Can You Really Quit Smoking?

With all of the negative effects that smoking has, it is amazing to see just how many people still smoke.  Aside from the physical effects, there are plenty of other reasons why smoking is not a good idea, and it is very important to understand these reasons when you are looking to quit smoking.  Simply quitting on a whim might sound nice, but it will rarely be successful and often leaves you feeling that you have not achieved the results that you really want.

Don't Fail - Just Stop

The number of people who fail at trying to quit smoking each year is astonishing.  While millions are attempting to quit, there are still others who are starting to smoke.  Everywhere you look there are smokers who are unintentionally tempting you to smoke again which makes it even harder for you to quit. Trying to overcome these challenges is very important, because without being able to fully commit to stopping you will be completely unable to quit for good.

 

Quit Smoking For Life

The biggest thing that sets apart those smokers who say they are going to quit from those who successfully stop smoking is the commitment to quit, and the determination to make it work no matter what.  Someone who is just interested in stopping smoking might play with the idea for a period of time.  They may read a book, talk to their doctor but ultimately they do not take the time to make the necessary lifestyle changes.

Your Body Hates Smoke

One of the biggest benefits to not smoking is your health.  You can decrease your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, heart attack, stroke and even high blood pressure to name just a few of the health problems that are experienced by smokers.  While the time that it takes to decrease the risks vary, you should start to see an improvement in very quickly.  This can be very encouraging since you will be able to breathe better as you workout to stay in great physical health.

You May Need To Fail Before You Succeed

Getting a firm grasp on the number of tries it takes to quit smoking is important. You might be confused as to why this information is helpful to you. It actually sets you up for success. If you have a grasp on the amount of time it could take you to quit, it will prevent you from feeling a failure in the event that it takes you more than a single try.  This is very important, because most people start to feel as if they just cannot quit after failing a single time.

How Hard Can It Be?

You need to first really come to terms with the fact that stopping smoking is not easy.  You may find that it takes you years to actually quit for good.  This is not uncommon, but is something that can serve as a huge disappointment if you are trying to quit in a couple of weeks. If you are not able to quit as quickly as you would like, but you are showing signs of serious progress, you should still celebrate each step and congratulate yourself on your commitment to your goal.

Stop Smoking For Your Family

If you have attempted to quit smoking you no doubt realize just how easy it was to get started smoking compared to actually quitting.  Maybe the reason you are trying to quit is to set a good example for your children.  This is one reason why many parents find themselves struggling to quit.  They do not want their children to grow up thinking that it is ok to smoke, and it is necessary that they quit in order to set a good example.

Time To Quit Smoking

Headaches are another common withdrawal symptoms when you decide to quit smoking.  This is something that occurs very commonly.  Your best line of defense is any typical headache remedy that you prefer.  Many will opt with a mild pain reliever while others will focus on relaxing techniques.  Regardless of the method, try not to suffer too badly with a headache or it could encourage you to smoke to relieve the stress the headache is causing you.

Pattern Smoking

As a smoker, you have no doubt developed a pattern to your smoking. For example, if you are a typical one pack a day smoker, one of your habits is to smoke a pack a day. You need to take small steps to break these habits. For example, if you typically smoke a cigarette after each meal, you might find it helpful to brush your teeth. When your mouth is fresh you might not want to dirty it with cigarette taste. Or you could try chewing a piece of gum or sucking on hard candy after a meal rather than lighting up.

Your Reason To Quit

People who choose to quit smoking without an actual reason to quit find it much harder to quit. When the going gets tough, they typically have nothing to look at as an ultimate motive. If you find that you are in this position you need to sit down and really analyze your decision to quit.  Decide on the specific reason and write it down if necessary so that you always have a reminder.  You may be surprised at just how helpful it is to write your wishes down.