| You've tried in the past and failed to quit smoking. Time | | | | children. |
| to make you a permanent ex-smoker. Right? | | | | My Secret 4: Overcome the Need for Chemical Aids |
| Let's get started. | | | | From a chemical standpoint: There's a lot of hype |
| First off, note that whatever quit smoking method you | | | | these days about patches, pills and special diets to help |
| choose it must cover the habitual, mental, emotional, | | | | you to quit smoking. Personally, I avoid any form of |
| behavioral, physical and chemical aspects. How much | | | | 'medication' unless it's absolutely crucial. I'm a firm |
| and what treatment to use will be determined by each | | | | believer that society has become far too dependent |
| individual's makeup. What works for one won't | | | | on medications for everything from quitting smoking to |
| necessarily work for another. | | | | pain (even bearable pain) to dieting and tons of things |
| I'm going to share with you what worked for me and | | | | beyond. |
| turned me into an ex-smoker for 32 successful years. | | | | There are warnings on practically all such treatments |
| My Secret #1: Be Certain You're Ready for Your Quit | | | | that can actually cause more damage to your body. |
| Smoking Time | | | | One such warning states that pregnant women can |
| From a mental standpoint: The very first thing you | | | | damage and cause birth defects to the fetus if they |
| have to do to ensure you will succeed is to be | | | | use nicotine patches and pills. There are many more |
| absolutely certain you do want to quit smoking, that | | | | scary potential side effects from taking patches, pills, |
| you are determined to quit smoking no matter how | | | | lozenges, gums, etc. |
| many times you tried in the past. | | | | Some common reactions to chemical replacement |
| This is crucial to your success. You have to be truly | | | | therapy include having the jitters, irritability, nervousness, |
| ready to quit. No excuses. You've made the decision | | | | insomnia and panic attacks. Some people experience |
| and you're sticking with it and you'll do whatever it | | | | skin rashes and welts with patches. |
| takes. Your decision must have a firm basis, like | | | | There are some potentially dangerous side effects if |
| wanting to stay healthy, or getting rid of the | | | | you have heart, blood pressure or liver problems. Gum |
| inconvenience of smoking, or to protect your family | | | | can be habit forming as well, which really doesn't |
| from second-hand smoke. Or maybe you just want to | | | | resolve your problem much. Besides, the long term use |
| get fit so you can enjoy physical activity without | | | | can increase the risk of the formation of a |
| gasping for breath. | | | | carcinogenic chemical in your body. The artificial |
| Find a good reason to quit and implant it firmly in your | | | | sweeteners used in gum, lozenges and tablets are |
| mind. Get into the mindset that you want to and will | | | | known to cause neurological and other health |
| quit. You cannot waver. | | | | problems. |
| My Secret #2: Find Ways To Trick Your Mind | | | | And if that isn't enough to scare you, there are many |
| From an emotional standpoint: Figure out ways to trick | | | | troubling side effects, a major one being the tendency |
| yourself whenever you get the urge to light up. | | | | for seizures. (Approx. 1 in every 1,000 people have a |
| When I quit smoking 30 years ago, I dreaded the | | | | seizure, which may involve convulsions and loss of |
| finality of tossing out my last cigarettes. With each | | | | consciousness.) As many as 3 in 1,000 people have a |
| attempt to quit, I panicked knowing I didn't have any to | | | | severe allergic reaction that requires medical attention. |
| fall back on should I weaken in my plan to quit smoking. | | | | Symptoms include mild to severe foggy thinking, |
| Time after time, I'd say, "That's it. I quit" and immediately | | | | headaches, nausea, insomnia (often serious), shakes, |
| freak out because I didn't have any cigarettes in my | | | | weight gain, sugar and carb cravings, sweating, |
| possession. It was all I could think about. | | | | constipation, personality disorders, suicidal tendencies |
| "What if I get a craving and I don't have any | | | | (many thousands have been reported) and some |
| cigarettes?" | | | | deaths. |
| "What if the craving hits me in the middle of the night | | | | People report an inability to cope with a normal work |
| when the stores are closed?" | | | | day, and anything requiring study or taking exams is |
| This is where the agitation, irritability, tension and stress | | | | totally out of the question. If these stop smoking aids |
| come from when we decide it's quit smoking time and | | | | are mixed with alcohol, heart medications, caffeine, |
| throw away our cigarettes and try not to think about | | | | most drugs, or are taken by people who have any |
| them. Of course we're going to think about them. | | | | history of mental disorders, eating disorders, diabetes, |
| They've meant too much to us for all those years. | | | | and previous head or organ injury or disease, more |
