—
Nearly every single one of us knows someone or is someone who has tried to quit smoking. Yet while this is still probably one of the most common addictions to overcome it has yet to be really pinned down to an exact science. There are those who say you should quit cold turkey or others that think a slow wind-down of nicotine use is more appropriate or using a patch or chewing gum and so on and so on.
It’s different for everyone, what may work for you might not be the best for others. That’s why what follows should be taken for what it is, advice. These are tips that can hopefully give you a framework to use to quit smoking. Take what applies to you and lose the rest. Ready? Here we go.
Dump the Cigarettes ASAP
Don’t sit around waiting for approval from on high, don’t wait for just the right moment, decide for yourself, and as soon as you decide that you want to quit smoking dump your last cigarettes into the trash. There’s no good to be gotten from waiting until you’ve finished the last pack. If you’re really determined to stick to it (this time!) then drop those cancer sticks down the tube as soon as possible.
Prepare for Withdrawal
For a few days after you stop smoking your body will start looking around for nicotine like the reliable yet parasitic pet that it is. Don’t give in. While there is a comfort to be had just remember why you started, this is the hardest part and it’ll be over soon. Your body will crave nicotine initially, but the physical symptoms will be moderate and there’ll be no pain.
Don’t Try to Not Think About It
Don’t think of an elephant, don’t think of the color red. If we try and force ourselves to not think about something, it’s unlikely to succeed. The same goes for smoking, but rather than be discouraged by this but instead think about the fact that you feel so much better now that you’re not smoking twenty a day. Focus on how much you don’t need smoke in your life anymore. Try and enjoy the sense of your lungs finally becoming less constricted.
Get Some Chemical Assistance
Recent studies have suggested that CBD (cannabidiol) might help curb the urge to smoke, not take it away necessarily but perhaps take the edge off. While it might be controversial for some to include CBD on this list, it should be noted that, unlike nicotine, CBD is not addictive. People often use cigarettes to relax and unwind which can be an outlet sorely missed when quitting. CBD has been shown to help those suffering from anxiety and stress, two conditions that most often trip people up when they’re trying to quit smoking.
There’s No Such Thing as Just One More
It doesn’t matter how much further we get away from the day we quit, there is always a temptation. But no matter what happens, you’re never safe from falling back down into the hole of nicotine addiction. Remember it’s not just a single cigarette you’re having, this is a whole slip back into smoking every day. As much as addiction can be a physiological game it’s also a mental game we must be prepared to win to enjoy a smoke-free life.
—
This content made possible by site supporter Ted Stanton.
Photo by Stas Svechnikov on Unsplash