You may be reading this article on your smartphone while standing outside in difficult weather and smoking a cigarette. By all means, you are probably tired of being treated like a pariah. If you have the initiative to quit smoking, this article can help you start your path on the right foot.
Write down the reasons why you want to quit smoking. Post the list someplace where you’ll see it every day, to help keep you motivated. Include not only the reasons that directly benefit you, but also the reasons that quitting will benefit your friends and family. Being able to read your list every day will remind you of why you stopped smoking in the first place.
Though aversion therapies have gotten a bad rap recently, they do sometimes work in helping you to stop smoking. They do not need to be extravagant methods and you don’t need to pay a therapist to employ aversion techniques. Try the simple things, such as permeating your favorite sweater with the smoke from that last cigarette you smoke. Then reach for it after not smoking for a day or two; you will be appalled at the offensive odor that you have been subjecting yourself and others to on a daily basis.
Don’t Go Cold Turkey
Do not quit cold turkey. It can be tempting to throw out your cigarettes and say, “I quit!” But cold turkey is not the way you want to go. Studies show that over ninety percent of people who try to quit smoking with no medication or therapy end up relapsing. The reason for this is because nicotine is addictive and your brain craves it. Without it, nicotine withdrawal symptoms set in.
See your doctor and ask him to recommend a stop smoking program or medication. Only five percent of people who attempt to stop cold turkey, with no help, succeed in their attempt to quit smoking. You need help to overcome the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that accompany any attempt to quit.
When you are trying to quit smoking, be sure that you are drinking plenty of water. Not only is water good for you, but it also fulfills the need to have something in your mouth. Also, large amounts of water help to clear out nicotine and other chemicals in your body caused by cigarettes.
Looking at a picture of smoker’s lungs may be all you need to quit smoking. When a person smokes, their lungs turn black after a while and they could end up with lung cancer. As harsh as it may seem, viewing the picture may set off a signal in your brain to quit.
If you have a loved one or friend that is trying to quit smoking and want to help them, then you need to provide them with your patience, love and understanding. This is the best way to help them out. If you try to push them, you may make it harder for them to quit in the long run.
Enlist your friends and family to support you with your decision to stop smoking. Those closest to you can be a real help in keeping you on track and smoke-free. Inform everyone of your intentions to quit smoking before your quit date, and let them know specifically how they can be of best help to you.
Quit smoking with a buddy. Having someone else with whom to commiserate and celebrate will make your success even sweeter. Choose a friend, relative, or co-worker who also wants to quit, or pair up with someone on an online support forum. Having someone by your side will make the process much easier to tolerate and will help you stay accountable.
Be honest with yourself about how much money you spend on smoking, and don’t plan on using that money for something else. If you quit to save money for bills, your bills will just continue stressing you out while you no longer have the stress release that a good cigarette gives. Figure out what your smoking budget is, and then when you quit, continue spending that amount on yourself in a healthier way.
Do not try to quit alone. Let your friends and family know when and why you are quitting. Ask them to help support you in your efforts. Have a friend that you can call whenever you feel the urge for a cigarette. The benefits of a support system to a successful quitting process are incalculable.
It is very important to be aware of your triggers while you are quitting smoking and even right after. It is easy and comforting to go back to an old habit when you are stressed, bored, tired, or feeling depressed. Being aware of your emotional triggers and having alternative plan to smoking can greatly reduce you temptation to go back to the old habit.
If you are trying to quit smoking, get rid of or wash anything that smells like smoke. For instance, if your favorite sweatshirt or your curtains smell like smoke, put them in the washing machine. When you smell a cigarette, you will be more likely to desire one and cave in.
If you want to avoid nicotine withdrawals, but aren’t comfortable using a nicotine replacement, talk to your doctor about medication. There are many prescription pills that help your body fight off cravings without giving it nicotine. These pills can also help you avoid some of the side effects of quitting smoking, like depression.
A lot of people are able to quit smoking without any kind of cessation method by changing how they perceive things. For example, if you can see moving to a non-smoking lifestyle as a day-at-a-time change, you’ll be more successful. You can use cognitive behavioral therapy or gradual changes to your daily life to get rid of your bond with tobacco.
It should be easy to see by now that quitting smoking is within your reach. You simply need the determination to make it through the more uncomfortable stages of detoxification, and victory can be yours. Remember that there are many benefits to quitting, so begin your efforts today by applying these tips.
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