Strategies for Quitting Smoking Successfully

Breaking the habit of smoking cigarettes is one of the toughest challenges faced by millions of people worldwide on an annual basis for the simple fact that the nicotine which is contained in cigarettes is a highly addictive drug which causes many uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms along with strong urges to smoke.

When it comes to quitting a smoking habit, devising a specific plan is essential in increasing your chances of success. Here in this healthy living guide, you will learn the strategies which will give you the skills you need to quit smoking successfully.

Developing a Plan to Quit Smoking

The very first and most important step which you need to take is choosing a specific day on which you plan to quit. This can be an arbitrary day or a day which perhaps has some special meaning to you as long as you give yourself enough time in between to develop your quitting smoking plan however, not so far into the future as this increases the chances of you changing your mind.

The next step is to develop your plan in such a way as you have everything you need readily available to you to aid you in overcoming your addiction so you can increase your chances of success in this endeavor.

Consult your primary care physician and discuss with him your desire to quit smoking and inquire about the different over the counter and prescription medications which are available and safe for you to use based on your medical history. Some of these prescription medications must be started up to one week prior to your quitting date therefore it is important to keep this in mind when setting your cessation date.

Another step which is highly recommended is that you check for support groups or counseling in your local area as medications in addition to counseling and support groups can be the most effective when it comes to increasing your chances of success.

It is essential that you stock up with variety of things which you can substitute for the cigarettes as especially in the beginning you will have very strong urges to smoke and it is extremely important that you have such things on hand as sugarless gum, hard candies, ready to eat raw vegetables which are crunchy, and your favorite low calorie snack foods such as cinnamon sticks.

It is also of the utmost importance to avoid any temptation that you rid your home of any cigarettes ensuring to check any places in which you may have had "emergency" stash in case you ran out. Another very beneficial thing for you to do is to visit your dentist and have your teeth cleaned as having that fresh clean feeling in your mouth can help with motivation.

Make it a point to tell all of your family, friends, and colleagues of your intentions to quit smoking and let them know how they can help as this is very beneficial in having a group of people which care about you enough to support you in anyway possible.

If you have attempted to quit smoking in the past, take the time to think about why you failed and what it is that you can do to better handle any of the situations that triggered your desire and caused you to begin smoking again.

Handling the Withdrawal Symptoms of Nicotine

The day in which you quit smoking you are likely to have some symptoms of withdrawal which can be mild to severe depending on how long you have been smoking and the amount of cigarettes you smoked each day.

Some of these symptoms can include irritability, fatigue, insomnia, headache, dry mouth, coughing, sore throat, stomach pain or gas, constipation, and the strong desire to smoke. Typically the strongest of these symptoms is the desire for a cigarette which generally passes within five minutes.

Distracting yourself for this short amount of time can be easier to do by taking a walk or calling friends or family who are supporting you. Some other methods which may be beneficial to you are slowly taking up to ten deep breaths while closing your eyes and concentrating on relaxing or drinking a large glass of water slowly until the craving passes.

Exercise and physical activity are also very effective ways in curbing your desire to smoke as well as very beneficial in preventing weight gain which sometimes happens when people consume food to replace their cigarette habit.

Cigarettes not only contain nicotine but other various chemicals which are harmful to your health, and when cigarette smoking is abruptly stopped your body experiences stress and sometimes reacts in such a way that you feel tired and drained. During this withdrawal period it is in your best interest to get more sleep by going to bed earlier at night or even taking small naps during the day as you feel the need.

However, in some people this chemical withdrawal can have the opposite effect in creating insomnia which can be handled in many different ways and really depends on what works best per an individual basis.

Some suggestions for insomnia include over the counter or prescription sleep aids, reading a good book while in bed, warm liquids such as milk or herbal tea, avoiding naps during the daytime, and getting up earlier in the morning.

Being Successful and the Importance of Quitting Smoking