It might be hard to give up cigarettes but it is possible to seek out that sense of freedom once that last cancer causing cigarette has been well and truly stubbed out. Quitting for good signals new opportunities for the future and for better health but there are many pitfalls to avoid if you wish to avoid becoming another statistic and failed ex smoker.
What you have to remember is that a smoking addiction is as powerful as a heroine one. Nicotine is a terrible drug to give up but the benefits of doing so are fantastic. Most people think that if they go ‘cold turkey’ essentially giving up smoking straight away as opposed to cutting back a little at a time, that the withdrawal symptoms will be over within a few short weeks. Well it would be great to think that the temptation to want to smoke will be completely over by then but sadly, waves of temptation do have a nasty habit of suddenly recurring and catching people out.
Smoking is a habit and depending on how long you have been smoking, this habit is deeply ingrained so you are not just fighting the unpredictability and discomfort of those withdrawal symptoms, you are fighting a well-set pattern in the form of a habit and any relevant triggers associated with your smoking habit. You need to have a little bit of patience with yourself.
Your addiction may well play mind tricks on you. It could happen that you can’t think about anything other than that first taste of nicotine and the feel of a cigarette in your hands. These feelings can be very strong and overpowering for some. It’s important to be able to distract yourself at times like these, focus on the day ahead or on something that you are really looking forward to. It might take some determination to keep your mind from thinking about your smoking habit but it can be done and once you have mastered the ability to do just this, your sense of control will be made of steel.
Negative thoughts can very quickly undo your progress and abstinence from smoking so watch your thoughts. You will be amazed at just how many negative thoughts pop in and out of your mind consistently throughout the day. Once you can gain control over them, you will be able to start thinking about your achievements and the way forward and of course, what you will do with that extra cash.
To help you to quit for good, you need to really start caring for yourself. Get some extra sleep if you can because nicotine withdrawal symptoms can have the power to make you feel much more tired. Drink plenty of water and keep your body hydrated. Dehydration will just make you feel more tired and irritable. Smoking inhibits your taste-buds so once some of the effects of nicotine are reduced, food should start tasting so much nicer. Make sure you eat healthily however.
Taking care of yourself will start to implant the belief that you are important and that your health and well-being is paramount. Once you start thinking and believing this, you will find that the thought of cigarettes can become very distasteful. If your previous health and nutritional needs were not catered for, why not take a multi-vitamin to help your body fight back and regain your full health?
Quitting in one go doesn’t work for everyone, some people like to reduce the number of cigarettes that they have each day and their body gets used to a reduction of nicotine so there are no massive withdrawal symptoms either. This is a kinder, gentler way to give up smoking for good. Electronic cigarettes can help during this time because they do not contain any of the harmful chemicals that traditional cigarettes contain so you can reduce your nicotine levels gradually but your body can still start healing whilst you wean yourself off of the drug.
However you plan to give up smoking, think of the long term goals and remember that you can do it, you just need to dig deep and harden that resolve.
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