Smokeout Post-Mortem
(PRWEB) November 19, 2000
Smoking Release Associates
The Stop Smoking Program for the Real World
P. O. Box 864 Del Mar, CA 92014
(760) 631-8222 FAX (760) 281-9323
Www. SmokingRelease. com ct@SmokingRelease. com
11/16/00
Press Release -- For Immediate Release
Suggested Publication Date: 11/17/00
The Day After The Smokeout: The Next Step for Those Who Quit Yesterday
As the smoke clears after yesterday's Smokeout, some who quit yesterday
Will feel increasingly positive about their lives today as they grit their
Teeth and remain smoke-free. A much larger percentage of yesterday's
Quitters will have lit up by their first coffee this morning. As an
Ex-smoker and as someone who has been researching smoking cessation products
And techniques for the last 20 years, I offer food for thought here to both
Groups.
I know that stopping smoking can be tough. It took me ten years after I
Decided I wanted to quit to let it go for the last time. I was one of those
Who was obsessed with both feeling I had to smoke and with wanting to quit.
More than once, I tore up cigarettes and threw them away, only to go and
Re-assemble one hours later so that I could get my fix. I later learned
That lots of smokers have done just the same thing.
Were you one of the thousands of Americans who quit smoking yesterday as
Part of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout? If so, and
If you're not puffing away already, let me offer my congratulations. You've
Accomplished something worthwhile. Now go out and get some real exercise
Today. Drink plenty of water. Put a smile on your face. Treat your loved
Ones and yourself with kindness. If it'll help to tote around a pillow to
Scream into, by all means, vent that way. It's a lot more productive than
Yelling at your kids for no reason.
And look at those cravings you'll get for a little while as symptoms of
Healing. That is really what they are. Also remember that there is no such
Thing as "just one". It didn't work with those potato chips and it doesn't
Work for ex-smokers.
One more thing: Recognize that its worth exchanging a little short-term
Discomfort a longer, happier, healthier life.
If you are one of those who quit and has started smoking again, the best
Thing you can do for yourself this morning is to pick yourself up, dust
Yourself off, and move on with your life. Recognize that you made an
Attempt. Know that that took some courage. Then ask yourself this
Question: "What did I learn that will help me get it right the next time?"
The simplest lesson may be this: If you have tried specific things in the
Past, and those things haven't worked, try something different. The main
Reason that only 8% of quitters manage a full year being smoke-free is that
They're usually just repeating the use all the antiquated methods and products that
They already know do not work. I did it, too, for years. And the power of
Will is, by itself, never enough.
If you're chronically depressed, get some help for that first, before you
Try quitting again. It's as simple as this: many smokers who want to quit
Are depressed. If the problem is chronic and they don't get help for it,
They will quickly relapse after any quit attempt.
If you haven't prepared to stop smoking, it is much tougher to make it
Last. My clients generally spend at least a month in making small changes
To their lifestyle habits before quitting. If you try to do too much too
Quickly, you'll end up not doing anything at all. The real cornerstone to
Quitting is learning how to trust yourself in areas that may not seem to
Have anything to do with smoking. One way to do that is making short daily
Lists of things you intend to do, then checking them off as you complete
Them. That's a great way of rebuilding your self-reputation.
Probably the most important factor for short-term success is learning how
To effectively handle stress and emotional turmoil. Building up the amount
Of time you devote to exercise and self-discovery are keys to long-term
Success. I recommend taking small steps in experimenting with stress
Management practices such as deep breathing, self-massage and enjoyable
Exercise. Of course, it's easier for most smokers to laugh at these kinds
Of ideas than it is to actually see for themselves if they can work. The
Ego always laughs at or derides anything that would require a lifestyle
Change or truly experimenting with your life. Ego wants everything to stay
Just like it is now.
If you've just stopped smoking or if you've just started again, have some
Compassion for yourself today when you ask this question: "What small thing
Can I do for myself today that will make my life better?" And then tell
Your ego to shut up.
*********************************************************************
Charles Tedesco is the founder of Smoking Release Associates in Del Mar,
California. You may write him at ct@SmokingRelease. com or visit the
Company web site at www. SmokingRelease. com
##################################### end
#################################
Note to the Media:
Tedesco is available for media interviews during Smokeout week and with
The approaching "resolution season" as the new year approaches. He may be
Reached at (760) 631-8222.
