Silence The Stress Of Smoking Cessation- Ten Tips To Help You Cope
You have finally decided to quit smoking, and you feel
great! Of course, it is only day one, and at this point it is still easy
to feel on top of the world. You know about all the folks who tried and
failed to quit, and you have heard the horror stories of grumpy
behavior, excessive weight gain, and the knock down, drag out fights
with spouses, significant others, and children that accompanied this
valiant effort. Looking at your cigarettes, as you crush them into the
trash can, it is hard to imagine that a little piece of rolled up paper
and some dried plants in the middle could wreak so much havoc in
anyone?s life, but all the stories you have heard are based on truth!
Cigarette smoke contains the highly addictive substance nicotine.
This drug?s ability to addict its users has been compared to the habit
forming agents of heroine and cocaine. Studies have proven that nicotine
directly affects the dopamine production in the user?s body, and the
latter is responsible for allowing a body to feel pleasure, comfort
ability, and overall physical content. The vicious cycle that many
long-term smokers have discovered is the fact that the drug in the long
term depresses the brain?s ability to generate adequate amounts of this
substance, and so the smoker will seek to compensate for this shift by
introducing greater amounts of nicotine into her or his system. While it
may briefly kick start the brain to release more dopamine, it
simultaneously causes so much bodily destruction that the effect of the
former is negligible in light of the pain and illness generated by the
latter. Additionally, the addiction is not simply physical but its
severity is also linked to the habits that surround the activity of
smoking. The activity is soon associated with certain activities, such
as eating, driving, or reading, and a smoker who is trying to kick the
habit finds temptations sore whenever she or he engages in any or all of
these activities.
While it is good and comforting to know that
you will very likely encounter this distress, it does little to silence
the stress of smoking cessation, and almost nothing to help you cope
with it. To this end, here are ten tips that will make the road to
quitting permanently not an easy one to traverse, but most certainly
more livable, healthy, and perhaps even a bit more comfortable:
No
matter what the purists are saying, nicotine replacement therapy, such
as the use of the gum or patch, is a good alternative for those who face
extreme irritability, anxiety, and even disturbed sleep patterns. Some
decry the uses of replacements as weakness, but let?s face it, you are
trying to quit smoking, this alone makes you strong and determined in
your own right!
Be aware of the habit that most tempts you to
smoke, and change it. Let?s say you like to have a cigarette with your
evening cupcake in the easy chair. Change the habit by having a
different snack (preferably a healthy one, such as some sunflower seeds
or pistachios) in a different location, such as the sofa. This activity
is not associated with smoking and will thus help you to avoid some
temptations.
Take up a new hobby, such as the Yoga class you
always wanted to go to, the drawing class that held your interest or
maybe the evening lecture at the local library. Get out of the house and
enjoy new things!
It is 3 o?clock in the morning and you need
help ? drop a dime! Did you know that there are actually help-lines that
are staffed by trained individuals to help quitters deal with the
biggest temptations and cravings? Call 1-800-ACS-2345 to get the number
for your local counseling service.
Enlist support from friends
and family. Let them know that you are quitting and that they should
absolutely positively not give in when you ask them for a cigarette.
Consider
hypnosis if all else fails.
Acupuncture is another great
alternative for those who have a hard time dealing with the cravings.
Delay
giving in to the urge. Let?s say your temptation is acute and you are
all but on your way to corner store to buy more cigarettes. Tell
yourself to wait for fifteen minutes. While it may appear that you are
giving in to your craving, it still leaves you in control and takes off
the edge just a bit. Usually this little trick will allow you to occupy
yourself for fifteen minutes, and by the time this period has elapsed,
the urge has probably lessened considerably.
Educate yourself on
the process of smoking cessation. And educated quitter is a prepared
quitter. Additionally, knowing about the process cuts your stress about
what?s next.
Forgive yourself and get back on the wagon if
you fall off. It you give in to temptation don?t think it was all for
nothing but acknowledge your momentary weakness, find out what made you
give in right then and there and avoid this situation in the future.