Quitting Smoking is Easier in a Group

If you want to quit smoking - and truly quit, not just have it as some passing fancy - you must hold yourself accountable not only to yourself but others as well. The nicotine beast, other smokers and your subconscious can all be very persuasive threats on the road to quitting so this is why I so firmly advocate a solid support group of at least two or three other people. Five is even better.

If you only have to answer to yourself when an overwhelming urge strikes, that's only one person the nicotine beast has to overcome, but if you have a group, that's a whole other story.

Being accountable to others in the group

Actually, it’s all about holding yourself accountable to others. If you have been off cigarettes for one week and then your mind comes up with some silly reason that you need a smoke. It will very cleverly convince all the dissenting voices trying to remind you of your resolve so that you become weak and break down before the urge and take a smoke.

However, if you had five loyal soldiers standing between the nicotine demon and you, it will be entirely different story.

The process

So, it is best to set up a small support group for yourself via email, telephone, or a support forum. If you can find people who have gone through similar experience, they can be very supportive and encouraging. Once you have a group, tell them your goal to quit smoking. Let them know that you need them at times when you are feeling weak in your resolve, but they should not to pester you about it. They should just be there when you need help and positive support.

But here's the thing. Let's say you are once again at the point of convincing yourself that you need a cigarette. Only this time instead of just coping with your own guilty conscience, you have to call these five people and say to them. "Hello, it's me. I just needed to call you and tell you that I have decided to start smoking again."

Once you have got it off your chest, you need not do anything more. You can sit back and listen to five voices reminding you of your resolve. Then, it is up to you to decide whether they are unfair and misguided and your deep down beliefs that you should quit are suddenly wrong. And, if you think that just that 'one' cigarette will do no harm to your determination, you are wrong. Because it’s never one; it’s invariably the first one that will get you.

The support system works because you have to fight six sane voices against the 'one'.

One last point, you must be well informed about the whole process before you try to quit smoking. The more you know about quitting, the more successful you will be.

Happy quitting,

Darren Warmuth

Article Source: http://mylilpeanut.com

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