There is no doubt that living with an addiction is a struggle and that quitting isn’t easy. This is certainly the case too when you’re smoking cigarettes. If you’ve decided it’s time to quit, here are a few ways to cope while going through this process.
Be Kind to Yourself
Be sure, especially when you’re starting out, to be kind to yourself. One way that you can learn to cope with the stress of quitting is by putting less of this stress on yourself. Choose to celebrate your victories throughout your process, instead of punishing yourself for any setbacks you encounter.
Get Support
Something else that you might find helpful while you’re dealing with quitting smoking is to tell someone you trust and get support. If you can, find someone who has also experienced quitting smoking who can give you tips and relate to your struggles and successes. Remember that you’re not alone and that telling others can often help you achieve your goals.
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Make Time for Exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to cope with withdrawal symptoms as it helps to reduce stress and keep your mind off of your cravings. Your body will also be pumped full of endorphins which will give you feelings of positivity and boost your mood.
Be Proactive in Managing Stress
Unfortunately, quitting smoking can lead to feelings of stress that might make you want to smoke again. Therefore, it’s important to stay on top of stressful situations in your life and to develop healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with stress than smoking. Meditation and mindfulness is a great way to bring peace and awareness into your daily life as is exercise and participating in activities that you enjoy.
Above all else, don’t forget that quitting smoking is a journey and a process. Even if you stumble at times along the way, pick yourself off and try again to move forward.
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