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Cigarettes (cigars and pipes as well) are difficult to give up because the
nicotine they contain is so addicting. Despite literally hundreds of
stop-smoking aids and just as many ways to quit smoking, once you are hooked, it
can be extremely difficult to give up for good. The physiological effects of
giving up nicotine, such as intense cravings, insomnia, headache and sore
throat, are only part of what happens when you quit.
There can be powerful mental and emotional effects, too, such as:
- A sense of isolation from friends who still smoke
- Missing your old hangouts and haunts where smoking is
allowed
- Not knowing what to do with your hands without a cigarette,
cigar or pipe in them
- Feelings of sadness or depression
- Replacement with food
Despite the many obstacles that smokers must overcome to successfully beat
the habit, there are many ways to quit smoking. While there is no easy way to be
successful and even no one best way to be successful, there is no reason to give
up hope that you can find a program or technique that will help you find the
strength to give up smoking.
Effective Ways to Quit Smoking
So what are the most popular and successful ways to overcome your habit?
There’s always the option to go cold turkey and just stop, or options that help
you more naturally, such as hypnosis, acupuncture, or herbal supplements. Some
experts say that the best ways to quit involve emotional support and use of a
patch or other time-release nicotine delivery system. The biggest benefit of a
method such as this is that your body is allowed to reduce its dependence on
nicotine gradually, reducing the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms and other
unpleasant aspects of quitting cold turkey.
The down side to some of these stop smoking programs is that they can cost a
lot of money. Program promoters will tell you that the costs are far less than
those you face by continuing to smoke, but it doesn’t change the fact that the
cost of many programs can be prohibitive.
You still have a good shot at quitting without spending a lot of money,
though. It is possible to find the support you need for free, but it takes a bit
more effort on your part. We recommend visiting your local library, where you
are very likely to find at least one book, and probably more, that can give you
the information and motivation you need to tip the scales toward quitting right
now. Another option is to look online for web sites, forums, and discussion
groups devoted especially to the needs of people like you who are trying to do
the same thing.
Smoke Free
Remember, you weren’t born smoking. It is not natural for you to do it. when you stop, you
are simply reverting back to a natural state– you are not “giving up” anything except a learned, external, habit.
Letting go of your dependence may seem like a near-impossible task, but rest
assured that it is indeed an achievable goal. Be prepared to face challenges,
both physical and emotional, that threaten to thwart your efforts. Always keep
in mind, though, that whatever challenge you face is well worth overcoming to
gain the health and lifestyle benefits of becoming smoke free.
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Did you know that there are super-humans with almost magical powers among us? 
