When you’ve resisted the temptation and made it through to a morning coffee break without smoking, acknowledge the good work you’ve done with some positive self-talk or enjoy a movie with friends or family.
Smoking nearly affects all organs of the body and causes various deadly diseases, including cancer. However, since smoking tobacco is both, a physical addiction and a psychological habit, quitting it can be tough. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary and addictive high, and eliminating that regular dose causes our body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
To successfully stop smoking, one needs to address the addiction as well as the routine that goes along with it. No matter how many times you have failed, with the right support and quit plan, any smoker can kick the addiction, says Dr Vikas Maurya, additional director and unit head, Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Disorder, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh.
To begin with, one needs to fight is the urge to smoke in the mornings, which happens to be something most smokers fail to do. If you plan to quit smoking this World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31 every year, doing the following can help you. The focus this year is on ‘tobacco and lung health’.
*Prepare yourself night (or days) before
First, remove all reminders and triggers of smoking. Search your car and house thoroughly to remove cigarettes, ashtrays, and other substances which may remind you of smoking. This is especially important if tomorrow is your quit day. Second, if you live with someone who smokes and is not quitting at the same time as you, ask them to not smoke in front of you, at least during the toughest parts of your quit time.
