| TangneyK: « Reply #14 on: Oct 30th, 2003, 6:14pm »
Smoking... I'm a smoker too (as FreshBrewed knows). Having stopped a couple of addictions in the past, I'll tell you a few of things that worked for me:
One day at a time!! (Sometimes this meant one day, one hour, one minute, even one second at a time staying away from the substance in question.)
Focus on the root of the problem, not the symptoms. (Smoking makes me feel good. Not smoking doesn't. Thinking about that is not going to help. Thinking about why you need a cigarrette--stress, digestion, etc.--will help you "think out" your craving.)
Do things that make you feel good. (Again, smoking makes me feel good. I want to try and replace that with something positive. You've already mentioned practicing as an alternative, and I can't think of a better one.)
Drink lots of water!!!! (Water is good for everything--except breathing!! It'll flush out those chemicals a lot faster if you're well hydrated.)
Excercise. (Excercise produces/releases dopamines into your brain, so you feel better.)
Get a buddy. (Find someone that wants to quit smoking with you. You can share your nicotine fits together, and laugh at each other through them. Support is always a good thing, especially if you have someone that is going through the same thing you are.)
.............
Smoking is a pregnant dog to quit... Nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man. I hope some of this will help.
--Kevin |