How I Gave Up Smoking

Smoking is a disgusting, smelly, dangerous and really enjoyable habit! Smoking a cigarette used to calm my nerves, finish off a good meal, wake me up first thing in the morning, relax me last thing at night, keep me occupied during times of boredom such being on hold or hanging around waiting on a bus, train, flight, friend or meeting. In short smoking was a multi-purpose habit, suitable for many occasions - and was killing me! I developed asthma and bronchitis, could hardly walk up a flight of stairs and stunk like an ashtray all day long, yet i still continued to smoke for many years. I tried many cures, patches, pills, substitutes and books with virtually no effect (usually lasted days, occasionally weeks, but never permanent). it was only after reading a book by Allen Carr - Easyway To Stop Smoking - that I realized smoking is a mental addiction, not a physical one. This is why nothing I tried previously had worked.

Once I realised this was a problem relating to my own perception of smoking and its "fake" benefits, I found the whole process relatively easy and simply had to make a few changes to my daily routines and habits, reinforcing the concept and making it more difficult for me to unknowingly fall into the "smoking trap" again.

First of all I decided on a date to stop smoking for good, I made sure there were no social occasions or events that would make it more difficult for me, then I stuck to that date.

Secondly, on that date I threw out my cigarettes and ashtrays on that day - I had stopped so there was no reason to keep them around.

Thirdly, I examined the situations when I previously would enjoy smoking and made an effort to change those situations to break the association in my mind. For instance I used to have a smoke as soon as I got dressed and came downstairs in the morning so I simply replaced this habit with another healthier one, first thing every day I stand at an open window and take 10 deep breaths of fresh air ( much deeper breaths now than I could take before!). Another occasion I immediately would light a cigarette was after a meal, instead now I go and brush my teeth after eating ( if eating out I carry a toothbrush with me). I also found that when I smoked my beverage of choice to accompany the cigarette was either soda or coffee, so I replaced those with green tea, fruit juice and mineral water to further break the association of certain activities with smoking. lastly I found that alcohol was a complete no-no for me as the association with smoking was much to strong.

After a few weeks I gradually reintroduced coffee and alcohol and found that I had no problems with cravings any more - on a side note I also found I really did not enjoy coffee or alcohol as much as I thought I did, so previously I must have used those substances as a "support" for my smoking habit, now I very rarely consume either substance and am much healthier in general because of it.