Quit Smoking Monday Messages
As much as we'd all like to quit smoking and be free of the habit within a few weeks, it's not often that it works out that way. Nicotine addiction lets go of us a little at a time. With each day and activity that we complete smoke free, we are breaking old patterns and creating new associations that don't include smoking.
A Year of Firsts
I always tell people to devote all of the first year to healing from this addiction. That's not to say you'll be uncomfortable for the entire year, but it takes that much time to work our way through the majority of events in our lives that trigger thoughts of smoking.
I was almost 8 months along in my quit program when a major craving to smoke blindsided me. It was my first smoke-free summer and while painting a room for the first time since quitting, I was surprised to find that all I could think about was lighting up every time I took a break from the task. It was very uncomfortable, in part because I thought I was past such things, but once I got through that first day of painting smoke-free, that particular trigger was cleared and never returned.
Patience, Practice and Time
It may not feel like you're making progress when something happens that causes a strong urge to smoke, but you are. When you move through smoking urges without succumbing, you've done important and necessary work in reprogramming an old, knee-jerk response with a new, nonsmoking reaction. With practice and attention to changing the relationship you had with smoking, old habits are pushed out in favor of new, healthier ones. Thank goodness we humans are so adaptable.
When old urges/thoughts creep in -- and they will from time to time during the first year of smoking cessation, remember that recovery from nicotine addiction is process and think of the discomforts you're experiencing as signs of healing, because that is exactly what they are. Don't let them scare you.
It doesn't happen overnight, but with perseverance, freedom from this addiction is possible, doable, and so worthwhile.
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Take The Quit Smoking Monday Pledge
Healthy Monday encourages us to think of every Monday as a day that we can begin work anew on goals that we have for ourselves. If you're still smoking, put your cigarettes down and get started on your quit program today.
We all have the ability to quit smoking successfully, and we all deserve a life that is free of addiction. Honor your life by choosing Monday as the day to start and reinforce your quit program.You can quit smoking ... and we’re here to help you, one simple Monday at a time.
Image © healthymonday.org
Comments
quit smoking is indeed something that takes a lot of effort and patience to be achieved. It also took a lot of support from the surrounding. But of all it’s worth with the benefits you’ll got from quit smoking.
cheers to all who finally freed themselves from smoking. It shows that you not only care about yourselves but for most it shows that you care about people around you.