Secrets to Quitting Smoking

It’s a difficult process, quitting smoking, or quitting any addiction for that matter. When you have the urge to quit, you wonder to yourself, why did I even start? Because I liked it or because it was cool? No matter what the cause was, the effect is still the same. If you or a loved one wants to quit smoking, I have some useful tips on how to quit without wasting money on useless products that will scam you out of your money. Although, considering cheap aids, such as nicorette gum or the patch aren’t a bad idea to help out. I myself recently quit smoking. Cold turkey. And, although I’ve only been smoking for a short 8 years compared to others who have had this addiction for many more, the feeling is much the same. It is also important to know that you will always crave for cigarattes long after you’ve quit. The intensity and frequency of the cravings will diminish, but it will still linger in the back of your mind from time to time. The longer you’ve been smoking will also effect how powerful the cravings will linger, even in the long run. So, the sooner you quit, the easier it will be to stay smoke free.

Prepare for Battle

It will be a struggle of struggles to resist the temptation, so it’s a good idea to plan out an actual date to quit. Taking measures, such as gradually cutting down the amount of cigarettes you smoke in a day a couple weeks before-hand and dumping ashtrays and lighters on the night before are key. Idea on how to cut down: Limit the amount of cigarettes you smoke in a day to a number, around the average you smoke. Every day, limit yourself one less cigarette. It’s sort of a training for your willpower so you won’t be totally without the power to resist.

Use your Allies

It is practically essential that you have someone supporting you through the cravings. Although their help may not be appreciated at first due to some irritability that lack of nicotine may cause, it is DEFINITELY a weight on your scale leaning towards quitting through the cravings. I’ve read in doctor’s reports that the power of physical contact between humans releases endorphins in the brain, meaning it makes you a little happier and can really take your mind off of nicotine.

Replace the Nicotine

Many people like to chew gum or eat sunflower seeds everytime they get an craving. For me, I chew toothpicks because the feeling of biting down aggressively on something helped ease stress. Doing something that you would do to vent anger would also be effective in relieving stress, irritability, and nicotine withdrawal. Preferrably something more physical like punching a pillow or a punching bag, or even a wall if necessary.

Don’t Give Yourself the Opportunity

Frequently do activities in places where there is no smoking allowed or eat at restraunts. Have someone watch you if you think your going to cave in and make sure that they wont let you. Have them take away your cigarettes and money if necessary to prevent you from buying more. Adjust your mindset to think that there is no more tobacco on the world and never will be. Quitting smoking doesn’t have to be a one man struggle.

Renew Your Faith

It can be very easy to lose your enthusiasm about quitting smoking several days after you’ve actually done it. Every time you beat a craving, feel proud and reward yourself or your loved one. Every day and night remember to yourself why you wanted to quit in the first place. Something powerful, like living to see your grandchildren or to look and feel younger again. You don’t want to spend your golden years hooked to a ventilator or with a hole in your throat.

Cigarettes are Evil

It’s just the same as if you were addicted to crack or heroin, only it’s legal and easily purchased. If it weren’t buyable at convinience stores or if they were much more expensive, many people would be reduced to lying and stealing from loved ones, same as drug addicts. What your doing is a good thing, for your own and for everyone around you’s health.

Think of the Example You’re Setting

Smoking aroung your children aids them to make wrong decisions to start and feed addictions throughout their life. Being a former crack addict myself (Quit for 2 years now), I would know. You can tell children that smoking doing is horrible and wrong, but seeing you do it cancels out any idea of it being that way to most. Hypocrisy leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate is the path to the Dark Side.

Caving isn’t The End

This is the biggest one that helped me through all my addictions. If your willpower continues to waver and you cave in and light up, do not continue. This does not mean you are back to square one. In fact, it aids your willpower. Simply put out your cigarette when your done, and quit again. Do not go on as if all is right, however: tell the ones depending on you that you caved in once, but you are continuing the path to a smoke free life. It was simply a bump in the road. This does not mean that you can smoke once in a while and expect to be rid of your addiction though. Continue with the steps from the beginning again, and regain your composure.