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“I don’t think I can live without cigarettes. What can I do?”
It’s common for people to think they can’t function without smoking. And it’s also normal to be worried about or afraid of quitting. Many people view smoking as a central part of their lives—so quitting can seem overwhelming. Instead of trying to stop all at once, you might try to cut back on smoking over time as you get closer to your quit date.
Make a list of the reasons why you want to quit. Keep it handy for motivation. Do you want to be healthier? Save money? Keep your family safe? Focus on the ways that your life will be better when you are a non-smoker. Pick a quit day in the future, and work toward it. Get tips to manage your quit day.
“I have a lot of stress in my life right now. Shouldn’t I wait to quit when I’m not as stressed?”
There is no drug in cigarettes that magically gets rid of stress. Stress is something that you will have to deal with for the rest of your life. And in the long run, quitting smoking can reduce stress.
Talk to your health care provider about ways to manage stress. You can also try exercise or a meditation class to learn how to deal with stress. Learn ways to cope with your emotions without smoking.
“Well, my doctor didn’t say anything about my smoking, so…it can’t be that bad, right?”
Unfortunately, many physicians don’t address tobacco use for a variety of reasons. But don’t take that as their approval that you should continue to smoke. The scientific evidence is very clear: smoking is the leading cause of disease and death.
If your health care provider doesn’t bring up your smoking during your next visit, ask how quitting can improve your health and ask what they can do to help you quit.
