think it was Mark Twain who said “giving up smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.”
If you have been a regular smoker for a number of years you’re going to need some help to stop smoking because you have become addicted to nicotine. So where do you go for help?
Why not start at home and ask your partner for support and advice. Indeed, if you are both smokers it makes sense to give up the habit together and that way be mutually supportive. It’s comforting that you’re not alone in your struggle, but that someone else is going through the same as you. You can share the problem and think of ways of beating it.
An idea is to take up a pursuit that you both enjoy that will take you out of your normal home environment as much as possible. This reduces the opportunities and the need to smoke, especially if you do some sort of exercise like swimming, golf, or cycling. It is difficult to ride a bike and smoke at the same time! Also the fresh air is invigorating and exercise releases feel-good brain chemicals which make it less necessary to seek the chemical changes caused by smoking.
Beyond your partner you should look to your family for support also. They should be tolerant if your mood becomes somewhat irritable in the weeks immediately after stopping smoking. This is likely to happen to some more than others but is a well known feature of withdrawal. Some people can feel more anxious and worry more during this period as they no longer have the emotional crutch of a cigarette and they need sympathetic understanding. Some people will tend to put on weight after giving up smoking and this is another area they might need help with.
Your doctor also should be consulted when giving up smoking as he can help considerably both in terms of advice and by prescribing medication to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms allowing you to gradually reduce your dependence on nicotine. Make no mistake, nicotine is a very addictive drug and you may well need help in overcoming this.
Your doctor might suggest you try acupuncture or hypnotherapy if he thinks it is suitable. These alternative treatments do not have a great deal of scientific evidence to back them up, but, there is no doubt that they can help a lot of people who want to quit smoking without having to take more drugs.
Help and counselling is also available from many local and national organisations both privately and through the NHS. You can get details of these online or from your GP’s surgery. Talking through your problem with somebody who has seen it all before can be very reassuring and helpful in keeping you motivated.
Finally, remember that you are in charge of your own life and destiny. Think how important giving up smoking is to your health and to your future. You can help yourself by re-asserting your aim and your determination to succeed. Smoking is becoming socially unacceptable in today’s society and by giving up you are doing yourself a big favour. There is plenty of help available and you shouldn’t be too proud or too afraid to ask for it.
think it was Mark Twain who said “giving up smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.”
If you have been a regular smoker for a number of years you’re going to need some help to stop smoking because you have become addicted to nicotine. So where do you go for help?
Why not start at home and ask your partner for support and advice. Indeed, if you are both smokers it makes sense to give up the habit together and that way be mutually supportive. It’s comforting that you’re not alone in your struggle, but that someone else is going through the same as you. You can share the problem and think of ways of beating it.
An idea is to take up a pursuit that you both enjoy that will take you out of your normal home environment as much as possible. This reduces the opportunities and the need to smoke, especially if you do some sort of exercise like swimming, golf, or cycling. It is difficult to ride a bike and smoke at the same time! Also the fresh air is invigorating and exercise releases feel-good brain chemicals which make it less necessary to seek the chemical changes caused by smoking.
Beyond your partner you should look to your family for support also. They should be tolerant if your mood becomes somewhat irritable in the weeks immediately after stopping smoking. This is likely to happen to some more than others but is a well known feature of withdrawal. Some people can feel more anxious and worry more during this period as they no longer have the emotional crutch of a cigarette and they need sympathetic understanding. Some people will tend to put on weight after giving up smoking and this is another area they might need help with.
Your doctor also should be consulted when giving up smoking as he can help considerably both in terms of advice and by prescribing medication to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms allowing you to gradually reduce your dependence on nicotine. Make no mistake, nicotine is a very addictive drug and you may well need help in overcoming this.
Your doctor might suggest you try acupuncture or hypnotherapy if he thinks it is suitable. These alternative treatments do not have a great deal of scientific evidence to back them up, but, there is no doubt that they can help a lot of people who want to quit smoking without having to take more drugs.
Help and counselling is also available from many local and national organisations both privately and through the NHS. You can get details of these online or from your GP’s surgery. Talking through your problem with somebody who has seen it all before can be very reassuring and helpful in keeping you motivated.
Finally, remember that you are in charge of your own life and destiny. Think how important giving up smoking is to your health and to your future. You can help yourself by re-asserting your aim and your determination to succeed. Smoking is becoming socially unacceptable in today’s society and by giving up you are doing yourself a big favour. There is plenty of help available and you shouldn’t be too proud or too afraid to ask for it.
Robert Schwartz is an author and is passionate about helping others
quit smoking forever. He spends his time assisting people to give up
smoking. To learn more about how to get help to stop
smoking visit http://www.giveupsmokinghelp.com.
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