Staying free of tobacco smoking
The First Week:
Take one day at a time. Today is enough of a challenge; why worry about tomorrow? Use your coping tools like your ‘Survival Kit,’ your support person, your deep breathing, and exercise.
From Weeks 2-6:
By now the worst of the physical withdrawal is over, but you may still miss smoking. So be sure to reward yourself for staying off cigarettes. When the urge to smoke comes, talk yourself out of it.
The dangers now are:
· Thinking that one smoke won’t hurt – Yes it will hurt.! One cigarette will lead to another and you will soon be back to where you started. So ask yourself “Am I going to throw away everything I’ve achieved so far?” You’re either a smoker or you’re not.
· A celebration – The company of smokers and the presence of alcohol is a dangerous combination – so be careful. Do not give yourself permission to smoke; give yourself permission to be healthy.
· A crisis - Things seem so bad that it does not matter whether or not you smoke. But every crisis will pass. And when it’s over, you don’t want to have to begin quitting all over again. Get support from a friend or call the Quit Line for help.
Week 7 and after:
Well done! You’ve stopped smoking. Now the challenge is to stay free of tobacco. Stopping smoking is one of the best things you have ever done in your life. You have beaten nicotine and changed the habit of many years. Be proud.