Why Giving Up Smoking is So Hard

Many people know that cigarettes contain an addictive substance called nicotine. This is something which causes cravings and so when you stop having a supply of it, your body makes you want more.

However, there is more to smoking than this. Although the drug has a big hold on the body, there are other things that people miss when they give up as well.

If their friends and family smoke, they may miss the fact that they can join in with them when doing it. If they smoke when they are stressed, then they need something to help reduce that stress instead. If they smoke when they are bored they need something else to do then. If they feel cool when smoking, they need a different way of feeling cool. If they smoke to stay slim, then they might worry about putting on weight when they stop. Smoking can also give a person something to do with their mouth and hands.

If you are thinking of giving up, then it can be worth having a think about when and why you smoke. When you are looking for aids to help you to give up, you need to think about not only replacing the nicotine but the other things that you associate with smoking. You may need to stay away other people that smoke for a while, for example, think of new stress relieving things to do and try other methods to stay slim.

It may seem a lot of effort, but if you prepare well before you give up smoking, then you are more likely to be successful in your efforts. If you just give up without thinking about how you might feel and what challenges you might face, then it could be that your attempt is nor successful. It is far better to work hard at it and be a success.

So take a bit of time to think about things and then you should be better off when you do give up. Think about both the nicotine replacement that you will be using as well as the habits that you will be changing. If you decide not to replace the nicotine you can still try the other methods to improve things.

Tips for Giving Up Smoking

Giving up smoking is a very difficult thing to do. There are many places that you can get help and it is a good idea to look at these before you actually start.

There is a selection of websites which will tell you about different methods of giving up smoking that could be very useful. They will explain what different techniques you can use and how they work. This will help you to decide which seems the best for you.

You may also find it useful to discuss things with your GP. They might be able to give you some information but also discuss with you what might help you. They may even be able to prescribe tablets for you if you both think that this will be the best help for you.

It is worth making sure that you time things right. You do not want to give up smoking at a time when you are particularly stressed because it could mean that you will find the cravings harder to resist. You may find it better to do it at a busy time though as boredom can sometimes cause you to smoke.

Only you know when you smoke the most and you need to consider this when thinking about how to stop. If you smoke when you go out with friends then stop going out for a while until you are confident you can resist. If you smoke most in the day time, then find something to occupy you at that time to help distract you.

It is worth writing down your goal. Write down the date when you want to no longer be smoking and put it somewhere prominent and look at it every day. You might decide to cut down each day until then or just stop smoking completely on that particular day. Whatever you decide to do, write that down as well, so that you are clear as to your goal and you can see it frequently.

Setting a goal will help you to remain focus and having coping techniques should help you to deal with the cravings you get once you give up.

Who to Get Help From When Giving Up Smoking

If you are giving up smoking it can feel like you are battling alone. It can therefore be important to find support whether this is from friend and family or perhaps online.

You GP could be a good person to start with as they will be able to help discuss with you tools to use to help you give up. However, it is support once you have given up that you will need.

If you know people who have given up themselves, then they could be very helpful. They will be able to understand what you are going through and might be able to give you tips with regards to things they found helpful when they gave up.

If you know people that still smoke and do not think you should give up, then try to avoid them if you can. They are the ones that are likely to tempt you to start smoking again and you do not need that. Smokers can be jealous of the willpower of those who try to give up and may try to make themselves feel better by encouraging you to start smoking again.

Close family and friends need to understand that you will need their support and so you need to tell them what you intend to do. Make sure they know that you might be moody and find things tough for a while and that you will need them to help you to resist temptation.

You may also find it extremely useful to find an online message board or forum where people support each other when they are giving up smoking. It can sometimes be easier to speak to strangers about your feelings or just useful to read that other people are going through the same as you. There also could be useful tips for you to pick up.

It is important to think about where you will get support from so that when you do give up, you can quickly get help. You may need someone quickly if you are tempted to smoke and if you haven’t thought about who to go to, it could be too late.