Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
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When we are young, many of us make the mistake of engaging in reckless behavior without considering the consequences. Been there-done that. For the most part, adolescent mischief doesn’t end in disaster- except when these behaviors cross over into adulthood. One example of this is smoking cigarettes. In teenage years, smoking has a certain allure – it is rebellious and cool. This wasn’t helped by the huge number of marketing campaigns that in the past, used smoking to help sell a product.
Hopefully, most people grow out of this phase, but, sadly many don’t. I smoked as an adult after a reckless teenage life. Thankfully, I was able to quit before it destroyed my health completely. It isn’t always easy to take that step, however. You have to truly want to quit. I do have some tips to help you get ahead of this dangerous vice. It’s important to find a way to end nicotine addiction for good.
End Nicotine Addiction with Awareness and Information
Sure, some people CAN quit by suddenly going cold turkey, but most individuals, in the grip of nicotine addiction, find this impossible. Soon after smoking your last cigarette, you enter the withdrawal phase. This actually begins at the point when you would have had another smoke. The symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on how much you smoke.
Nicotine withdrawal can bring on anxiety, as well as many other not-so-pleasant symptoms. You may also feel unusually hungry and drowsy. The important thing to remember is that these are all typical and temporary. This is a good time to research about what positive ways quitting affects your body and mind. There are even phone apps that help you keep track of how long it’s been since your last cigarette. It also tracks how much money you save and how much time you’ve added to your life.
End Nicotine Addiction with an Alternative
If you have smoked for many years, sudden deprivation of nicotine could be a shock to your system. You may be more successful using a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, such as, e-cigs – you can get a whole range of e juice flavors to make it more appealing, too. The good thing about them is that you can control the amount of nicotine you take in. With this option, you could cut down slowly without experiencing the dreaded and painful withdrawal. Ultimately, even if you choose to use alternatives to cigarettes, set a goal to end your addiction completely.
End Nicotine Addiction with a Support System
Having a strong support network around you when you are trying to give up cigarettes is integral. Hopefully, you won’t have to be around others who smoke at all. If you do, ask them to be considerate of your plan to quit. This was one of the hardest things I dealt with when I quit. There was another smoker in the house who didn’t quit with me. Even though she didn’t blatantly smoke in front of me, I still knew there was a pack of cigarettes present. This doesn’t fair well when you really want one.
Explain to your friends and family that you will be taking on a huge challenge and ask that they be sympathetic yet firm with you. You may have days when you feel like giving up. Make sure you have an accountability buddy, who will talk things through with you. He or she can also help you see how far you’ve come on your journey. Encourage others to celebrate with you when you have a victory, like your first whole week without a cigarette! Trust me, none of this will be easy but so worth it. Being able to say you are smoke-free will be one of the proudest moments of your life.
