Did you know most people try to quit smoking at least 5 times before they are successful? If you’ve struggled to stop smoking in the past, we want you to know that you are not alone. Most people don’t realize how addictive smoking is when they start, but your Douglas County Health Department is ready to provide you with support and resources on your journey to living a tobacco-free life!
Just remember, that even if you try to stop smoking and don’t succeed the first time, you are building resilience and learning more about your habits. Every attempt gives us tools we can use to next time.
We can help you identify your motivators. The first step is to be clear about the reasons you want to quit. During the process of quitting, there will be many times when temptation is strong. Being able to think of the reasons why you want to quit can often be enough to get you through a critical ten minutes without having a cigarette.
Here are some of the most common reasons why people want to quit smoking:
Smoking puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems. This includes immediate difficulties like racing heart, shortness of breath, coughing, low energy, and other effects of smoking that make you feel bad. In addition, smoking puts you at elevated risk of heart attack, stroke, and numerous types of cancer.
When you are facing a craving, you can think of feeling better and having more days to enjoy your good health.
Cigarettes are expensive. The minimum cost of a pack of cigarettes in Colorado is $7. That means that a pack-a-day habit costs you over $2,500 a year. That’s a lot of money, and it doesn’t even include the 50% higher rates of health insurance you can be charged, and the actual healthcare costs you will pay out of pocket, which can be up to 40% more than nonsmokers.
When you are facing a craving, you can think of ways you will spend the money you are saving.
Smoking isn’t just a health risk for you, it can have a significant impact on the people who are around you. They will suffer similar health risks to you just because of the impact of secondhand smoke. If you have a child, they are more likely to get colds and ear infections. Children born to mothers who smoke have increased risk of poor health at birth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
When craving hits, imagine the people you love and how you are doing this for them.
Smoking chains you to particular times and places. When you need to get a cigarette, you will have to stop whatever you are doing and go to a place where smoking is permitted so that you can have that smoke. Quitting smoking can make life more enjoyable in many ways. Your sense of smell and taste will improve, making food and life more enjoyable.
When you are struggling with a craving, think of being free of smoking’s demands once and for all.
