I help people quit smoking in London. Cessation smoking help is here for you, as I also provide online sessions. So if in London or outside of London, I can help you kick cigarettes for good. Here are some helpful tips to help you with smoking cessation today. If you would like to quit smoking using hypnotherapy, get in touch now, you could be smoking free this week!
Cessation smoking quitting tips to resist cravings
Smoking cravings can wear you down when you’re trying to quit. Use these helpful cessation tips to reduce and resist cravings. I help people in London learn to truly resist cravings. Yes, tobacco and nicotine cravings or smoking urges can be strong. But you can stand up against these cravings.
When you feel an urge to smoke, keep in mind that even though the urge may feel strong, it will likely pass within five to 10 minutes and that’s whether or not you smoke a cigarette or not. Each time you resist a smoking craving, you’re one step closer to stopping smoking for good. How great is that!
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Try nicotine replacement therapy
Ask your pharmacist or GP about nicotine replacement therapy. I would view these as a very short term solution as you can end up hooked on them The options include:
- Prescription nicotine in a nasal spray or inhaler
- Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges you can buy without a prescription
- Prescription non-nicotine stop-smoking drugs such as bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, others) and varenicline
- Short-acting nicotine replacement therapies — such as nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal sprays or inhalers — can help you overcome intense cravings. These short-acting therapies are usually safe to use along with long-acting nicotine patches or one of the non-nicotine stop-smoking drugs.
- Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping have become very popular recently as a replacement for smoking traditional cigarettes. But vaping could involve harmful chemicals and in fact taking in more nicotine that you would have done before. For cessation smoking success, I recommend just trying to quit cigarettes. Vaping can just prolong the habit and just move your addiction to vaping.
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Avoid triggers
Smoking urges are likely to be strongest in the places where you smoked or chewed tobacco most often, such as when leaving work, with a coffee or even at parties or bars, or at times when you were feeling stressed or drinking alcohol. Find out your triggers and have a plan in place to avoid them or get through them without smoking.
Don’t set yourself up for a smoking relapse. If you usually smoked while you talked on the phone, for instance, keep a pen and paper nearby to keep busy with doodling rather than smoking.
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Delay
If you feel like you’re going to give in to a smoing craving, tell yourself that you must first wait 10 more minutes. Then do something to distract yourself during that time. Try going to a public smoke-free zone, drink a glass of water or go for a walk. These simple tricks may be enough to move you past your nicotine craving, helping you on your cessation journey.
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Chew on it
Give your mouth something to do to resist a smoking craving. Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy. Or munch on raw carrots, nuts or sunflower seeds — something crunchy and tasty.
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Don’t have ‘just one’
You might be tempted to have just one cigarette to satisfy a nicotine craving. But don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can stop there. More often than not, having just one leads to one more. And you may end up smoking again.
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Get physical
Physical activity can help distract you from smoking cravings. Even short bursts of activity, such as running up and down the stairs a few times can make a nicotine craving go away. Get out for a walk or jog, quit smoking and feel great.
If you’re at home or in the office, try squats, deep knee bends, pushups, running on the spot, or walking up and down a set of stairs. If you don’t like physical activity, try sewing, woodwork or writing in a journal. Or do chores for distraction, such as cleaning or filing papers. You can make smoking cessation fun.
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Try relaxation techniques
Smoking may have been your way to deal with stress. Fighting back against a nicotine craving can itself be stressful. Take the edge off stress by trying ways to relax, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, yoga, visualisation, massage or listening to calming music.
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Call for reinforcements
Connect with a family member, friend or support group member for help in your effort to resist a smoking craving. Chat on the phone, go for a walk, share a few laughs, or meet to talk and support each other. Of course you can use my support too and book some hypnotherapy to help you with smoking cessation.
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Go online for support
Join an online stop-smoking programme. Or read a quitter’s blog and post encouraging thoughts for someone else who might be dealing with smoking cravings. Learn from how others have handled their nicotine cravings.
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Remind yourself of the benefits
Write down or say out loud why you want to stop smoking and resist tobacco cravings. These reasons might include:
- Feeling better
- Feel confident
- Getting healthier
- Smell better
- Sparing your loved ones from second hand smoke
- Saving money
- No longer be a slave to nicotine
Watch some cessation smoking testimonials from my happy clients
Keep in mind that trying something to beat the urge to smoke is always better than doing nothing. And each time you resist a craving, you’re one step closer to being tobacco-free! For more information about cessation smoking help using hypnotherapy, get in touch today.