By: Edison Nathan
Submitted: 2009-12-11 03:39:59 | Word Count: 604
There are many good reasons to quit smoking these days, both health benefits, and the fact that more and more states are banning smoking from not only restaurants and bars, but also from many public places. For whatever reasons you have to quit, there are an abundance of methods to help you quit. The real problem with quitting your habit, is that it is one of the worst addictions, and in most cases, even worse than drugs or alcohol. Nicotine addiction is considered worse than even a heroine addiction in most cases.
One of the problems with quitting smoking is the side effects and withdraw symptoms associated with it. The longer you have been a smoker, the worse it often is, and that is why so many people fail at least once before finally kicking the habit. Smoking has been a way out for many people who have stressful jobs, problems, at home etc. If you get stressed out, you smoke a cigarette. You may smoke after a meal, or as soon as you get up in the morning. Smokers who drink alcohol often smoke much more than when they aren't drinking, and many see drinking and smoking go hand in hand.
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If you are serious about quitting smoking, there is help for withdrawal symptoms. There are lozenges, patches and pills that help to slowly reduce the amount of nicotine in your body. These can help you with the physical effects of withdrawal. In order to really stop smoking you also need to change your habits as well. If you have friends that are still smoking, you should stop hanging around them all the time, because just having it around you can trigger cravings, and you are still smoking, by second hand smoke.
If your friends can't understand that you aren't hanging around them in order to be sure you don't smoke again, maybe you need different friends. A true friend will figure out ways to hang out with you without smoking, like just refraining while you are with them. Maybe it is time for them to also stop smoking, and maybe you can help them quit the habit. It is important for people with addictions, whether it is from smoking or drugs or alcohol to have some kind of support group, where you can talk with others who have also quit smoking.
Another problem with dealing with the side effects of quitting smoking is stress. For many years you may have used smoking as a way to relieve stress, no matter where it originates from. You need to figure out different ways to alleviate your stress levels. One of the ways to reduce stress in your life is through meditation, deep breathing exercises and many other techniques. It may mean that you have to use a variety of different methods until you find one that works, or a combination of things.
No matter what your particular side effects are, know this. One, you are not alone, in both your desires to quit, and the problems and side effects related to quitting smoking. Two, these withdraw symptoms won't last forever, and in most cases are completely out of your system within a few months. No matter kinds of side effects you are having, remember the personal reasons you are quitting, and use those to your advantage.
