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Help Quit Smoking How to Choose a Quit Smoking Program
How to Choose a Quit Smoking ProgramWhy it’s so Hard to QuitThe knowledge that nicotine is addictive, is known by all. It is very difficult to break the hold of nicotine on ones body. When most people try to give up, they find the withdrawal symptoms hard to take, and are easily alleviated by just having a cigarette. Beyond the physical demands nicotine has on the body, the mental burden can be even more intense. Smoking is so easy to do, you can do it anywhere you go. You can smoke when you wake up, when you have a cup of coffee, on the drive to work, at your breaks at work, after a meal, the list goes on and on. Trying to make at least 20 changes a day to your daily routine (the number of cigarettes that you smoke per day), makes it almost unimaginable what you are going to do when you stop smoking. This is especially difficult to achieve on one’s own, and for this reason quit smoking programs can be a great help to people who want to supplement the support they already get from friends, family, or a professional of some other sort. Which program?The reason why it is difficult to choose a supprt program, is that there are so many of them. Choosing however, is a very important decision, as it could determine how successful one is at actually quitting for good. Many quit smoking programs also either offer counseling, group or individualized, to help a smoker overcome the obstacles they may face daily, which will tempt them to smoke. In addition, if the program charges a fee, the fee should seem reasonable, and it is a good idea to check any company out with the better business bureau. Other considerations should include 1. the length of a quit smoking program, 2. number of meetings, 3. family involvement, and 4. intensity of the quit smoking program. Long term success will likely be determined by the skills that are gained in these classes or meetings; they should teach the smoker coping skills, and behavior modifications. For example, if someone normally smokes the most in their vehicle, it would be a good idea to have the car completely cleaned of the cigarette smell, put in fresh smelling deodorizers, and maybe even remove the cigarette lighter and ashtray, so that the car has been completely modified, to no longer accommodate the smoking habit. The quit smoking program should meet weekly, and offer a chance to discuss their triggers and challenges with a therapist, or group, and get tips on coping with those specific situations. Dealing with TriggersTriggers are those things that start a specific reaction in a person. Many times the reasons people resume smoking after they have quit is because of triggers; stress or parts of their routine that make a person feel like they need to smoke. One of the most popular concerns are weight gain; especially among women. A quality quit smoking program will also include diet programs; smoking is partially an oral fixation, and as such, eating is a natural way to cope with the loss of cigarettes. The correct diet can help the person to stop smoking because it deals with specific cravings and also boost the metabolism. The quit smoking program should provide resources to satisfy specific cravings, with reasonable and healthy alternatives. One example would be if craving something crunchy, try carrot sticks or apple slices; or, if something salty, try pretzels or low fat popcorn. There are ways to overcome personal triggers and to quit smoking. Did you enjoy this article? Please share it!          |