The Best Time to Quit Smoking
When is the best time to quit smoking? Realistically, any time is the right time to quit, but for each person there is usually the stronger moment to make the choice. For example, many successful quitters state that they selected an official “quit date” and mentally prepared themselves for that moment. Others used something like a birthday or a major event in their lives to serve as the strongest inspiration to turn over a new leaf and give up smoking.
Additionally, one of the best times to quit is after you have made all of the choices and done all of the necessary preparation. For instance, if you are going to quit smoking you are going to have to accept that you have an addiction to nicotine. No one who has a hard time giving up cigarettes can say that they are not addicted. Nicotine is one of the world’s strongest poisons, but it also happens to be powerfully addictive too.
This means that you should sit down with your doctor to choose the right nicotine replacement treatment for your needs. While many people initially resist the idea of using the patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers or sprays, they change their mind when they learn about nicotine withdrawal. For one thing, those who quit using the old-fashioned “cold turkey” approach will have to go through seventy-two hours of actual withdrawal. This could mean three or more days of serious nausea, headaches, restlessness, and more. Additionally, even a single moment of weakness during which time a single drag on a cigarette occurs will put the quitter at halfway back the distance they have already come.
This is the reason that most people opt for some sort of nicotine replacement. Additionally, a physician might provide a heavier smoker with a prescription medication especially designed to combat some of the worst parts of serious withdrawal such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
After selecting the NRT and any supplementary medication, the quitter should also determine the alternative treatments that they will use to combat their nicotine addiction. For example, they might make a regular appointment with an acupuncture provider, or they might join a health club or even a support group. There are many online and “in person” support groups for those who have decided to quit and it is often very therapeutic to speak with others who are struggling with the same difficulties and concerns.
Once all of your tools are in place, then you should set the date and free yourself from cigarette smoking.
