Quit Smoking: A Guide to Knocking the Habit

Each person who quits smoking goes through his/her own personal battle. Everyone has heard the story of, or even seen, the person who smokes for twenty years and then just stops with what appears to be no withdrawal symptoms, agitation or weight gain. Most people are not this lucky and need more help and support to become an ex-smoker.

There is no fool-proof way to quit smoking, no magic pill or audio tape that will make it easy. Quitting is first and foremost a decision you make yourself. Smokers who try to quit because someone told them to, often begin smoking again or become "closet smokers". Remind yourself continuously why you are quitting smoking. Do you want to smell better? Breathe better? Save money?

Products such as nicotine gum, the patch, and the nicotine inhaler can all be helpful when you quit. Chantix is a new pill that is giving hope to millions of smokers. All of these products have produced ex-smokers but they are not all you should have in your stop smoking kit.

Many people have to quit multiple times before they succeed. It is not shameful to begin smoking again. Often this time can be used to figure out what made you begin smoking again and make preparations for that situation the next time you quit. If you find yourself lighting up after a fight with your spouse, look for other ways of dealing with your stress. Take a long walk or call a friend. Exercise is one of the best ways of dealing with stress and reducing cravings. It is also the best way to not have to deal with the weight gain that so many complain about when they quit smoking.

In the beginning it is the cravings that get a lot of people. It's hard to remember that cravings are not painful. It does not hurt to crave a cigarette. It is uncomfortable and it can cause extreme agitation but it also goes away. Cravings can be controlled in different ways, each person has to find what works for them. Taking deep breaths is an excellent way to get through a bad craving. Breathe in as if you were inhaling a cigarette. The extra oxygen boost to your brain will be a big help. Another way to help control cravings is by drinking very cold ice water. It may not seem like it will help but it does reduce cravings and it is good for you!

Tell your family, friends, and co-workers you are quitting so that they can support you in your quit and be more understanding if you are cranky or depressed. You are the only one who can make yourself quit but it helps to have a large support group around. For those who do not have any support or feel that they need more, there are wonderful support groups online such as Quitnet. Quitnet, and sites like it, give you gadgets to measure how long you have been quit and forums and chats for you to converse with others who are going through the same thing you are.

Quitting smoking is hard, but it is worth it, and it does get easier.