Trying to quit smoking? Celebrate the small successes!
Kicking the habit is far easier said than done, but it can be possible with the help of a few guidelines.
To quit smoking can be a difficult thing to do – simply ask any smoker who has tried to stop. You’ll soon hear that kicking the habit is easier said than done.
Review spoke to Corné Marais, Cansa Care Centre Manager in Polokwane for a few tips on how to kick the habit.
She started off by saying that it is best to throw away all reminders of smoking, which include cigarette packets, ashtrays and lighters. In addition, one should drink lots of water as it will help to flush the nicotine from your body.
“Change your routine. For the first couple of days, avoid smokers and things that make you want to smoke. Tell your family and friends that you are trying to quit so that they can offer you support,” she said.
Marais says you may experience dizziness, headaches or coughing once you have stopped smoking. “This is normal and should improve after a day or two and disappear within 14 days. The first two to three days are the most difficult, after that it gets easier. Your cravings will reduce and eventually disappear.”
She says if you are worried about gaining weight, eating at regular times during the day will help. “Snack on fruit between meals and take time to exercise. Not all ex-smokers gain weight.”
Using a crisis or special occasion as an excuse for ‘just one’ cigarette can lead to another and another.
She gave the following alternate methods:
- There are many other ways to go about quitting smoking. You may find it helpful to consult with a practitioner who offers complementary therapies like acupuncture, hypnosis and homeopathy. Many prefer to use nicotine replacement products like patches, sprays or chewing gum.
- ‘Cold turkey’ has been proven to be the most successful method of quitting. It is unfortunately also the most difficult. Most smokers can’t cope with the ‘cold turkey’ method and will follow whatever method they feel comfortable with.
- For most people, quitting is a gradual process that requires a great deal of support from those around them. The success rate for remaining ‘clean’ is known to be extremely low. Those who have attempted quitting and have slipped up should try not to see themselves as failures. Most people attempt to quit more than once, before they succeed.
Marais concluded by saying that giving up smoking is one of the most difficult challenges to overcome and that any amount of success, is success all the same. “If you managed to quit for only a few hours, hopefully you will have felt the benefits of quitting and are motivated to do better the next time.”
