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Article courtesy of Native
Remedies
As you read this, you are probably
filled with anxiety with the very thought of being without that
reassuring packet of cigarettes in your bag or pocket! You might
have been smoking for years. Maybe this is the first time you
are seriously considering "giving up" or perhaps you
have tried before and failed. Whatever the case may be - don't
be discouraged, you are one of millions!
STOP SMOKING
IN EIGHT WEEKS - BE A NON-SMOKER FOR LIFE!
In my opinion, not enough recognition
is given to the fact that nicotine dependency is a serious addiction!
Many people see cigarette smoking as a "Bad Habit"
and feel that smokers should be able to "just stop"!
Although there are many gums, sprays and patches available to
help the person gradually wean him/herself off the cigarettes,
most smokers are expected to "go it alone", be crabby
for a few weeks and then be fine! If they fail, the insinuation
is that they are weak, indulgent, inconsiderate, etc. The medical
and moral support and understanding given to other substance
abusers (e.g. alcoholics, crack addicts, etc) is usually not
forthcoming for those who are struggling to overcome nicotine
dependency.
Hopefully, this article will
fill that gap a little. Nothing on earth will make it easy and
effortless - but, if you are serious about giving up and follow
the advice given here, you will find that you stand a better
chance of being successful.
Think about why you want to give
up. Like all addictions, YOU are the one that must want to quit.
If you are quitting because someone else wants you to or is pressurizing
you to, your chances of success are greatly diminished. YOU must
want to do it, for reasons that are YOURS.
One of the most compelling reasons
to give up smoking is that cigarettes are detrimental to your
health. Here are some sobering facts:
1. Smoking is the most important
risk factor for cancer and heart disease. In fact, statistics
show that smokers are about three to five times more likely to
contract cancer or heart disease than non-smokers. (Tobacco smoke
contains more than 4000 chemicals and 50 of these have been identified
as carcinogens).
2. Not only do smokers have a
far greater risk of contracting lung cancer, but they also have
increased rates of other cancers, including cancer of the mouth,
larynx, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, liver,
cervix, stomach, colon and rectum. Smokers are also at greater
risk for leukemia.
3. The overall cancer death rates
for smokers are twice as high as those of non-smokers. The more
cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke for, the greater
the risk.
4. Smoking contributes significantly
to the development of high blood pressure and hardening of the
arteries and therefore places smokers at greater risk of stroke
and heart disease.
5. Smoking causes chronic lung
disorders like emphysema, asthma and bronchitis.
Heard enough? Well, here is
some more!
1. Smoking causes premature wrinkling,
especially of the face.
2. Smokers have yellow teeth,
and foul smelling breath, hair and clothes.
3. Smoking causes impotence and
erectile dysfunction in men and low libido in men and women.
It can also contribute towards difficulties in falling pregnant
and birth defects.
4. Smoking deprives the body
of oxygen, leading to fatigue and low concentration levels.
5. At current prices, smoking
is very bad for your bank balance! Think of what you could do
with the money you spend on cigarettes!
These are only a few of the known
dangers of smoking that pertain to the individual. Still not
convinced? Then think of this:
Not only is smoking bad for you,
but it is also bad for your family and those around you! For
example, children of smokers are far more likely to develop asthma
and other chronic respiratory infections than those of non-smokers.
They are also more prone to colds and flu and lose more time
off school. Exposed to second hand tobacco smoke on a daily basis,
these children also have higher risks of developing all the cancers,
disorders and other medical conditions mentioned above. In addition,
you are a role model for your child and are not teaching them
good health habits when you continue to smoke in the face of
overwhelming evidence regarding the serious health hazards associated
with smoking. If you don't do it yourself, do it for your kids!
So what's new?
Most people who are reading this
article have heard all of this before. When they stop and think
about it (which they try not to do), they cannot avoid the fact
that the only sensible thing to do is to stop the habit. In fact,
research has shown that the majority of smokers over the age
of 30 would like to stop smoking. Many of them have tried and
failed. This brings us back to Square One.
At Native Remedies we have all
had personal experience of nicotine addiction and withdrawal.
As a psychologist, I have also counseled many people who have
struggled to stop smoking. As an ex-smoker, I understand the
difficulties involved, as well as the feelings of failure and
frustration experienced every time you try and fail to stop smoking.
I understand how stressed you feel when you read about the health
hazards of smoking, the feelings of irritation when other people
point them out to you - as well as the feelings of guilt around
endangering the lives of your loved ones who are exposed to your
second hand smoke.
Considering the huge cost that
smoking imposes on our own lives, those of our children and the
economy of the country, it is surprising that there is not more
support for smokers who want to give up. Nicotine withdrawal
is no joke and cigarettes can be more difficult to give up than
many other dangerous drugs.
