Quitting Smoking | Video

Kristin Clouston | 1/3/2013

We all deal with stress differently, some people smoke to cope with it. Kicking the habit is a very common New Year`s resolution. Pat McGeary is a nurse and a Mayo Clinic certified tobacco treatment specialist. She doesn`t preach about all the bad things smoking can do; people have already heard it. Instead, she looks for ways to help them.

There`s one reason quitting smoking is so hard.

"It`s more addicting than alcohol or cocaine. It has reinforcers in the brain that trigger and bring back memories of smoking with lighting up and so forth. It`s a very addictive substance. There`s no drug on this planet that`s as addictive as nicotine," McGeary said.

She says one of the most helpful steps to quitting is drinking water. "That first day of quitting because now your body is going back to the state it was born in. You were smoke free when you were born and drinking water helps that body heal. You`ve got a lot of toxins you need to wash out."

Being aware of smoking triggers can also help. "Is it driving to work? Stopping at a certain stop light that you usually light on the way. What are some of the other situations? What are you going to do at those times?"

There`s all kinds of help available, and those working on quitting know what has and hasn`t worked in the past. "If that smoker has made it 30 days without smoking in the past, something clicked. Something was done right. So go back to that plan and study it.

Don`t forget to celebrate your success. Counselors say to take the money you save and buy yourself a little something for making it through the day smoke free.

You can get a lot of help either online by logging on to www.nd.quitnet.com or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Nationally, programs with a 20 percent success rate after six months are considered to be doing well. North Dakota has a 33 percent quit rate. The website also puts people in touch with others trying to quit, so they can support each other.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO BISMARCK STORIES