Nicotine: What It Really Takes to Quit

by Deborah English — January 12, 2008

The following entry isn't strictly about "food and nutrition." However, it is definitely about health. If you are struggling with a nicotine addiction, I hope my thoughts about the subject help.

Quitting a nicotine habit is one of the most difficult challenges you will ever face. I know, because it took me 10 years of false starts to finally quit the habit for good. I tried everything from the practice of self control to nicotine patches and chewing gum, and weekends at yoga ashrams, controlled breathing and meditation, herbs and acupuncture, sweet talking myself, positive thoughts and affirmations, and visualization of beautiful mountains and of me standing proudly, glowing with health as a non-smoker. All of these ploys helped, but none of them worked. In the end it was the strength of my desire to be nicotine free that over-shadowed the power of my craving for a cigarette. I went "Cold Turkey."

However, no matter which combination of tactics ultimately work for you, understanding your addiction is imperative. Understanding that cigarette smoking is a highly insidious addiction, aids your perception of why and when you choose to smoke. Smoking is a physical and psychological addiction, and the urge to have a cigarette can be triggered by a vast array of things. The only way to learn what your personal triggers are is by observing your behavior.

Once you understand how your nicotine addiction controls you, it is a good idea, for your first three non-smoking weeks at least (I did this for the first three months) to limit or preferably cut your supply of or association with these known triggers. Some triggers, of course, such as sudden stressful situations, are impossible to simply delete from your life, and this is where a conscious effort is required. But I found that just being aware of the cause of my nicotine craving helped immensely. The process moves from emotional to logical. You know that the craving will be gone in a few minutes, so the best thing is to just accept that it is there and ride it through.

Common triggers such as wine and other alcoholic beverages and coffee and tea are easier to remove. Drink plenty of water (fizzy is fine and delicious with a bit of lemon juice squeezed into it) and pure fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Also, try experimenting with cleansing herbal teas. These days, there is such a varied choice that you are bound to find something you like.

Setting aside 20 minutes a day for some fresh air and exercise is also invaluable. You can make it a time to consciously breath, relaxing your psyche and expanding and cleansing your lungs. And yes, visualize yourself, every moment of every day, glowing with health -- no longer chained like a prisoner to the cigarette smoking habit. This actually, really did help me.