We’re all aware of the dangers of smoking cigarettes; however, that doesn’t mean smoking is any more straightforward than quitting smoking. Whether you’re a sporadic teenage smoker or a long-term smoker who smokes a pack a day, quitting smoking can be a challenge.
Smoking tobacco can be physically addictive as well as a mental habit. The nicotine in cigarettes gives an addictive and temporary high. The absence of regular intake of nicotine can cause your body to feel physically induced withdrawal, as well as cravings.
Due to smoking nicotine’s “feel good” effects on the brain. You could consider smoking cigarettes a fast and reliable method to boost your mood, ease tension, and relax.
Smoking cigarettes can also be an option to deal with anxiety, depression, and even boredom. It is about finding new methods to cope with these feelings.
Smoking cigarettes is also part of an everyday habit. It might be a natural habit to smoke cigarettes with your morning coffee, have a break at school or work or even on the way home after a long day. Maybe you have family members, friends, or colleagues who smoke cigarettes. It’s a part of how you interact with them.
To stop smoking successfully, it is necessary to tackle both the addiction and the routines and habits that accompany it. It’s possible. With the right help and quit strategy. Every smoker can overcome the habit despite having tried and failed several times before.
Your quit smoking programs
Although some smokers have succeeded in quitting by giving up smoking cold turkey. Most people are better off by following a specific strategy to stay on the right track.
A well-designed quit strategy addresses both the immediate challenge of quitting smoking and the long-term problem of preventing any relapse. It must also be tailored to your individual preferences and habits.
Find the triggers for smoking
One of the most effective ways to stop smoking is to determine the factors that lead you to smoke. That includes particular situations, activities or feelings, and people.
Keep a diary of your cravings
A diary of cravings can help you concentrate on the patterns and triggers. For about a week before the date you plan to quit, you should keep a journal of when you smoke. Keep track of the moments throughout the day when you want to smoke cigarettes:
Are you a smoker of cigarettes to alleviate unpleasant feelings?
We all smoke cigarettes to alleviate unpleasant feelings like depression, stress or loneliness. If you’re having a rough day, it might seem as though cigarettes are your only option.
However much comfort cigarettes can provide. It’s crucial to remember that better and more efficient ways to keep negative emotions at bay.
It could be through exercising or meditating, techniques for relaxation or even simple breathing exercises.
For many, the primary reason for quitting smoking is to develop alternative methods to manage these unpleasant emotions without resorting to smoking.
While cigarettes are no longer an aspect of your life. However, the unpleasant and uncomfortable experiences that led you to smoke will be.
Therefore, it’s worth contemplating the various ways you plan to manage stress-inducing situations and daily tensions that generally would have you smoking.
Tips to avoid common triggers
Alcohol
Many people smoke while drinking. Consider switching to non-alcoholic drinks or limiting drinking to places that allow smoking. Alternately, you can try eating nuts or taking a bite of a stick, or sucking on straws.
Others who smoke
When friends, colleagues, and family members smoke near you, and you smoke. It can be challenging to stop smoking or be able to stay away from getting back into it.
Make a statement about your decision to quit smoking. So you’re aware that your friends won’t smoke when you’re driving together or having an afternoon break at the cafe.
In your work environment, locate non-smokers with whom you can share breaks or think of other activities to engage in, such as going for walks.
The end of the meal
For some smokers eating a meal, the end of the meal can mean smoking, and the idea of quitting smoking may seem intimidating. You can, however, try taking that time after eating with something different like an apple or a healthy dessert, chocolate squares, or even a chewing gum stick.
Dealing with nicotine withdrawal symptoms
When you quit smoking, you’ll likely suffer several physical signs as your body begins to withdraw from nicotine.
The withdrawal from nicotine is quick and usually begins just an hour after the last smoke and peaking up to 3 days after. The withdrawal symptoms can last from up to weeks and can vary from person to.
Common withdrawal symptoms of nicotine are:
- The desire to smoke cigarettes
Although these withdrawal symptoms can be, you must keep in mind that they’re only temporary. They’ll get better over several weeks after the toxins are flushed out of your body.
While you’re waiting, be sure to let your loved ones know that you’re not the same person as usual and ask them to be patient.
