| With the with the onset of the Smoking Ban, | | | | starting to recover. |
| it is estimated that over 2 million people in | | | | |
| England, Wales & Scotland will have tried to | | | | Once you've taken the plunge and decided to |
| quit smoking in the second half of 2007. | | | | give up smoking, the key to success is to |
| However, even if all of these people managed | | | | take small steps. Take each day one at a time |
| to give up and stay off cigarettes, that | | | | and tell yourself you just aren't smoking for |
| still leaves an estimated 8 million smokers | | | | today; it will seem far less daunting than |
| in Britain today. | | | | never smoking EVER AGAIN. |
| | | | |
| To give up smoking is one of the most popular | | | | Nicotine replacement therapy could work if |
| New Year's resolutions, with hundreds of | | | | you've been a heavy smoker, but if you don't |
| thousands trying to quit each year. But the | | | | want to go that route then distract yourself; |
| sad fact is that a significant proportion of | | | | drinking water flushes out toxins but also |
| these people will lapse before the year is | | | | gives you something to do with your hands. |
| out and return to their smoking habit. There | | | | Alternatively, go and do something else - |
| are withdrawal symptoms that will be | | | | ring a friend or go for a walk. Finally, sit |
| experienced when trying to give up smoking - | | | | those cravings out - the average craving only |
| many people suffer from mouth ulcers, develop | | | | lasts three minutes and then the urge should |
| a chesty cough and even suffer from disturbed | | | | disappear. |
| sleep. However as well as these physical | | | | |
| symptoms there are also mental side effects | | | | Once you've got this far, you're almost there |
| that need to be faced - irritability, | | | | and you just need a few techniques to keep |
| restlessness and anxiety and it is perhaps | | | | you on the straight and narrow. By spotting |
| these side effects that contribute more to | | | | your trigger points, you can learn to avoid |
| people succumbing to the craving for nicotine | | | | them; so for example if you always had a |
| more than the physical withdrawal symptoms. | | | | cigarette with a glass of wine, have a |
| | | | handful of nuts instead so that you have |
| Therefore preparing yourself mentally to quit | | | | something else to focus on. If you do have a |
| before you even stub out that last cigarette | | | | lapse, keep your resolve - it's only one and |
| could be the key to success. Take time to sit | | | | you don't have to have another. |
| down and write a list of all the reasons why | | | | |
| you want to quit and then put it somewhere | | | | Smoking was a habit, so help to break it by |
| really obvious to refer back to it in a | | | | taking up a new habit (but this time, choose |
| moment of weakness. Decide on a day to quit | | | | a healthy one!) If you think you would |
| and make a note - only buy enough cigarettes | | | | benefit from some help as you give up, take |
| to last you until that time - "emergency | | | | advantage of the support that's out there. |
| supplies" stashed away will call out to you | | | | There are plenty of support groups for people |
| once you've stopped and could be your | | | | wishing to give up smoking - both online and |
| downfall. Tell your family and friends and | | | | offline, and anyone serious about giving up |
| ask them to support you, maybe even find | | | | can find details of support groups from their |
| yourself a friend who wants to stop as well. | | | | local GP surgery. Additionally, many high |
| | | | street chemists offer help and advice for |
| The night before you are due to quit, throw | | | | those wishing to stop smoking. Boots, for |
| away all your smoking "equipment" - ashtrays, | | | | example operate their Change One Thing |
| lighters, spare cigarettes - they've got to | | | | programme, which has an action plan |
| go if you are to succeed. However, perhaps | | | | containing advice from experts, to hold your |
| most important of all is to accept the fact | | | | hand every step of the way. |
| that it won't be easy to give up. If you kid | | | | |
| yourself that giving up smoking is going to | | | | Before you know it, you will start to see the |
| be a walk in the park then you will be | | | | positives - your clothes will no longer |
| unpleasantly surprised throughout the first | | | | smell, your skin may have fewer wrinkles, |
| few days and you may not have the willpower | | | | your smile will be brighter once the |
| to see it through. But, if you're feeling | | | | cigarette stains start to fade and your heart |
| really strong you could try some reverse | | | | will be much healthily. So, take a deep |
| psychology and view the cravings as a good | | | | breath (if you can!) and declare yourself a |
| thing - it's a sign that your body is | | | | non-smoker in 2008. |