Quit Smoking Guide

Every year millions of people decide to quit smoking, and every year millions of those people unfortunately fail. The painful truth is that smoking is an addiction, a physical need that is difficult to break free from and most people will need some kind of assistance and medical intervention to finally stop smoking altogether. If you are one of those smokers who would like to quit smoking once and for all, please read on for some easy tips in this very brief stop smoking guide.

First, acknowledge that smoking fulfills both a physical and mental need. It is an addiction that can be devastating to try to break free of. It is not just a bad habit; it can be a deadly one. Once you understand how horribly pervasive smoking can be, you can give it the attention that it needs to be ended. You would hopefully see a doctor if you had a serious illness or chronic condition of any other kind, so why would you assume you can handle smoking cessation on your own? Treat it as seriously as any other disease and you are more likely to follow through with a program designed to help you stop.

Second, only with seeking professional advice, do not try to quit smoking in private. Make sure that everyone knows what your intentions are and enlist their help and support. Let them know what kind of assistance you need, from moral support to actually taking your cigarettes from you. Make sure that you are comfortable enough with your friends and family to be able to say “back off” if they are getting to exuberant with their support, but understand that they are only doing what they think is best for you.

Set small goals at first and reward yourself for meeting them. Understand what your personal smoking triggers are and work to either avoid them or reset the behavior if you cannot. If you are used to lighting up as soon as you finish a meal, then do something else after eating. Get up and clear the table and wash the dishes instead. Clear the table and go for a walk to keep your body active and your mind distracted from the cigarette it is used to having.

Make sure that you have one person, even if it is a stranger on a stop smoking hotline that you can call, day or night, when your cravings are impossible to ignore. Talk to them, work through the suggestions that they give you. Remember, not one method works universally. What works for your neighbor may fail for you. You may need a combination of methods to be successful. Or, you may stumble on the right tool on your very first try. Do not get discouraged if you slip up or even if you fail the first time. It is estimated that of the over 46 million smokers in America that 32 million (that is over two-thirds) would actually like to quit smoking. Many try and fail every year, but they try again and eventually they join the ranks of the non-smokers. Best of luck to you and your health.