How can I Quit Smoking

Preparations To Quit Smoking

When you stop smoking, it is very important to stop at once. Research shows that stopping cold turkey works better then slowly reducing the amount of cigarettes that you smoke. If you are going to stop smoking, you must make sure that everything that has to do with smoking disappears out of your house. Lighters, ashtrays, cigarettes, EVERYTHING! Make it clear to the people around you that you will stop smoking and that you do not want them to offer you any cigarettes. There is a big chance you'll start experiencing withdrawal symptoms. There are tools available that can help you fight against these symptoms. For example, it is useful to try nicotine gum, nicotine patches or lozenges in the house.

Withdrawal Symptoms are Challenging But Harmless

When you stop smoking, nicotine is suddenly absent from your body system. As a result, withdrawal symptoms such as moodiness, restlessness, impatience, headache, insomnia or poor concentration can appear. You may experience chills and tingling in the hands and feet. Furthermore, you can get increased appetite. Withdrawal symptoms are challenging, but harmless. Withdrawal symptoms will be the worst within the first three days. After an average of three to four weeks, these symptoms naturally disappear. The desire to smoke will often return, even for people who stopped smoking for a longer time. However, also this negative urge goes away as well.

Advise for Fighting Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms are challenging, but are harmless and will disappear naturally. Distraction and relaxation can help to overcome the withdrawal period:

• Take a break during work. Take a piece of fruit instead of a cigarette and take a walk around the block
• If you crave a cigarette, try to breathe easily and relax
• Consider that the physical (withdrawal) symptoms that you feel are harmless and go away
• Think of something pleasant, let your shoulders hang relaxed; inhale five seconds slowly and deeply through your nose, and exhale slowly five seconds through the mouth. Wait a moment and repeat three to five times
• Search for distraction. For example, drink a glass of water, walk outside (not smoking area), do some exercises: run up the stairs and down, do ten squats, or read a page out of a funny story
• Can you almost not resist a cigarette anymore? Quickly go cycling, running or walking
• Maybe you will think better tricks to avoid smoking. That is fine. Just don’t smoke anymore