| Ultimately, that frenzied feeling exaggerated the | | | | risks are imminent. Of course, if children could be |
| comfort I felt when I did have them available. This just | | | | exposed to serious overdosing if they get their hands |
| confirmed how important cigarettes were to me. It put | | | | on them. |
| doubts in my mind about why I was quitting in the first | | | | (*stats provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease |
| place. Suddenly, my original reason to quit was less | | | | Control and Prevention and other agencies and |
| important. This caused me to continue smoking for | | | | sources) So as I said, it's best to try to quit without |
| many years until I finally came up with a secret to trick | | | | these types of stop smoking aids. |
| my mind. | | | | My Secret Quit Smoking Time |
| Every quit smoking tip I've read stresses throwing | | | | To recap, these are the secrets used in my quit |
| away your last cigarettes so you can't be tempted, | | | | smoking time that enabled me to succeed: |
| but this doesn't work for all people. | | | | |
| The key for me was to keep the last 3-4 cigarettes | | | | 1. Get into the mind set that quitting is the only choice - |
| on me at all times. I put them in my purse where I | | | | It's a matter of your health and your life expectancy! |
| wouldn't see them every time I opened it. There was | | | | 2. Trick your mind by having a stash available, even |
| comfort in knowing they were there, but they weren't | | | | though you are not planning to use it. This will provide |
| a constant temptation. Having them enabled me to turn | | | | comfort knowing you do have a choice - but you |
| my focus away from cigarettes. Not having them put | | | | choose not to smoke - for now. |
| me in a constant stress state. | | | | 3. Play the delay game. Plan to start your quit smoking |
| This trick worked because I only needed to know that | | | | time when you go to bed and thereafter, you will |
| they were available. Then, I was free to choose to | | | | already have gone 8 hours without a cigarette when |
| smoke or not to smoke. I knew that if the urge | | | | you awake. Remind yourself of this. Question every |
| became too overwhelming, I had access to a cigarette | | | | desire to light up. Can you wait another 10 minutes? |
| to ease that stress. Without that stash, I had no | | | | Half an hour? Remind yourself how long you've gone |
| 'choice'. Without it, I had to quit smoking. | | | | without a cigarette and feel proud of your |
| Having a choice puts more control in your hands, so | | | | accomplishment. |
| you feel less stressed. In turn, this eases some of | | | | 4. Get busy and you'll soon forget about the time. It |
| those emotional upheavals we go through when we | | | | only takes 7 days to quit - 14 days to break the habit |
| try to withdraw from an addictive substance. | | | | and for the thought of having a cigarette to fade. |
| My Secret #3: Find A Cigarette Substitute | | | | Remind yourself of this fact. |
| From a habit standpoint: Habit causes you to continue | | | | 5. Find a substitute for the habit. Change your routine |
| smoking. It's become a huge part of your lifestyle and | | | | so the ones that involve having a cigarette are |
| that makes it very difficult to quit smoking. Time to find | | | | removed. Avoid spicy foods that trigger the urge to |
| another way to keep your hands busy. | | | | smoke. Keep fresh cool water beside you at all times |
| I remember when they first came out with stop | | | | and keep sipping when the urge strikes. |
| smoking aids. One was a type of cigarette holder that | | | | 6. Avoid chemical substitutes and herbal remedies. |
| you picked up to replicate holding a cigarette. I don't | | | | They can be just as dangerous as the cigarettes |
| know if they're still on the market, but this gives you | | | | themselves and just as habit forming. Smoke is smoke! |
| the idea. | | | | Seek out natural methods. Here is one excellent quit |
| My 'secret' substitute was a bag of candies and a | | | | smoking program that I highly recommend. Ex-smoker |
| continuous supply of water. On my desk I kept a huge | | | | Rick Beneteau worked with a group of professionals |
| bag of sweets to pop into my mouth. Taking sips of | | | | to help him put together his program which includes a |
| water provided the hand-to-mouth action that had | | | | series of mind power audios. He educates you about |
| become such an ingrained habit. A pen would provide | | | | your addiction, explains why you can't quit and how to |
| the same experience. I've always been a pen chewer, | | | | overcome it, lists all the dangerous ingredients you're |
| so don't be afraid to use this as a suitable and safe | | | | inhaling along with their dangers (cancer isn't the only |
| replacement. Make it a 'special' pen to give it more | | | | thing you have to worry about), how you have been |
| importance for you. Maybe it's design feels good in | | | | lied to about cigarettes, and what steps you need to |
| your hand, or perhaps it belonged to one of your | | | | take to quit smoking. Time to get started. |