To help you,
Native Remedies has worked together with experts in the field
to provide help in the form of specially formulated natural remedies
combined with a free step-by-step program to support and guide
you through the process of nicotine withdrawal.
Natural Remedies Can Help
Natural remedies can help to
prevent depression associated with nicotine withdrawal, reduce
nicotine craving and soothe the restlessness, irritability and
volatile moods often felt by people trying to quit smoking.
Unlike some nicotine withdrawal
programs, the Native Remedies Stop Smoking Ultra Pack does not
include nicotine substitutes like nicotine gums, sprays, patches,
etc. Apart from the fact that nicotine is the "enemy",
using nicotine substitutes may help with craving in the short
term, but can also lead to relapse in the long term. Our aim
is to keep you nicotine free and we want you to start out that
way!
Other programs advocate the use
of synthetic anti-depressant drugs or even tranquilizers to help
control the depression, anxiety and mood swings that can send
you right back to the cigarettes. While this approach does have
some merit, it is also true that there are very effective natural
substitutes for the synthetic antidepressants and tranquilizers
- which can offer the same benefits without the side effects
and potential for addiction. After all - you are fighting one
addiction and do not want to replace it with another!
With this in mind, Native Remedies
has formulated three natural remedies to help address all the
major problems associated with nicotine withdrawal. Although
they are all excellent stand alone products, Rx-Hale tablets,
Crave-Rx Drops and Triple Complex NicoTonic tissue salts are
designed to work together and are recommended for use as part
of a holistic treatment program.
1. Rx-Hale Tablets
are especially formulated to prepare your body to stop smoking
and are begun one month before you want to stop. They contain
a unique combination of herbs which are well known for their
anti-depressant and calming effect and include chromium to help
prevent the tendency to overeat as a substitute for cigarettes.
Taken during the month before you stop smoking and continued
for a few months until the worst is over, Rx-Hale Tablets ensure
that your efforts to stop smoking are not foiled by depression,
mood swings and sugar cravings. Taking the tablets every day
during the 30 days before you stop also prepares you psychologically
for nicotine withdrawal and ensures that you begin the process
feeling strong and ready to face the challenges ahead of you!
2. Crave-Rx Drops contain
a unique combination of selected herbal ingredients to assist
with the management of nicotine craving, possibly due to their
balancing effect on brain chemicals known to be associated with
addiction. Containing herbs which have been clinically proven
to reduce the craving for nicotine, Crave-Rx Drops also contain
herbs which will help to prevent the sugar cravings and compensatory
overeating which often cause people to go back to cigarettes
due to unwanted weight gain. Taken in a little water or juice
three to four times a day, Crave-Rx Drops act quickly to reduce
nicotine craving and keep you calm.
3. Triple Complex NicoTonic
is a complex biochemic tissue salt formulation to assist with
the "short fuse"; syndrome so frequently associated
with nicotine withdrawal. Triple Complex NicoTonic helps to prevent
irritability, temper outbursts and restlessness and ensures a
calmer and more successful path to a cigarette free life! It
does this by promoting the bio-availability of nutrients, hormones
and bio-chemicals that are usually depleted by the stress of
nicotine and drug withdrawal. Presented in convenient sucking
tablets which are dissolved under the tongue when needed, Triple
Complex NicoTonic can be taken as many times per day as necessary.
For more information on these
three natural remedies, please see http://www.ourFamilysHealth.com/naturalremedies/stop_smoking.html
STOP SMOKING
IN EIGHT WEEKS - BE A NON-SMOKER FOR LIFE!
STEP ONE: (Four
Weeks)
Preparation is important!! Follow
these steps. During this first four weeks you can continue to
smoke.
1. Determine your Quit Date!
You must set a Quit Date no less than one month away. This gives
you four weeks to prepare for beginning nicotine withdrawal.
2. Start using Rx-Hale Tablets
one month before your Quit Date to prevent depression and anxiety
and to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent weight gain.
Remember to use them every day as directed! Every time you take
a dose, remind yourself that you are on the road to recovery
from nicotine addiction!
3. Make a list of all the reasons
why you want to stop smoking and read this list every day. Glue
it to the door of your fridge, your computer monitor and the
mirror in the bathroom.
4. Tell at least 10 people that
you are going to stop smoking on your Quit Date.
5. Identify times and places
which you associate with cigarettes e.g. after a meal, first
thing in the morning, when you are driving, watching TV, etc.
During the first four weeks, DO NOT smoke during these times
and at these places - although you can smoke elsewhere. If you
smoke in front of the TV, get up and smoke in the kitchen. If
you smoke in bed when you wake up, get out of bed and smoke after
you have dressed. If you smoke after a meal, wait for 30 minutes
and do something else in the meanwhile. If you light up as soon
as you get into the car, rather smoke before and after your journey.
