How To Quit Smoking without Relapsing

How to quit smoking without relapsing takes a combination of willpower, planning, and a commitment to succeed in quitting whatever it takes. This partly explains why most people fail to succeed in their initial effort to quit. A slip is not the end. Jumping right back on ceasing smoking minimizes the impact that smoking briefly again could have. The important thing is finally being able to live a healthy non-smoking lifestyle again for good.  During the quitting process don’t be surprised if things don’t go completely smoothly as you hoped. Let us look at some proven ways to recover from a smoking relapse.

How to Quit Smoking by dealing with Triggers

When it comes to relapsing after you have quit smoking, understanding how smoking triggers work can make a big difference. What is a trigger? It is anything that inspires you or “triggers” you to smoke again. Here’s some common triggers to consider: work stress, emotional highs and lows, panic attacks, smelling smoke, socializing with friends, seeing other people smoking, and sometimes even after enjoying a big meal.  The better you can manage these triggers and how to deal with them, the longer you will stay nicotine-free and smoke-free.

Let us break down the four types of smoking triggers.

Emotional Triggers

Emotional triggers can range the whole spectrum of “high and low” emotional experiences. This makes keeping things calm a wise idea, to avoid triggers kicking in and making staying smoke-free smoother and simpler.  Often a stressful event, an argument with your spouse, work stress, can trigger one to relapse.

How to Quit Smoking and Deal with Emotional Triggers?

When your emotions kick in and you start to feel triggered, the best advice is to turn to your friends and family for quick support. A few wise words can likely keep you on the right path.

If no one is available, try listening to some soothing music, or going for a walk outside. This makes calming down much easier. Your stress level and maybe even blood pressure will drop and the urge to smoke will fade away.

Exercise or meditation can help too. Calming the mind is the answer to solving the issue of emotional triggers when they appear.

On Pattern Triggers

Pattern triggers are the second big type of smoking triggers to keep an eye on. These triggers are really any activity you used to do while smoking. Like watching TV, playing cards, break time at work, drinking alcohol, relaxing after a big meal, after sex, and on and on.

How to Quit Smoking and Deal with Pattern Triggers

Experts point to the practice of delinking the association of these acts with smoking by replacing smoking with a favorite choice like chewing gum, playing music, or squeezing a stress ball. There is plenty of other options as well.  The key is to try to change the patterns in your daily life. For example, if you drink coffee with a cigarette in the morning, try switching to a glass of orange juice or cup of tea so your mind isn’t associating that morning coffee with a cigarette.

Social Triggers

These are smoking triggers that include other people who smoke. Think of places like a bar, concert, or another social event. Both seeing other people smoking or even being offered to smoke are real concerns.

How to Quit Smoking and Deal with Social Triggers

There is a simple solution to these kinds of smoking triggers. Avoid these places and people until you are secure in being smoke-free. If that is not possible let people know not smoking is important to you and you would appreciate their support.  Avoid bars, parties, or any social gatherings where people are smoking.

Withdrawal Triggers

The last trigger comes along with your body going through nicotine withdrawal associated with smoking. Your body wants nicotine and it will not let you get off easy. It is time to use your will power.

How to Quit Smoking and Deal with Withdrawal Triggers

The key here is to do things to distract your mind from wanting to smoke. Professionals, like our own office, can help in this area too.  Keep busy, practice deep breathing exercises, and learn to delay the urge to act on impulse the minute you experience a craving. Cravings only last 2-5 minutes, so delay and it will go away.  Practice this each time you make experience an urge to smoke.

Anne Penman Laser Therapy to Quit Smoking:

Here in Toronto laser therapy to quit smoking is in more demand every day.  Breakthrough methods are used like cold laser therapy with acupuncture points on the face, hands, and ears to activate endorphins, which helps with the quitting process. Plus, during the one-hour treatment, we will be doing counselling to discuss the mental side of quitting which are the triggers and habits.

How to quit smoking with laser therapy? Why not contact us to set up an appointment today? Please visit https://annepenman.ca