medication to help you quit smoking, if he or she feels that it is necessary.
In addition to quitting smoking, you should also cut back on foods and drinks that trigger nicotine cravings. For example, you will be more vulnerable to your nicotine addiction when you drink alcohol. If you regularly drink coffee when you smoke, then you should cut back on that too to reduce craving-inducing associations.
When quitting smoking, you must learn to manage your stress. Once smoking is no longer an option, turn to healthier outlets such as massage therapy, long walks in your favorite park, listening to relaxing music, or meditation. Find something you can do that provides near-instant gratification so that you’ll be less tempted to turn to smoking when things get tough.
Stay away from alcohol or other things that trigger an urge to smoke. Alcohol and coffee are a known trigger for smoking, so stay away from them if possible. Also, smokers tend to light up after eating, so find something else to do, such as washing the dishes or cleaning your teeth.
To effectively quit smoking, have a plan mapped out. Take some time to prepare yourself by writing down the steps you will take to quit, who you will call for support, and what you will do if you should slip up. Putting these things in writing makes them concrete, and it is much like making a contract with yourself. This can have a very powerful affect on your mindset, helping you to stay focused on your journey toward quitting.
Help yourself stop smoking by only allowing yourself to smoke a certain amount of cigarettes a day. You can do this by deciding the day before how many you will have the next day. This will keep you from going over that set amount every day and cut back on smoking.
Consider any therapy that can replace nicotine. Smoking itself is kind of disgusting and easy to give up, but the nicotine withdrawal usually proves the nail in the coffin of a quit attempt. Do whatever you can to deal with the withdrawal, from medicine prescriptions to alternatives like the patch, gum or even throat lozenges.
When you are trying to quit smoking, sometimes you have to change other habits which trigger your desire for a puff. Instead of that cup of coffee or that alcoholic drink, have a glass of juice or water. Many people still have an urge to have a smoke after finishing a meal. After a meal, take a walk. Not only will it help take your mind off having a smoke, it will also help keep off the weight that is commonly associated with giving up smoking.
If smoking is your reaction to stress, replace it with a positive one. Consider getting a massage when you are stressed or participating in an exercise class. Even doing something simple like taking a bath or enjoying a light snack is a better reaction to stress than smoking is. Doing these things will help you to quit, while still keeping your stress level in check.
Nonsmokers cannot fathom your desire to smoke a cigarette when you know the health costs involved. No nonsmoker will be able to gather the depth of what quitting entails. Many people have been able to quit, though, and the advice that helped them was just given to you. Use their ideas and experiences to make your dream to quit a reality.