If you smoke while speaking on the telephone, hang up if you
need to have a cigarette. This helps you to break the "habit
smoking"; while still allowing you to smoke.
6. Start an exercise program
and/or start a new hobby. Regular exercise helps tremendously
to improve mood and motivation levels and also gets you feeling
healthy and more confident. People who exercise regularly have
a running start over those who don't when it comes to beating
the smoking habit! It doesn't matter what you do - just do it
every day for at least 30 minutes. Take up an interesting hobby,
preferably one that you can do with your hands - but any hobby
will do. Be prepared to invest money in exercise and a new hobby
- you will have some to spare because you are not smoking!
STEP TWO: (Four
Weeks) Quit Date arrives! NO MORE SMOKING!
1. Throw away, trash or burn
all cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters and anything associated with
smoking!
2. Remind everyone that you have
now officially stopped smoking.
3. Continue using Rx-Hale Tablets
and being taking Crave-Rx Drops three to six times daily to reduce
nicotine craving, control appetite and prevent the weight gain
often associated with quitting.
4. If you experience mood swings
or a "short fuse syndrome", suck Triple Complex NicoTonic
Tablets whenever needed to reduce restlessness, bad mood and
agitation.
5. Ask a friend or family member
to be your 'buddy' during the next few weeks, preferably one
who has also stopped smoking. He or she needs to be 'on call'
for emergency phone calls, walks, talks and visits for those
moments when craving becomes just too tough to manage alone.
If possible, email or phone this buddy every night before you
go to bed. Just a short message to say 'I made it today' does
wonders and holds you accountable to someone else besides yourself.
If you are tempted to smoke, read the list you have made of reasons
why you want to stop and promise yourself you will not have a
cigarette before first speaking to your buddy.
6. Continue with your exercise
program and hobby.
7. Instead of smoking, chew on
raw vegetables like carrots or chew sugarless chewing gum. If
your fingers are itching to hold a cigarette, play with a pencil,
some 'worry beads' or a cool smooth stone.
8. Take one day at a time! This
is important. Every morning tell yourself that your goal for
the day is to complete it without cigarettes.
9. Reward yourself at the end
of this month with a gift equal in value to the money that you
would have spent on cigarettes.
10. Go out and celebrate with
your 'buddy', friends and family. Making four weeks without cigarettes
is a BIG DEAL and means that you have beaten the physical addiction
to nicotine.
STEP THREE: Now
that you are a Non-Smoker, maintenance is essential!! Physical
addiction to most substances is 'cured' after 3 or 4 weeks. Now
you have to overcome the psychological addiction!
1. Continue with Rx-Hale Tablets
and Crave Rx Drops for at least 6 months. If you feel restless
or irritable, suck a Triple Complex NicoTonic Tablet to calm
yourself.
2. Don't let your exercise program
slip.
3. Be on guard all the time -
'only' one cigarette is one cigarette too many for any Quitter!
If anyone offers you a cigarette, say "No thanks - I don't
smoke!" and mean it!
4. Reward yourself at the end
of every month. Celebrate your Quitting Anniversary every month.
5. Whenever you feel stressed
or tense, practice deep breathing exercises or listen to some
soothing music.
6. Realize that the danger is
not past. Although the craving for cigarettes becomes weaker
and weaker as time goes by, ex-smokers report that the thought
of having a cigarette still pops into their minds years after
they have stopped. When that happens, visualize a big red STOP
sign and say 'NO'! As a nicotine addict, you can NEVER again
have a cigarette. Never give up giving up!
What if I have a cigarette?
Well, what if you don't?
But seriously, if you do "slip
up" and have a cigarette, don't say, "Oh No, I failed
- I'm a smoker again". Tell yourself "One cigarette
doesn't make a smoker - I am a Non-Smoker, who had ONE cigarette
and I am not going to have another one!" Put out the cigarette
as soon as you can, forgive yourself (just this once) and move
on as a non-smoker.
So, there you have it! You CAN
stop smoking. Using Rx-Hale
Tablets, Crave-Rx
Drops, Triple
Complex NicoTonic and the Native
Remedies Rx-Hale No-More-Smoking Program you can also enjoy
the health and beauty benefits of being NICOTINE FREE!
Keep smiling!
© 2009 Native Remedies
Barbara Ritchie is a Registered
Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Counselor with more than 15
years experience. She runs her own private practice, For more
information to Help
Yourself to Give Up Smoking visit http://www.ourFamilysHealth.com/naturalremedies/stop_smoking.html
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