Out of everybody who attempts to quit smoking, less than 10% actually succeed. That’s a scary thought. Quitting smoking is no easy task and should not be treated lightly. It’s made especially difficult when you see others around you smoking on an almost daily basis. Even if it takes multiple attempts, if you want to quit smoking, you can do it.

You should quit smoking because:

• You will live longer
• You will be less likely to contract serious illnesses, such as cancer
• You won’t stink of cigarette smoke all the time
• Your hair and breath will be given new leases of fresh life
• Those around you will be healthier, particularly children
• You will save huge amounts of money to spend on other things

When preparing to quit smoking, you should set a date. Pledge to smoke up until that date and then quit, cold turkey, 100%. Get rid of all cigarettes, cigarette boxes, ashtrays and other items related to smoking in your household, your car, at your workplace.

Get your friends involved. If you can get others around you to quit at the same time, you’ll be surprised at the difference a group effort can make. If you can’t get them to quit, let them know you are quitting and ask them not to smoke around you. Friends and family will be supportive of your efforts.

When you feel the urge to smoke, it is vital to have something else that you can do to suppress this urge. This can take the form of gum, exercise, chewing toothpicks – anything, so long as you’re not smoking.

When you are trying to break a routine, if you break other daily routines then quitting smoking won’t be such a struggle. This can involve things as simple as driving to work a different way or drinking tomato juice instead of orange juice.

If you want to quit smoking, for the first few weeks at least, try and avoid situations in which you are surrounded by other smokers. This can be as simple as going to watch a movie instead of going to a bar with friends. A bit of sacrifice will pay off if you want to quit smoking.

If you really want quit smoking, you can do it. You just need to dedicate yourself to the cause.

Tags: Smoking by Doctor Nick
No Comments »

Smoking is a vice that plagues many people. Initially, when you start smoking, you might enjoy the high, the increased alertness, the slight buzz you get from your cigarette, but as time goes on, the more you smoke, the less pleasurable the effects are. When you become addicted to smoking, every time you light up a cigarette, all you are doing is relieving the symptoms of withdrawal.

The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal range from insomnia and restlessness, to paranoia and a short temper. When you smoke, you put these feelings at bay, and yet you descend further and further into a vicious cycle.

People become addicted to cigarettes because they continually strive to combat the withdrawal symptoms that occur when they cease smoking. If you are addicted to smoking, you can probably justify each cigarette as being genuinely pleasurable, but it’s more likely that you are just enjoying the experience of relieving the anxiety caused by your withdrawal.

People start smoking for many reasons, but whatever the reasons, nicotine usually finds a way to get hold of them over time, Nicotine is highly addictive, but there is more to people smoking than just nicotine addiction.

Many people begin smoking sporadically, but eventually build up to smoking more regularly. School children smoke to look cool in front of their peers; social smokers puff cigarettes to join in with a group; some people smoke while drinking alcohol; and others just do it when they have nothing else to do.

Once you start smoking more regularly, it become increasingly difficult to stop. The more your brain learns to associate smoking with certain situations, the more likely you will be to smoke when repeat situations arise. Couple this with a growing dependency on nicotine and you have a problem.

For example, many smokers smoke most when they are feeling stressed. Smoking combats nicotine withdrawal and can lead to feelings of relief and euphoria. Other people smoke when they feel insecure, under pressure or bored. In the future, when such situations arise, it feels natural to smoke. It’s the same with smoking after a meal: it becomes a habit, and the habit is difficult to break.

The more you smoke, the less pleasurable it really is, and the more difficult it is to break the cycle.

Tags: Smoking by Doctor Nick
No Comments »