Let the 4 Ds helpyou quit smoking.

[jillygirl]

If you are reading this, chances are you are thinking about quitting smoking, or you’d like to find ways to help a loved one quit. And if so, congratulations on taking this first step!

Quitting smoking is a journey, not an event. It can take time and require lots of support from family, friends or your healthcare provider.

Smoking is known to have negative effects on your health. But, rather than scare us with the dim facts, here’s a little positive motivation from the Heart and Stroke Foundation:

• Within one year of quitting smoking, your added risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half than that of a smoker.

• Within five years, your risk of having a stroke will be nearly the same as a non-smoker.

• Within 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half.

• Within 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease will be similar to that of a non-smoker.

Almost immediately after quitting, your body sees positive changes.

So, again with help from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, here are some tips to help you become smoke-free:

What’s your trigger?

Now that you are thinking about quitting, try to notice when in your day you smoke. Is it after your turn on the coffee pot? When you are waiting for the bus? When you are stuck in traffic? Or after that daily meeting with your boss? Figuring out what your triggers are is an important step on this journey.

The 4Ds of quitting

Delay.

Distract.

Drink Water.

Deep breathe.

It’s your morning break and you feel the need to smoke. What can you do?

Delay: Stop and ask yourself if you really need this cigarette, or if you can wait and do something else.

Distract yourself: Keep your hands and mouth busy. The Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends having a drink of water, brushing your teeth, reaching for some carrot or celery sticks, taking a walk, calling a friend.

Deep breathe: Take a few deep cleansing breaths. You can do this.

Drink water: As mentioned above, drinking water is a distraction and a delay tactic (plus, drinking water is good for us)

Set a quit date

Are you ready to start your quitting journey? Set a date. Write it down, and tell a family member or friend so that you feel accountable.

Set up smoke-free zones

Cutting down on the times you can smoke will make it more difficult to do so, and reduce the number of cigarettes you have in a day. Make your home and your car smoke-free zones.

It takes a village

Becoming smoke-free can be difficult, so please ask for help and support from family, friends, your healthcare provider or online community. As a family member, be supportive of your loved one’s quit-date and timing for this journey. If you smoke, respect their smoke-free zones.

youtu.be/z16vhtjWKL0(Not working as expected?)

[Yvonneh1234 Administrator Rockerbilly quitter]

great advice jillygirl 😊💃🎶🕺🏻xxxxx

[monky Administrator 45 Months Cake sniffer outer in reply to Yvonneh1234]

I second that 👏👏👍😀😺xx

[LifeIsACabaret 25 Months Winner]

I found Dr. Evans' thought-provoking and quirky video both thoroughly engrossing, packed full of easily understood advice that might not be immediately obvious otherwise. A rewarding watch. Thanks, jillygirl!

I'm drawn to anything that helps me understand how nicotine addiction works. I suppose it's because that is a way to understand me a little better. Strange thing, that - it reminds me of that Joni Mitchell song Both Sides Now, where she ends by deciding she recalls only life's illusions, she really doesn't know life at all. I'm with you, Joni!🤷‍♂️