How To Stop
Smoking Cravings
RSS
Print 
Some
Ideas For How To Stop Smoking Cravings
Addressing The Physical Symptoms When Learning How To Stop
Smoking Cravings
Addressing The Psychological Symptoms When Learning How To Stop
Smoking Cravings
Readers
Comments
Some Ideas For How To
Stop Smoking Cravings
Let's face it: if it was easy to quit
smoking, just about everybody would do it. But everybody who
has tried to quit knows that once you make the decision to
quit, you still have to learn how to stop smoking cravings-or
at least learn to deal with them without caving in and lighting
up. And the fact is, not all urges to smoke arise from the
physiological part of us; smoking is a lifestyle, and it
contains certain rituals and customs that smokers find
comforting. Drug replacement therapies and nicotine patches
won't help with this part of the process. But the good news is
that there are some behavioral changes smokers can make to
address these pitfalls that don't cost anything. Therefore, in
many ways, you can learn how to stop smoking
for free!

Addressing
The Physical Symptoms When Learning How To Stop Smoking
Cravings
Almost everyone has heard the horror
stories: dizziness, irritability, sleep problems, weight gain…
While many of the more severe physical withdrawal symptoms
usually last a few weeks at most, figuring out how to stop
smoking cravings involves more than just weathering this
initial storm. However, drug therapies with FDA-approved
substances like bupropion ("Zyban") and varenicline ("Chantix")
can help smokers who are figuring out how to stop smoking
cravings. Nicotine gums, patches, and nasal sprays are other
ways to gradually reduce the body's dependence on nicotine and
deal with the physical aspects of smoking cessation.
Addressing
The Psychological Symptoms When Learning How To Stop
Smoking Cravings
But there's another side to smoking, as all
smokers know. Smokers often derive actual emotional comfort
from the rituals associated with smoking: the after-dinner
cigarette; the smoke break at work; the leisurely smoke on the
patio; the quick smoke to help you focus or summon the energy
for a task… the absence of these comforting behaviors is often
as terrifying to smokers who are working through how to stop
smoking cravings as the physical withdrawal symptoms-if not
more so! Rather than just "do without," though, it's often
helpful for smokers to substitute other behaviors in the "gaps"
left when smoking ceases. Instead of an after-dinner smoke, try
taking a brisk walk, either alone or with a friend or family
member. Keep hard candies on your desk at work to give you
something besides a cigarette to reach for when you're trying
to concentrate. Keep toothpicks handy, to occupy your fingers
and your mouth, instead of a smoke. Have someone you can call-a
support group member, an understanding friend, a family
member-and just talk to when the urge to smoke becomes
powerful.

Readers' Comments
|
Be the first to place your
comments here!
|
Most
Viewed Articles In Stop Smoking

|