Written By: Sameer Jha | Updated : December 11, 2014 7:50 PM IST
I can clearly recall my thoughts 15 days after stubbing out my last cigarette. On one hand, I was jubilant at having gritted it out for so long. Certainly, the worst was over. I had proved myself stronger than nicotine addiction. On the other hand, I was still having sharp cravings at several moments and feared whether I would have to live the rest of my life resisting.
On an evening walk, whenever the cool wind would beat my face, my tongue craved the fresh taste of tobacco smoke which seemed the most delicious thing ever made. After a heavy dinner consisting of my favorite dish, I would rest on my sofa and feel my mouth twitching to have a few drags. These feelings continued for a long time (around 1 and a half months) and there were several moments when I doubted if I would be able to save myself from the trap through my life.
As time has passed, I have learnt to cope with the cravings and rarely feel the urge to light up anymore. Here are some tips that have helped me, and would help you too.
1. Don't miss cigarettes in any situation
After a harrowing bus journey (where your bus broke down, and your arrival got delayed), you find your fellow traveller unwinding by smoking a cigarette. With a numb mind and body, you might want to light one up to cool things down (take the edge off, as smokers say). You might think, this is a special occasion and you won't have it again. However, this is a wrong chain of thought. You will never have a glass of poisonous cocktail to unwind, then why have a cigarette? The momentary buzz that a cigarette will give will not eradicate your tiredness like a massage would.
It is important to have an 'I don't enjoy cigarettes anymore' attitude to never bite the bait again. Remember, that by quitting you did not sacrifice anything good, but simply pulled yourself out of the pit that you had fallen into.
There will be a few shaky moments like the one mentioned above, but it is important that you don't bite the bait, because if you do it once, you'll do it again and before you know it, you'll be kicking yourself sore for falling into the pit once again.
2. Be wary of your smoker friends
Don't get me wrong. I was myself a smoker, and I don't believe they are bad people or someone you should stay away from. However, the company we keep does have an impact on our thoughts, and I would recommend that you do not mix up too much with your smoker friends (in your early days of quitting) to avoid situations that urge you to light up.
Also, in our early days, we might feel that our friends are fortunate to be able to smoke cigarettes, but in reality they are not. They are only doing something that has an adverse effect on their stamina, skin, fertility and overall well-being.
3. Remove stress from your life/Keep a positive attitude
I know several smokers who believe, that where it not for smoking, life would be an ordeal. In a bad and indifferent world, smoking gives a few moments of satisfaction. This attitude is an extremely unhealthy one, and also wrong. This life that we have been given is not a curse, but a gift, and it is our responsibility to live it with as much joy as possible.
Stress, especially persistent stress, is another big trigger for relapse. Just like smoking - stress has a toxic effect on your body - and finding ways to release it and stay happy is imperative. Exercising, maintaining a good diet, and feeling love for people are just some measures that are effective in tackling the beast.
4. Celebrate anniversaries and landmarks
The first 3 days are the hardest to see through if you are a regular smoker, so you should celebrate the 72-hour landmark royally. After that, a week, a month, 3 months, 100 days, 6 months, an year - all can be celebrated with little treats brought out of the money you've saved by staying off tobacco.
5. Don't switch to alcohol
I know a few people (two of my very good friends) who have managed to quit smoking successfully, but have become alcoholics. This is sad, as the whole purpose of quitting smoking should be to embrace a life of good health, and they have failed to do that. Alcohol lowers your defence mechanism, and may encourage a relapse. Even if it does not, it is not good for you.
6. Don't get dissuaded byan empty feeling in your early months
All that resistance and fighting urges does take a toll on you. Also, because nothing seems to provide total contentment, it is quite normal to feel sad and empty at times. There were days when I felt finished and extremely harassed by anxiety.
Certainly, I did not want lifelong depression to be a side-effect of quitting smoking, and even contemplated smoking again. However, I told myself to grit it out for two more months and see what happens.
Thankfully, giving myself time helped.
7. Incorporate healthy habits into your lifestyle
You're quitting smoking to become healthier than before. If you've made such a big sacrifice, make sure you don't harm your health in other ways. Like drinking too much coffee, eating too much sugar or sleeping erratically.
Leading a healthy life will make you feel positive and upbeat about life. Something which will make you not want to smoke again.
8. Don't let a slip turn into a relapse
We're all human. There may be that wretched moment where you say "Heck, let me just taste a cigarette again!". After smoking it, you may feel guilty and to get rid of the guilt, you may say, "Heck, let me just start smoking again!"
Don't let that happen. A slip is an error of judgement, a relapse is your choice.
9. Quit for the right reason!
A friend told me an interesting story about a man who had quit smoking because his wife wanted him to. After a few years of staying quit, his wife went for a two month long vacation to her hometown. The man saw the opportunity, and started smoking more than ever before.
While quitting for loved ones or to save money is good, you'll be better off quitting for the right reason which is to protect your body from poisonous chemicals, several diseases and be able to breathe properly.
What this does is make tomorrow relapse proof. Your wife may go away, you might run into a lot of money, your crush may start smoking her/himself but cigarettes will never ever get healthier.
Image source: Getty Images
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