How to Quit Smoking - Tools to Help

At age fifteen I never imagined that a dare from a friend would land me in a decade long addiction to cigarettes, yet it did. Smoking is an odd addiction if you think about it. People see it as a lesser evil among addictions. Outside of premature aging and the wonderful hacking cough, the damage it is doing to your body is less obvious than other drugs. There are no licenses revoked, nor drug arrests, nor child services knocking down your door compliments of the addiction to cigarettes. There will be no late night shady alley transactions, only a trip to the local 7-11. Although smoking is becoming less and less socially acceptable, it is still ever present in our society. This is just one of many factors that make quitting difficult. Quitting smoking may be one of the hardest obstacles you will ever have to overcome; however, if you equip yourself with the right tools your chances for success will be much higher.

Tool number one - Support System

Look to people who have quit or tried to quit. Even those who have been unsuccessful may have some great tips and stories to share with you. Look to your family and friends to walk you through the steps of quitting. If your partner or roommate smokes try to convince them to quit with you. At minimum set up house rules that include no smoking in the home. If you are finding it difficult to see a support system around you, go find one. There are plenty of online support groups that will welcome you in. If you are surrounded by those who want to see you succeed, the journey towards being smoke-free will be much easier.

Tool number two - Nicotine Replacements

Nicotine replacements have gained popularity in the last few years and with good reason. They come in all different forms, from gums to patches to mints to inhalers to pills. Some nicotine replacements are only by prescription, while most can be bought over the counter. I personally used NicoDerm CQ. It was what ultimately brought me success. It was not easy, but having the program and the patch combined did it for me. My husband on the other hand preferred the gum. We joke about him chomping on the gum and me pushing on the patch early in the morning, struggling to make it through yet another day without smoking. Even if you regress with the nicotine replacement or fail completely don't give up. They are not a "cure all" they are simply a fantastic tool to help you get where you need to be. It took me three tries to get it right and set my nonsmoking status in order. If one nicotine replacement form does not work for you try a different one. When purchasing nicotine replacements the price may seem high at first; however if you average out what you were previously spending on cigarettes you will probably end up about even and your lungs will be much happier with you.

Tool number three - Education

Learn everything you can about smoking. It will prove to be a precious source of motivation during the process of quitting. Print out pictures of lungs damaged by smoking cigarettes. Find statistics of smoker versus nonsmoker's health risks. Print out statistics of how your body heals and recovers after it is free of tobacco and all the additives in cigarettes. Print out the ingredients in cigarettes. While craving one, you can remind yourself of the carcinogens that are included in every single cigarette. Bring forward all the information that you try to mute out as a smoker. Remind yourself of the damaging effects second hand smoke has on those around you. I used to work with a bartender who had a picture of her young son tucked into the plastic sleeve of her cigarettes. She explained that it was her motivation to not smoke and every time she picked up the pack she was faced with the fact that she wanted to be around for son for many years to come. Find your motivation and put it where it can be seen. Be real with the facts and your reason for wanted to stop. This information will serve as your inspiration and motivation.

Tool number four - Breathing

When I was seventeen years old my parents sent me to hypnotist. The goal was to help me quit smoking. Although obviously he was not successful in his task, it was not an all together waste. I learned the importance of breathing techniques. I know it sounds a bit odd, but if you think about it; it makes sense. A smoker inhales, enjoys the feeling, and exhales while beginning to feel relaxed. It is this action that settles a once fidgety smoker down. By learning breathing techniques combined with soothing music the chances of getting through a craving increase. It is a matter of working with your body instead of against it.

The tools you employ will be those of your choice. Each individual will find success in his or her own way. The biggest key to quitting smoking is truly wanting to be done with an addiction that has held you back for way to long. Cigarettes are probably one of the only products in America that have a label down the side of it stating it will cause cancer, it will cause emphysema, it will cause birth defects, it will basically ultimately kill you. We knowingly purchase this product. "I'll take two packs" we state with a smile and a nod. It is an addictive drug quietly destroying our insides. It is time to get absolutely fed up, set a date and take action against an amazingly unhealthy addiction.