If you’re like many smokers and other tobacco users, you know you should quit — you just aren’t sure how to do it.
Creating a quit-smoking plan may improve your chances of stopping for good. Having a quit-smoking plan helps you cope with the physical and emotional issues that often arise when you stop smoking, such as nicotine withdrawal and strong urges to smoke.
Pick a specific day within the next month to quit smoking. Don’t set your quit day too far in the future, or you may find it hard to follow through. But don’t do it before you have a quit-smoking plan in place, either.
Having a day in mind can help you prepare for what to expect and to line up helpful support. Pick a random day as your quit day or pick a day that holds special meaning for you, such as a birthday, a holiday or a day of the week that’s generally less stressful for you.
There’s no easy way to quit smoking. But planning for it can help you overcome the hurdles you’re likely to face.
The mayo Clinic has created a Plan called Quit Smoking Day.
Here are their steps you can take as you prepare for your quit day:
Mark the day. Make a big notation of your quit day on your calendar. It’s an important day in your life, so treat it like one.
Talk to your health care provider. If you haven’t talked to your doctor or health care provider yet about quitting smoking, do so now.
Ask about stop-smoking counseling and medications. Using either counseling or medication improves your odds of success. And combining them is even more effective.
If you’ll be using the prescription medication bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Chantix), you must start the medication a week or two before your quit day to give it time to begin working.
Tell people. Let family, friends and co-workers know about your quit day. Make them your allies. They can provide a lot of moral support. Tell them how they can be most supportive of your effort to quit smoking.
Clean house. Rid your home, car, office and other places of your smoking and tobacco supplies. Don’t keep any cigarettes on hand “just in case” — you might not be able to resist the temptation. Also, consider getting your teeth professionally cleaned as motivation to stay quit.
Stock up. Have on hand items that can substitute for the cigarette you’re used to having in your mouth, such as sugarless gum, hard candy, cinnamon sticks and crunchy vegetables.
Join up. The more support you have, the more likely you are to stop smoking successfully. Find local quit-smoking support groups. Many hospitals and clinics offer classes or groups. You can join online quit-smoking groups or programs. You can even get cell phone apps, text messages or alerts to help you quit.
Reflect. If you’ve tried to quit smoking before but took it up again, think about what challenges you faced and why you started again. What worked and what didn’t? Think about what you can do differently this time. For example, make a list of your triggers and how you will deal with them. Keeping a journal about your quit-smoking efforts may help you monitor feelings and situations that ignite your smoking urges.
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Respiratory specialist Dr Ellen Cameron, a pulmonologist who has specialized in “quit smoking” programs, says there are three top tested ways to help stop smoking, “The nicotine patch, hypnotherapy and herbal treatments like NicoNot that prevent withdrawal symptoms while revitalizing the immune system and blood circulation. These are the best, but there are others.
“The important thing is not to use withdrawal symptoms or cravings as an excuse to not quit smoking. Plenty of stop-smoking products and medications with Food and Drug Administration approval are available to help you manage. Some types of nicotine replacement therapy — including patches, gum and lozenges — are available over-the-counter. Nicotine nasal spray and the nicotine inhaler are available by prescription.
“Other prescription medications may also be options. Bupropion (Zyban) can help control nicotine cravings. Varenicline (Chantix) can reduce both the pleasurable effects of smoking and any nicotine withdrawal symptoms. You may be able to use a combination of stop-smoking products at the same time. Using a stop-smoking product along with counseling to achieve changes in your behavior and beliefs is the most effective way to quit smoking. Talk to your health care provider about what stop-smoking products may be best for you.”
Learn all about the latest, most effective treatments and strategies. See “Four Steps to Quit Smoking – No Withdrawal Symptoms” CLICK HERE: FOUR STEPS TO QUIT SMOKING
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Big XL Size men have always attracted a certain percentage of adoring women and continue to do so today. And Curvaceous women are seeking loving men who will accept and cherish them as they are. As the folks at http://www.wuving.com well know.
- Kate
Copyright© 2011 by Kathleen Falken. This Article may be freely copied and distributed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice and active links.
About the Author
Kate Falken has participated in psychic research, dreamstudy and the practice of psychology for over 30 years. Click Here for WUVING.com Relationship Tips and Click Here for FOUR STEPS TO QUIT SMOKING