Quit Smoking Monday Messages

Patience with the Process

If I were asked to describe in one sentence what most helped me when I quit smoking, it would be this:

Smoking cessation is a process, not an event.

Once I understood that nicotine addiction lets go a little at a time, I found it was much easier to roll with the punches. Past quits had always left me frustrated and feeling helpless when cravings weren't gone within the first two weeks. This time around, I relaxed into my quit and resolved to give myself the time I needed to heal, regardless of how long it took.

I'd like to introduce you to Michelle Boisvert, a moderator for the support forum here at About.com Smoking Cessation with 7 1/2 years of smoke free living under her belt. Michelle shares her perspectives on how to cope early cessation as we recover from nicotine addiction with us here:

Patience with the Process

From Michelle: "It took us many years to create the associations we did as smokers…a cigarette after waking, a cigarette after eating, a cigarette in a stressful situation, a cigarette in celebration and on and on…we smoked as an automatic response to any number of stimuli, and we did this over years."

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Take The Quit Smoking Monday Pledge

Healthy Monday encourages us to think of for ourselves. If you're still smoking, put your cigarettes down and get started on your quit program today.

• Quit Smoking Monday Messages Archive

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.

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