Help you control your cravings for cigarettes
Although avoiding triggers for smoking will aid in reducing your desire for smoking. It is cannot wholly eliminate cravings for cigarettes.
The good news is that cravings aren’t indefinitely. Typically, they last between 5 and 10 minutes. If you’re in the mood to smoke cigarettes, remember that your craving will eventually go away and then try to sit until it is gone. It’s helpful to plan ahead of time with strategies to deal with cravings.
You can distract yourself
Do the dishes or turn on the television or shower, or talk to a person. It doesn’t matter what you do so long as it takes your mind off of smoking.
Remember why you stopped
Focus on your motivations for quitting, including the benefits to your health (lowering your risk of lung cancer and heart disease, for instance), better appearance, savings on money and a boost in self-esteem.
Escape from an enticing scenario
Where you are or what you’re doing could trigger the urge. If that’s the case, it’s time to change your surroundings. It can be all it takes to make a difference.
Reward yourself
Reinforce your victories. When you conquer an urge, reward yourself with an incentive to keep yourself in the right mindset.
Preventing weight gain after you stop smoking
Smoking cigarettes is an appetite suppressant, and the risk of gaining weight is a frequent issue for many of us who decide to quit smoking cigarettes. Some even use this as an excuse not to give up smoking.
Although many smokers indeed gain weight in the first six months after quitting smoking. The weight gain typically is small, about five pounds on average.
This initial increase decreases with time. It’s essential to keep in mind that carrying around a few extra pounds over just a few months will not harm your heart as severely as smoking cigarettes. The fact is that weight gain is not inevitable after you quit smoking.
Smoking can dull your sense of smell and taste, and after you stop smoking, food can appear more attractive.
Additionally, you could gain weight when you replace the satisfaction of smoking cigarettes with unhealthy comfort food. Therefore, it is essential to discover healthier ways to handle uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, stress, or boredom rather than excessive, emotional eating.
Take care of yourself
Instead of turning to food or smoking when you are overwhelmed, anxious or depressed. You can learn new methods to calm yourself. Play upbeat music or play with your pet, or drink hot tea such as.
Eat nutritious diverse foods
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables as well as nutritious fats. Beware of sweet foods and sodas, as well as fast food and fried foods.
Learn to be mindful about eating
Emotional eating tends to be automatic and often unthinking. It’s easy to eat the container of chocolate, and then you’re glued to the TV or looking at your smartphone. However, suppose you can eliminate distractions while eating. In that case, it’s easier to concentrate on the amount you’re eating and pay attention to the inside of your physique in terms of how to experience it. Are you starving, or are you eating for a different motive?
Drink plenty drinking drink plenty of water
You are drinking at least six to eight 8 eight-ounce. Glasses will make you feel fuller and prevent you from eating when you’re not hungry. Drinking water can also aid in flushing the body of toxins.
Go for a walk
Not only will it help you burn off calories and help you lose weight, however, but it can also aid in easing the feelings of anxiety and frustration that can accompany withdrawal from smoking.
Enjoy a guilt-free snack
Good choices include carrots, sugar-free gum, celery sticks, and sliced bell peppers or Jicama.
Therapy and medication to aid you in quitting
There are a variety of ways that have worked for smokers to stop their habit. Although you might be successful in the first strategy you attempt.
It’s more likely you’ll have to experiment with various methods or a mixture of techniques to discover the one that will work for you.
Medications
Smoking cessation medicines help alleviate withdrawal symptoms and decrease cravings. They’re most effective if utilized as a part of a total stopping smoking program, monitored by a physician.
Discuss with your physician your options and whether anti-smoking medicine is the right one for you. Some of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved choices include:
Nicotine substitution treatment
Nicotine replacement therapy involves “replacing” cigarettes with nicotine replacements, like nicotine gum, patches lozenge, inhaler and nasal spray.
It eases some withdrawal symptoms by injecting tiny doses of nicotine into your body without the harmful gases and tars found in cigarettes. This treatment method helps break your addiction to drugs and allows you to develop new habits and coping strategies.
Non-nicotine medicine
These medications help smokers quit smoking by decreasing the craving for nicotine and symptoms of withdrawal without consuming nicotine. The medications like bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix, Chempax) are designed for short-term periods only.
One Reply to “How Can I Quit Smoking?”