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.
Why do I write?
It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of a global community of bloggers advocating for a smoke free world. We steal time from our busy lives to read each others’ blog and reflect on what they mean. I’m also grateful for anyone who finds something useful in my reflections. I have already stated Read more
It is pretty difficult to quit a long-time habit without experiencing a relapse. There may be some who are able to drop a bad habit like a hot potato, but they certainly aren’t the majority. Smoking is one of those challenges many people struggle with. Smoking is a very dangerous habit to keep, but many become slaves to the habit. A smoking habit holds the ability to drain finances and compromise health. Even if a person struggles to break it, it still is worth the fight. There are plenty of ways to kick a smoking habit to the curb forever. Consider these tactics. Read more
It’s common to feel stressed out in the workplace. Even if the benefits of stress reduction techniques are well known, many neglect the opportunity to give themselves a few moments of self-care that can help them through those hours on the job. Plenty of options are out there, including focused physical activity and meditation. These acts may be simple, but they are effective, sometimes in mere minutes. Read more
So, you’ve thought about recycling for some time but you are afraid it will be too difficult, so you put it off. Now is the time to stop putting it off and begin your recycling program at home. How can you start? Easy, simply pay attention to what you buy and know what can and cannot be recycled. How can you do this? Read on. Read more