How To Stop Smoking

How to stop smoking is not a one-size-fits-all journey. As an ex-smoker myself, I know that no amount of information or people-pleasing gave me the impetus to quit.  I am not going to tell you to quit.  Here are my thoughts, research on the topic, and some tips that worked for me.  When you are ready to let it go, you will.  Some of my most unhealthy coping mechanisms got me through some tough times.  You’ll know when you’re prepared to say thank you to smoking and let it go. 

1.  Ask Yourself Why? For me, smoking was a metaphorical middle finger to the world when I was tired, anxious, or angry. The nicotine hit my system like a weighted vest and made me feel grounded.  It was my private rebellion from living an outside life of always behaving. This self-knowledge helped me to explore healthier ways to address and vent these feelings.
2. Don’t Judge Me! Two assumptions had an impact on my quitting. One I read in a magazine: “Smoking is a sign of mental instability.” Guilty, yes, but I worked 24/7 to hide that, and smoking was giving me away! The other I overheard some guys joking about: “If she smokes, she pokes!” Yes, I do poke, sir, but I do not need some idiot like you making assumptions about me. 
3. Game Recognize Game: People who smoke are strong-willed. Who else would smoke in 2021?! You know it’s gross. You know it increases your risk of getting COVID-19.  You are a bad-*ss: if you’re going to smoke, you’re going to smoke. The other side is this: you are a bad-*ss, and if you’re going to quit, you’re going to quit. Do not underestimate how strong you are! 
4. Withdrawal Is No Joke. Nicotine patches are great for this. In my opinion, they are better than oral nicotine options like gum, etc.  An oral substitute is not the same as having a smoke. You know this consciously, but your subconscious will be like, “WTF?!” when you try to trick it with gum. Removing the oral nicotine route breaks that association. Also, gradually tapering a regular dose of nicotine via the patch is less stressful to the body chemistry and lessens withdrawal symptoms. 
5. A New Ritual: Get into the ritual of smelling fresh–scented hand lotions, new laundry soap, and good-smelling shampoos. Make it a game to smell good rather than like stank cigarettes. Another benefit: you will pause throughout the day to take a deep breath to smell of yourself.  This is like taking a deep breath when hitting a cigarette. I know it is not the same, but deep breathing (whether inhaling cigarette smoke or smelling a flower) has been proven to increase feel-good hormone levels and decrease stress hormones.   
6. Get Vain: Aside from yellow teeth and bad breath, have you noticed people who smoke have a grayish tinge to their skin? Nicotine leaches water out of your system. Dehydrated cells look aged because they are not plump with H2O.  What’s better than Botox for a youthful appearance? Quitting smoking!
7. Weight Gain Is A Lie:  This lie is propagated by the tobacco industry to keep you smoking. Manipulating facts about women's wellness is a multi-billion-dollar industry.  Fruits and vegetables taste better when you quit smoking because your taste buds work better. Also, oxygen is circulated to your tissues better, which allows for increased endurance and physical activity (read: calorie burning).  Don’t let the tobacco industry play you. 

Another reason why smoking is so appealing is that it is a socially acceptable (albeit frowned upon) moment to do something just for yourself. It is a moment where you pause and take a couple of deep breaths with complete inhales and complete exhales.  I suggest giving this One Minute Breath Control Technique below a try. It Is not the same as smoking a cigarette, but it will provide you with a chance to pause, take some time to yourself, and make a thoughtful choice as to whether you really want to light that cigarette or not.  

1. Place your hand on your stomach and be conscious of your body as you:
2. Inhale through your nose for a count of 5.
3. Exhale through your nose for a count of 5.
4. Repeat for ten breaths.

You know how to quit smoking. You are taking a step in the right direction by reading this article. You have overcome incredible things in your life. This source of stress will soon be a point of pride that you can pass on to other women in your life. Women's wellness is most effective when we help each other. The world needs you to be healthy in order to make the difference you are meant to make.