S.H.E. Circle | Smoking Cessation - Reclaiming Wellness: What You Can Do

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Wellness Guide: Smoking Cessation

Reclaiming Wellness: What You Can Do

Life can be stressful. We all have different ways we deal with that stress – some of those ways are not healthy for us. For many, smoking is one of the ways we handle stress. The best way to reclaim your wellness is to quit altogether but quitting can be hard. Sometimes you have to quit more than once to quit for good. Below are some tips to help you create a Personal Quit Plan. Use as many things that you think will help you quit for good.

Relaxation is a good way to deal with stressful situations without smoking. Starting at your feet, tighten the muscles as hard as you can, then relax them. Move up to your legs and do the same thing. Continue tightening and releasing your muscles all the way up your body, down your arms and out your fingertips. Practicing this type of progressive muscle relaxation is helpful in changing your focus when you have the urge to smoke.

Fast deep breathing can also take your mind off a craving. Similar to the panting women do during Lamaze, rapid deep breathing introduces additional oxygen to your body and brain.

Other relaxation techniques include: meditation, yoga, visualization, exercise, journaling. These techniques help you slow down, which is so important in our fast pace lives.

Create or find a support system to help you quit. Many support groups exist for people trying to quit smoking, including groups that serve gays and lesbians exclusively. Toll free quit lines, and websites can also help give you support as you begin your new smoke-free life. Check out our list of resources, and be sure to drop by our Talk Circle for support!

Be gentle with yourself. Quitting is sometimes difficult. You may have to quit more than once. Researchers have shown that the more you try to quit the more likely you are to be successful quitting!