Useful Tips for How to Quit Smoking

There actually are a few people that actually enjoy smoking. That being said, there are many people out there that insist they enjoy smoking because they can't figure out how to quit so they pretend it is the thing they like. I feel bad for those people because they are trapped. Trapped by circumstances, physical and emotional addiction and societal opinion.

Well if you are one of those people that would really like to quit but you just don't know what to do please read on.

The US Surgeon General has stated, "Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives."

Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times."

Have you ever wondered why quitting smoking is so difficult to accomplish. That you've "done it a thousand times", but always go back. Well it is the nature of the beast. Nicotine is a naturally occurring drug in tobacco. It is ever bit as addictive as heroin or cocaine. It causes both emotional and physical addiction. You are dependent on it. You can not do without it.

When you drag that nicotine filled smoke deep into your lungs, you give it instant access to your bloodstream. Once it is in your blood it is carried everyone at once into your body. Nicotine negatively affects most of your body, your heart, your circulatory system, your hormonal system, your brain and your metabolism.

Nicotine can be found in mother's breast milk, which means your infant is smoking too, and it is even found in the cervical mucus. Testing has been done on pregnant mothers showing nicotine in the amniotic fluid and in the blood of the umbilical cord of newborn infants, proving that nicotine can easily cross the placental barrier.

Seeing how completely encompassing this addiction can be. And how affecting it is to you your unborn child, your infant and your entire body, do you agree that more insight is needed to be able to quit this monster?

So what is going on when you try to quit?

Well for one thing, you may quit today but there is still nicotine in your system for 3-4 more days. Nicotine causes you to have euphoric feelings that make it nearly impossible to quit smoking because you want that feeling, so the longer it is in your system, the harder it is for you to start feeling better about yourself and the memory of the cigarette doesn't fade.

When you try to quit, you actually go into withdrawal which is very uncomfortable and even painful and it causes serious emotional and mental stress. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can actually occur within a few hours of your last cigarette. It can last for weeks in some.

Some of the symptoms of withdrawal include:

Physical

· Rapid pulse

· Dizziness

· Sweating

· Inability to sleep

· Headaches

· Nausea

· Feelings of exhaustion

· Increased appetite

Emotional:

· Serious depression

· Anxiety

· Irritability

· Uncontrolled feelings of anger

· Impatience

· frustration

· Trouble focusing, inability to concentrate

These symptoms of course, are nearly unbearable, and they force you to want to smoke again to get rid of them. Most smokers have tried to quit more than once in their lives, so they are already familiar with the feeling of euphoria and the complete cessation of the above symptoms as soon as they take one drag on that longed for cigarette. So each time they try it is even more difficult than the last time.

So how do I quit?

Well there are numerous assitive devices out there aimed to help you quit, some of them quite effective for some. There are programs, medications, support groups, there is also nicotine replacement therapy. There is acupuncture, hypnosis and plain old witchcraft. You will have to decide what you want to try first. But there a few key things to get you started on your new lifestyle of freedom from nicotine.

Many studies have shown that you have a number of things to do in order to quit. The closer you adhere to the steps of quitting the more chance of success you have.

1. Decide when you are going to quit. It is not so wise to think about quitting when you have some huge social function to attend that everyone knows you smoke and are going to coerce you into having a cigarette. Remember misery loves company.

2. Clean you environment of all cigarettes. Don't forget your office, your car and your stash. GONE! All of it.

3. Try to remember how it was the last time you tied to quit. Think of what tripped you up. Be prepared for it this time.

4. Like an alcoholic that cannot drink even one drink, once you have quit you can not smoke even one drag off a cigarette, EVER! Even years later ex-smokers crave a cigarette. And even one will make you take it up again.

5. You must have the emotional support and understanding of your family and friends. Tell the people in your world what you are doing and ask them for their help and support.

6. Talk to your doctor, maybe you need some professional counseling or some medication to help you get through. Or even discuss nicotine replacement therapy.

7. Start new hobbies. Figure out what to do with your hands and mouth after certain times when you used to need to have a cigarette, like after a meal or first thing when you wake in the morning, or after sex. You now need to have something in place already to take the place of that puff.

8. Do stress relievers that you enjoy. Many find physical exertion really works for them. Maybe biking, hiking or weight lifting. You will notice that you not only enjoy it but you look better and you have a great more stamina and you are breathing so much more easily while exerting. Some enjoy just going out into a different environment, restaurants or malls that don't allow smoking. Shopping with non smoking friends, going to movies. Get a massage. Just do something for yourself that relieves your stress.

9. Drink a ton of water and other fluids, it helps flush your system faster.

10. Don't just sit around and think about how you are not smoking.

11. Keep track of the money you are saving each day now that you are not smoking. Set a goal and when you reach it, go splurge on yourself. You deserve a reward.

12. Avoid alcohol as it decreases your chances of successfully quitting. It lowers your inhibitions and your will power. It is also an addictive substance that you may use to substitute for nicotine.

13. Last but not least, if you have a belief in God you might try asking him for help.

If you lapse after a few months, be prepared to try again immediately. And don't hate yourself because you aren't superhuman. There is NO ONE that smokes that can quit easily. It can't be done. Know that.

You have your work cut out for you. But you can do it.