In the previous article, I mentioned a quitting date as the penultimate stage. I will take you further, but first, a few do’s and don’ts for the D-date
Day(s) before :
•Don’t oversmoke the previous few days, specially the last day. It will increase the urge and weaken your resolve.
•Don’t leave cigarettes in your home/office/shop/automobile, anywhere that will cause you to pick it up, and maybe light it.
•Keep yourself busy.
•Unless you are bone-tired, indulge in frequent deep breathing exercises.
•If you have consulted any medical worker in advance, follow his advice on the intake of medicines/substitutes. Do not indulge in self-medication, it can be harmful. The D-day Morning
•The crucial time. The urge is greatest at this time, and the actions automatic. Your hand will seek out the fags and, if you have one around, you will light up without thinking. When you don’t find any around then you will remember that this is the D-day. The day when you change your life forever. But why aren’t you happy about it? Why do you feel miserable? The desire to light up one is enormous, just one, then you can feel in control for the rest of the day, you think. But wait. You HAVE to control yourself because you don’t have any cigarettes with you !!!.
•The desire increases with every passing action, brushing teeth, morning tea, breakfast .. watching the news, reading the newspaper etc. I know, because I have been there. But the hardest part of the day is simply not lighting up the first one in the morning. As I said, I have been there. I know what it feels like. The physical urge diminishes with time. What brings you back is a sense of bereavement, as if you have lost a limb. If you can get through the mornings during the first week, you are home.
As The Day Progresses...
•As the day passes, you will find your attention diverted not so much towards the urge, but to the fact that you have lasted so many hours without smoking. You will face a variety of emotions - wonder at your will power – there’s that dreaded term again - ‘Will Power’, anxiety, maybe depression, maybe overconfidence. Don’t worry. Let the emotions run their course. The important thing for you is – don’t light one, don’t puff one, don’t touch one, don’t even look at a cigarette.
•If you are in a smoker’s company, ask them not to smoke in your presence. You see, this is the day you declare your intentions openly. Most of the smokers will appreciate your achievement to quit and co-operate. Of course, there will be those who won’t care. With such people, you will have to distance yourself as much as practically possible. Try to be with the people who will co-operate.
•If you have confided in a counselor/ medical advisor/ friend/ confidante, keep in touch with him/ her 3-4 times during the day, if possible. But make it light communication come progress report. Don’t use the person as an emotional toilet.
•As far as possible, stay in no-smoking areas and in non-smoker’s company.
•You will come to a stage when you think you got it under control. You will be tempted to have one as a treat or prize for yourself.. or maybe you will want to test yourself by having ‘Only One’ And ‘No More’. BEWARE. This stage is the beast raising its head tantalizingly. Remember Nancy Reagan – “Just say no” to yourself.
•When you resist the above stage, you will find that the physical urge is mostly mythical. You don’t feel any physical ill effects – no shivering, no fever, no aches of any kind.
The answers in part three…
Are you ready to quit smoking? We can take this quit smoking journey together and make real progress to a healthier life.
This concludes Part two of the Don't Quit Smoking Series
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Susman
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