Quitting smoking and staying smoke free is no easy task for anyone. Many people can honestly say that they have quit smoking a million times, quitting is the easy part, staying smoke free is the difficult part. The number one reason for this is the simple fact that nicotine is an addictive drug. The body wants it even if you know you have to stop for your own health; the brain forgets common sense and tells you to light another cigarette.
Nicotine itself is an addictive drug that is naturally present in tobacco plants. It is so addictive that it rivals drugs like cocaine and heroine. A person over time, can soon create both a physical as well as an emotional addiction to this drug, and therefore just quitting it is not so easy.
Every time you inhale a breath of smoke, that smoke caries the nicotine into your lungs where it is then absorbed into your blood stream; Once it is in the bloodstream it has access to your entire body. Effects of the nicotine intake can be seen in almost every part of the body no thanks to its absorption into the blood stream.
So to just quit is not an easy task, but even trying to slow down the amount you take in daily will not truly help much. Once your body takes in this nicotine, it can stay in your body for an average of 4 days. That is the hardest part, because as long as the nicotine is in your body, your refusal to take anymore in creates withdrawal from the drug. If you can get past this first week without smoking, your chances of successfully quitting smoking is over 100 times better.
The withdrawal from nicotine is both an emotional as well as a physical effect. The act of quitting is the change of a daily habit that the body and mind has grown accustomed too meaning that your mind has to change which it does not like to do.
Once you quit smoking, your body and mind begin their withdrawal symptoms in about 3 hours. From there, the peak of the withdrawal is at about 3 days, which just so happens to be right before all of the nicotine is flushed from your body. It is a hump that one has to overcome if they want to quit. These withdrawal symptoms can also continue for weeks after the body has been cleansed of the nicotine.
If you are quitting the withdrawal symptoms that you may see are things like dizziness and depression, you may feel more irritable or even suffer from anxiety. It may be harder to sleep or even to concentrate. You could have headaches and even an increased appetite while at the same time feel tired for no apparent reasons.
Remember, that those first 3 days after quitting will be the hardest, and that last day before the nicotine is removed completely from the body that will be harder than any other day.
As such, it's understandable that many people want to take smoking cessation steps and live healthier lives. Maybe you are one such person and are in the middle of a battle to kick the habit? Maybe you've even tried using a stop smoking drug and are wondering if there are other ways to quit smoking Well, look no further.
We've complied 10 ways to quit smoking, TEN TIPS that that you can practice as quit smoking aids. True, there's no easy way to quit smoking but there are many things to do to combat the addiction and you will do well to at least try some, if not all of the following tips.
Smoking Cessation Tip 1 - Decide to Quit. Wanting to quit is different from actually making a decision to quit. Declare it! Write a potential date for when you are going to quit, remind yourself that you have made up your mind about it. It all starts with a decision. The other ways to quit smoking will then come easier.
Smoking Cessation Tip 2 - Slow Things Down. Smokers usually whip out their cigarettes the momen tthey feel the urge. The next time you want to smoke, slow yourself down and delay the process. Is there anything you can do instead of lighting up that very instant? Think of other things to engage in and leave your cigarettes alone for a while. This will help quit smoking.
Smoking Cessation Tip 3 - Get Rid of the #$%#$% Stuff! Once you've practiced delaying the urge to light up, we suggest you quit smoking cold turkey. That's right; just throw your cigarettes away. This will be drastic but it is a must. Get rid of your cigarettes. Throw away your ashtrays. Discard your lighters. This is one of the most important ways to quit smoking.
Smoking Cessation Tip 4 - Shake Things Up. Rearrange your schedule so that your habits will loosen too. Eat at slightly different times of the day, switch your furniture around, and make your home different to what it was before. The mental effect is that you will acknowledge change, i.e., that things are different and you are no longer tied to the past.
Smoking Cessation Tip 5 - Distract Yourself. The urge to smoke will still be strong, perhaps even stronger during this period. So whenever you fell like smoking, distract yourself with something - a movie, some gardening, a pet project, a jogging session. Just physically do something that will take your mind off the urge and onto something else.
Smoking Cessation Tip 6 - Carry Cigarette Alternatives. You might want to arm yourself with candy, chewing gum, or even a toothpick. Whenever the urge to light up strikes, shove some candy into your mouth and start chewing instead of smoking.
Smoking Cessation Tip 7 - Celebrate Your Daily Victories. If you get through a day without smoking, reward yourself with something - a favorite meal, a trip to the theater, a new book, a visit to the spa. It doesn't have to be huge, just make sure you acknowledge your efforts with a prize.
Smoking Cessation Tip 8 - Bleach Your Stained Teeth. Bleach your teeth and rid yourself of the discoloration that comes from smoking. A stained tooth is not nice to look at; imagine if all your teeth are just as ugly? This is another way to affirm your commitment to stop smoking. With tooth whitening, your smile will be better, your breath more fresh, your looks more appealing. Plus, you'll be conscious of your teeth's renewed pleasing look, making you think twice of smoking and discoloring them again.
Smoking Cessation Tip 9 - Think Positively. Don't think of what you're denying yourself but focus on all the good things that are happening because you are quitting: better breath, better teeth, and better health. Think about the effects of quitting smoking to your friends and family too!
Smoking Cessation Tip 10 - Don't Give Up! It's common for quitting smokers to lapse again and again back into smoking. If this happens to you, the key is to not give up. Continue with your smoking cessation steps and take stop smoking medication if necessary. You're not expected to get it right the first time. If you fail and smoke a cigarette, don't beat yourself up. Try it again. Continue to quit for as long as it takes. Good luck!
Both Adam Kalloh & Ashley Truitt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Adam Kalloh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Alternative Medicine and Body Building. Find more about and other . Try. Adam Kalloh's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Ashley Truitt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Wedding Photography and Disease & illness. Ashley Truitt empowers men and women to increase their Wow Factor through personal development and image makeovers. Get rid of yellow teeth stains caused by smoking with our wildly popular professional tooth whitening systems at. Ashley Truitt's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.