How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes
Tips to Quit Smoking
Dirty Ashtray. Photo by Diego López on Unsplash
You probably already know that cigarettes are harmful to your heart and lungs and a leading cause of lung cancer, especially second hand smoke and you are probably tired of family and friends telling you that you need to quit smoking. You may even watched some horrifying videos showing what lung cancer does to your lungs and yet...you still smoke. There is a reason you smoke and it may not be the reason you think. I asked myself why I smoke cigarettes and answering myself honestly I came upon something shocking. I grew up in a home where both parents smoked, both grandparents, aunts, and uncles-all smoked cigarettes. Smoking was considered "cool" (you were cool if you smoked). Smoking was considered a way to relax in the morning with a cup of coffee, after a meal, when finishing a chore, when hanging out with family and friends, and a way to relax before bed. Where I grew up, it was common to see everyone gathered around the table, on the porch or in the living room talking and smoking together. I connected something, a feeling-with smoking, without realizing it. Even though I dislike the smell of cigarettes, the taste of them, the damage they do to my lungs, the mess I make with them, burn holes on clothing and furniture and a thick yellow coating on everything in the room I smoke in. I still smoked. It occurred to me that I smoked for comfort, (yes this idea shocked me too). When my Dad passed away, I missed him and still do. He died of heart failure while sitting on his porch smoking a cigarette. One day I was thinking of him, the way he looked, the way he talked and the way he smelled. My Dad smelled like cigarettes and coffee, same with my Mother, Grandparents and other relatives. I realized cigarette smoke was ingrained in my brain as "home, comfort, and family". Once I discovered this I was on my road to a smoke free life.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Why do you smoke cigarettes?
2. When did you start smoking?
3. Where do you smoke the most?
4. When do you smoke?
5. Did you grow up in a smoking household?
Statistics show that they cause birth defects and second hand smoke can cause cancer to non-smokers. Studies also show that cigarette smoking causes people to age faster. "To get motivated, you need a powerful, personal reason to quit. Maybe you want to protect your family from secondhand smoke. Maybe the thought of lung cancer frightens you. Or maybe you'd like to look and feel younger. Choose a reason that is strong enough to outweigh the urge to light up." (Medicine net.com, Retrieved June 19, 2011)
Tips to Help You Quit Smoking
The best way is to quit 'cold turkey' but for many of us this is also the hardest way. However, most smoker's who quit cold turkey say that the first two or three days are the toughest and after that the craving for them will subside.
Change the way you smoke:
If you drink coffee and smoke a cigarette try drinking coffee without the cigarette.
When you wake up wait until you light up as long as you can.
Count the time between smoking each cigarette and extend it longer and longer
Keep track of how many cigarettes you smoke in one day and when you smoke them and then change the pattern by eliminating 1 or 2 cigarettes a day and each day smoke 1 or 2 less. This will reduce the cravings.
Smoking has an oral and hand fixation associated with it so keep something like a cigarette sized pen or pencil on hand and some sugar-free gum or candy to suck on when you feel the urge to smoke. Find out more tips from the experts.
Read more & View Slideshow
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Why do you smoke cigarettes?
2. When did you start smoking?
3. Where do you smoke the most?
4. When do you smoke?
5. Did you grow up in a smoking household?
Statistics show that they cause birth defects and second hand smoke can cause cancer to non-smokers. Studies also show that cigarette smoking causes people to age faster. "To get motivated, you need a powerful, personal reason to quit. Maybe you want to protect your family from secondhand smoke. Maybe the thought of lung cancer frightens you. Or maybe you'd like to look and feel younger. Choose a reason that is strong enough to outweigh the urge to light up." (Medicine net.com, Retrieved June 19, 2011)
Tips to Help You Quit Smoking
The best way is to quit 'cold turkey' but for many of us this is also the hardest way. However, most smoker's who quit cold turkey say that the first two or three days are the toughest and after that the craving for them will subside.
Change the way you smoke:
If you drink coffee and smoke a cigarette try drinking coffee without the cigarette.
When you wake up wait until you light up as long as you can.
Count the time between smoking each cigarette and extend it longer and longer
Keep track of how many cigarettes you smoke in one day and when you smoke them and then change the pattern by eliminating 1 or 2 cigarettes a day and each day smoke 1 or 2 less. This will reduce the cravings.
Smoking has an oral and hand fixation associated with it so keep something like a cigarette sized pen or pencil on hand and some sugar-free gum or candy to suck on when you feel the urge to smoke. Find out more tips from the experts.
Read more & View Slideshow
Memory Verse
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth." John 2:3 (KJV)
even as thy soul prospereth." John 2:3 (KJV)
References:
1. MOMENTOS photo by Diego López (@elmapacheloco) on Unsplash. (2018). Unsplash.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018, from https://unsplash.com/photos/np1WjRIiMsg
2. How to Quit Smoking: 13 Tips to End Addiction. (2018). MedicineNet. Retrieved 19 September 2018, from https://www.medicinenet.com/quit_smoking_tips_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
1. MOMENTOS photo by Diego López (@elmapacheloco) on Unsplash. (2018). Unsplash.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018, from https://unsplash.com/photos/np1WjRIiMsg
2. How to Quit Smoking: 13 Tips to End Addiction. (2018). MedicineNet. Retrieved 19 September 2018, from https://www.medicinenet.com/quit_smoking_tips_pictures_slideshow/article.htm