You’ve been smoking for years now, and you’ve finally decided…it’s time. Time to ditch the smell, the health effects, and the social stigma that comes with smoking. Cigarettes don’t do anything but destroy the internal organs, cause damage to your personal belongings, and make your wallet lighter each month. It’s time to move on.
But smoking is all you’ve known for so long, how do you just give it up? Luckily, there are so many resources available today that you don’t have to make the journey by yourself. Here, we’ll cover some popular ways to quit, how to handle cravings, and why putting down the cigarettes is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Let’s do this together.
Tobacco Alternatives
Sometimes, ditching the nicotine altogether is just too overwhelming for some people, and that’s ok. Everyone reacts differently to the cessation process, and some need to slowly come off of nicotine before they can quit entirely.
If you’re one of those people, you might want to try tobaccoless alternatives like tobacco free dip or even vape pens. These will still give you a dose of nicotine, but you won’t be getting all of the harmful and life-threatening chemicals that you’d find in tobacco products like cigarettes.
Cigarettes by themselves are home to over 7,000 chemicals, many of which have been linked to cancers, diseases, and other health complications. The bottom line? Cigarettes are dangerous, but you can’t always kick nicotine immediately. Try a tobacco alternative to help put cigarettes down forever.
Nicotine Gum
Another popular option is nicotine gum. This gum will still deliver a dose of nicotine so you don’t have withdrawal symptoms, but you won’t be breathing in all of that harmful smoke that comes from tobacco products. Nicotine comes in many varieties and flavors, and thousands have already found success with this cigarette alternative.
You don’t need a prescription for your nicotine gum, either. You can go to any pharmacy or drug store and find it on the shelf. That being said, there are prescription-strength options available for when you need a bit more kick.
Support Groups
Whether you’re joining a cessation group that meets every Sunday at the local community center or an online support group for smokers, you’ll become part of a community with similar goals. It’s been proven that the chances of success are increased when you’ve got a support group behind you with similar goals. The sense of community boost motivation, confidence, and provides a support point when you begin to falter.
You don’t even have to visit a support group, though. Your friends and family or significant other can act as your support group as well. You can fall back on them when you’re struggling, and they’ll be the ones cheering you on during your cessation journey. Loved ones will be grateful when you quit smoking because it means you’ll add years to your life.
Apps
Don’t forget to track your progress and milestones with apps for both Android and iOS. These apps can track progress, reward you for achievements, provide access to resources and information on the cessation process, and link you with a community of like-minded people to help you along the way.
Cravings
What do you do when cravings arise and you don’t have nicotine gum or tobaccoless products around? There are several options for curbing cravings, including healthy foods like fruits and veggies, spending time alone on a camping trip or hike, chewing gum or mints, or even drinking ginseng tea.
Remember that on the other side of those cravings is the smoke-free future you’ve spent the last few weeks working towards. A relapse isn’t automatically a failure, but it can make the chances of success slimmer. When cravings arise, distract yourself and fight them off.
Health Benefits
It would likely take another article entirely to truly outline all of the health benefits that quitting smoking can offer, but for the sake of space, we’ll just cover the basics. Smoking can cause damage to internal organs, including the heart and lungs, and make the process of oxygenating blood that much more difficult.
Within a few days of quitting, you’ll get your energy back and your lungs start the healing process. You’ll notice you don’t become winded as easily, and this is because your body is ridding itself of harmful levels of carbon monoxide. This deadly gas binds to hemoglobin in the blood, which makes it difficult for oxygenation to occur.
Within a few weeks, most of your body will heal, and within a few years, the tar and other chemicals and substances that once coated your lungs will disappear. The body has a remarkable ability to heal itself from such damage, but it needs one important thing first: your dedication.
It’s time to quit for good and take back your life and your health. Good luck!
