Staying Smoke Free
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Staying Smoke Free
Ruth Bosworth (Director of Services, QUIT) gives expert video advice on: How can exercise help?; What else can I do to avoid relapsing? and more...
Why do people start smoking again?
Smoking is a highly addictive activity. The nicotine in cigarettes is more addictive than heroin or cocaine and it's very difficult to quit smoking and be smoke free. Those smokers who have successfully become smoke-free and stopped smoking sometimes will experience moments where quite unexpectedly they will actually have a craving and they will want to start smoking again. This has much more to do with the behavioral aspect of smoking. So it's really important when you quit smoking and become smoke free that you receive support for the nicotine addiction and also to find strategies to actually become smoke-free.
What are triggers?
Every person who smokes, who is trying to quit and become smoke free is going to have a different trigger where they are going to want to have a cigarette. For some smokers, the trigger will be the cigarette they have first thing in the morning with a cup of tea. For others, the trigger will be the cigarette that they have when they finish work before they relax into the evening. It is important when you are actually trying to quit and become smoke free that you identify where these difficult moments in the day are and where these triggers are because you need to find the structure, technique and strategies to actually overcome those cigarettes and become smoke free.
How can exercise help?
Exercise can help people become smoke free. QUIT has developed an exercise program especially designed for smokers undergoing a quit attempt because light exercise can actually help diminish a quit attempt, but it is also a really good way of overcoming a craving. Rather than sitting down and having a cigarette, you should going for a quick walk to keep smoke free. It's also a way of engaging the whole family in a quit attempt, as you can all go for a swim, have a family day out or just walk around the block when you are actually trying to overcome a craving and remain smoke free. It is all really useful exercise and it will help you in your quit attempt to become smoke free.