| Kicking your smoking habit isn't easy. A lot of people | | | | sticks, then with a pencil, and so on until you have |
| have tried to stop smoking several times and many | | | | finally gotten rid of the urge to stick a cigarette in your |
| have failed in it. There are some who go cold turkey | | | | mouth. |
| and are successful, some enroll into programs and | | | | Stop Smoking Now programs and support groups can |
| take nicotine replacements and medications but still | | | | also be a big help when you want to stop smoking. A |
| can't seem to quit their habit. | | | | lot of people swear by the telephone-based program |
| Most quitters will tell you that it's not only determination | | | | where you get to talk to a counselor. The good thing |
| that will get you through the process, but also discipline, | | | | about this support hotline is that the counseling you are |
| and lots of it. Especially during the withdrawal period, it | | | | given is tailored to fit your needs and is based on your |
| is important that you learn in advance how to deal with | | | | previous smoking pattern. An example is the American |
| the physical and psychological problems that may and | | | | Cancer Society's Quitline which offers counseling |
| will come with quitting. | | | | programs in several areas all over the country. |
| First and foremost, it's most effective if you set a date | | | | If you consult your doctor, he or she can help you |
| when you will stop smoking. Tell your friends and | | | | determine whether you will be needing nicotine |
| family about this date, a support system can do | | | | replacements in the first stage of your program. |
| miracles in keeping you from falling back into your old | | | | Replacements can include patches, lozenges, herbal |
| habit once you've stopped smoking. Also, stock up on | | | | mixtures and such. On the other hand, you can also |
| gums, candies, or anything that you can munch or | | | | ask your doctor about prescription antidepressant that |
| chew on whenever you feel the urge to light up a | | | | will help reduce the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. |
| cigarette. | | | | The trick though is not in taking these alternatives, but |
| Another tip is to still keep the habit of holding a | | | | in finding the right solution for you even before you |
| cigarette in your hand even after your Quit Day. That | | | | stop smoking. |
| way you can pretend that you're smoking and still | | | | Finally, engage in physical activities, preferably outdoors. |
| keep the habit of having a smoke in hand without | | | | Stress at work or elsewhere should not be an excuse |
| actually lighting it up. Keeping this habit is a | | | | that will keep you from changing your lifestyle. To stop |
| psychological trick that will make it easier for you to | | | | smoking is just the same as to go on a diet. It will need |
| slowly detach yourself from the act itself. Remember, | | | | your full focus, which means that you may eventually |
| at first, it's more important to just get rid of the habit of | | | | have to refrain from old habits (drinking, etc.) and adopt |
| inhaling cigarette smoke itself, not the other habits that | | | | new ones that will help you not only keep your mind |
| come with it. On the next stage of your cessation, you | | | | off of smoking, but also hasten your recovery from |
| can start replacing the cigarette stick with cinnamon | | | | nicotine withdrawal. |