Smoking is not only hazardous to your health, but can seriously hurt the health of those people who are exposed to your smoke. It is known to lead to a variety of health issues, such as heart attacks, emphysema and lung and throat cancer. Any secondhand smoke will be dangerous, as well. This is a great reason as to why stopping smoking is so essential. Read this article for tips on how to stop the nasty habit today.
When you have made the decision to stop smoking, try seeking out help from a support group. It can be very beneficial to network with people who have been where you are, and understand the emotional and physical challenges that you’re going through. These people can support you through the hardest times with guidance, and coping tips. To find a support group dedicated to smoking cessation, check your local rec center, church or community college.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, stopping “cold turkey” is a bad idea. Quitting without a means of support for nicotine withdrawal is an uphill battle. Because nicotine is addictive, it’s very easy to relapse without some form of support when quitting. It’s best to use smoking cessation medicine, or some type of therapy when you’re ready to quit.
When you are trying to quit smoking, write a list of all of the reasons why you want to stop. Carry that list with you at all times. One of the best place to carry this list is where you used to carry your cigarettes. Whenever you catch yourself reaching for your pack of smokes, pull out the list, instead, and read why you want to break the habit.
One way to stop smoking is to get better at quitting. Many ex-smokers took several tries before they were successful. You have to take quitting day-by-day, living in the moment. If you do smoke again, just try setting a new quit date. Try to last longer each time, and try to learn from your mistakes each time one arises. Each time you attempt to quit smoking, you will develop new tactics which will eventually enable you to quit completely.
Have true faith in the fact that you can quit smoking. You must believe it in order truly quit. You can’t go into it half-heartedly. Consider all the tough things you have accomplished in other aspects of your life, and use those memories to fuel your full commitment to stopping smoking.
When you’re ready to quit smoking, don’t be afraid to seek the advice of a physician. A doctor can guide you in many ways on how to quit, whether it’s recommending a nicotine replacement product, or outlining an exercise plan, or even just offering authoritative words of encouragement and support.
When you are trying to quit smoking, use the method that works best for you. Some people have more success by quitting gradually, while others do better by quitting cold turkey. Try one method, and if it does not work for you, switch to the other method to see if it gives you better results.
Write down a journal of every time you have a cigarette and what your reasons were for having one. This journal will help you to find out what your smoking triggers are. For some it may be the first morning cigarette, or the need to smoke after a meal. For others, it may be stress. Determining your triggers will help you to figure out a way to fight them.
To optimize your chances of success, don’t try to quit smoking during a stressful time in your life. This is when your nicotine addiction is strongest, and trying to quit only sets you up for failure. Wait until you feel empowered by other successes – regardless of how large or small – and use that success as a springboard for quitting.
Remind yourself of how gross cigarettes are. This will help you focus on quitting because you will think about how dirty they are. Avoid emptying ashtrays so you can see how much you’ve smoked and the terrible smell it leaves behind. You may also want to try filling a jar with the butts and ashes as a reminder.
Don’t use weight gain as an excuse to continue smoking. While it is true that some individuals gain weight when they quit, it doesn’t mean that you will. Make healthy eating choices when you’re feeling hungry because you aren’t smoking and the weight won’t pile on. Even if you do gain a few pounds, remember that it is much healthier than continuing to smoke.
Smoking is a dangerous and unhealthy activity. Some major health risks that smoking cause are lung cancer, emphysema and heart attack. Second-hand smoke is a dangerous health threat to anyone who is near you. By reading the information in this article, you should now be well informed enough to successfully quit smoking.
The Best Ways To Quit Smoking For Good was originally published on Spring