After figuring out what your triggers are and working to change your routine (as discussed in my blog entitled “Triggers”), you are ready to set a date for the big day, the day when you conciously back away from smoking.
It is a good idea to either talk to your medical doctor or call a help line (one is listed below). There are some products on the market to help with the nicotine withdrawal such as gum, patches, lozenges and even some prescription medications such as Varenicline (or Chantix) and Bupropion (brand names Wellbutrin and Zyban), that help with the cravings. A doctor can advise you as to whether you might need to start one of these products before stopping actual cigarettes. This is a very important aspect of quitting and these aids are good idea to decide on before the day comes.
You aren’t going to just never have another cigarette. Cutting down or edging off is a little more the point here. Your awareness of your smoking triggers, and what you have done to change those most vulnerable moments, will help you to cut down and finally quit.
Water pipe smoking (vaping and e-cigs) still deliver the nicotine, but not as toxic as a cigarette.
A lot of people feel that cold turkey is the way to go about quitting. But only about 3.5% of those stopping cold turkey actually stop for good.
Remember that addictive behavior comes from our reactions to certain situations. Usually, it is an emotional stresser that brings on the addictive behavior. This is where changing the rituals we go through comes in. For example: If you smoke when you get in the car and drive at a certain time during the day, then you need to find something else to do at this time.
Don’t forget to ask for support from family and friends. Not being around people that smoke will be very helpful and is something to think about.
Call the NCI (National Cancer Institute) Smoking Quitline at: 1-877-448-7848 Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm eastern time, or visit www.smokefree.gov for help if you need it.
I hope this blog is of help to you and that you read the others I have written on this subject. Thank you for your votes and comments.