Smoking is an extremely addictive hobby; therefore, quitting is extremely difficult. However, it is possible to quit, as long as you are smart. Continue reading for excellent quit-smoking strategies to help in quitting.
It is vital that you are actually ready to quit. Many people claim they are ready, but when it comes down to it, they truly are not. Quitting smoking is very difficult, both physically and emotionally. It is going to require making many difficult changes, and if you are not ready either physically or emotionally, you won't succeed.
It is much easier to quit smoking whenever you have the right support. Therefore, talk to your family and friends and let them know you are trying to quit. If you have a loved one who also smokes, consider having them join you. That way, you can keep each other accountable, and you both can make a huge beneficial change.
Before you attempt to quit, you should minimize all the stress in your life. Stress is a huge smoking trigger for many smokers. If you are stressed out at work, try to get the stress under control before quitting. There are many ways to help you minimize stress, such as exercising, yoga, meditation, writing your thoughts in a journal, talking to friends or family, etc. Once you feel that your stress is under control, you can then turn to quitting.
There are numerous treatments you can utilize to help you quit smoking. Quitting cold turkey is virtually impossible for most people; therefore, you should not hesitate to try out different treatments. One treatment you can attempt is nicotine gum. This gum contains a small amount of nicotine that will gradually wean you off cigarettes. Understand that nicotine gum is not a replacement for cigarettes, and if this treatment does not help you quit within six months, you should attempt another strategy.
Give e-cigarettes a try. These are very similar to cigarettes because you actually smoke them and they have nicotine; however, you are smoking water vapor, not real smoke. Because of this, e-cigarettes are not harmful to your body. There are even e-cigarettes that look just like real cigarettes. The hassle of these is that you must recharge them constantly, and if they die, you are going to be left with a strong urge to smoke. In addition, e-cigarettes do not contain as much nicotine as real cigarettes; therefore, you have to smoke more using the e-cigarette than you do with a real cigarette in order to feel satisfied. Having said that, many people are finding success with e-cigarettes, and you could as well.
Finally, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about prescription medications. You may find that over-the-counter treatment options just are not effective for you. Your doctor will be able to prescribe the medication he or she believes is best for you.
As stated earlier, smoking is an addiction that is extremely difficult to break. Fortunately, you read this article and are now more knowledgeable on how to quit for good. Make use of this advice so you can quit.