| That Old Devil Nicotine is one of the worst addictions | | | | promising yourself that tomorrow you will have a |
| to shake. Smoking has become the shame of modern | | | | cigarette, and so on... |
| society and in fact in most public places in civilised | | | | At the very heart of successfully giving up smoking is |
| cities, it is almost impossible to find somewhere to | | | | finally recognising that you are addicted to nicoltine and |
| smoke. Many smokers want to give up cigarettes but | | | | that one cigarette will hook you onto smoking again. |
| are unable to successfully squash the urge to re-start | | | | Never be tempted to smoke that one cigarette, |
| smoking again after a week or two. | | | | perhaps to make yourself feel better about a problem, |
| It is true that unless a smoker is determined to stop; he | | | | or to join in with a friend who is smoking. One leads to |
| will not. No amount of bullying and manipulating will | | | | two and eventually you will be back in the pit of |
| make someone give up smoking if they are not ready | | | | addiction and struggling to find the will power to |
| to do so. That is not to say that smokers should | | | | escape. Each time you fail to give up, of course, it |
| continue smoking; the trick is to gently persuade a | | | | becomes harder to face the prospect of doing so |
| smoker that giving up is the way forward and allow | | | | again. |
| him (or her) to make the decision for himself. | | | | Some people have found a 'plastic cigarette' of some |
| There is a definite period of craving of around three | | | | help, which can be purchased at most good |
| weeks. If a smoker can achieve that three week | | | | pharmacists. Its main advantage over other methods |
| period without picking up a cigarette, things will only get | | | | of giving up is that it provides the smoker with |
| better. The desire to light a cigarette lessens with time | | | | something to do with his hands when speaking on the |
| and eventually the smoker is able to be around | | | | telephone, watching television, or in any situation where |
| cigarette smoke without feeling a desire to smoke. | | | | he used to have a cigarette in his hand. |
| Sometimes, the trick is to not deny the prospect of | | | | The important thing is not 'how' to give up but to |
| another cigarette. Say to yourself each day, | | | | definitely decide to do it by any means possible and |
| "Tomorrow, I will have a cigarette," without actually | | | | stay cigarette free. |
| ever picking up that tantalising last ciggie and each day | | | | |