Quitting smoking tobacco is notoriously difficult, but it’s also one of the best ways to protect and improve your health. It’s important to have a strategy in place before you start to improve your chances of success. Luckily, there a many steps you can take to make the process easier, including working with your primary care physician. Get started with the guide below.

How to Give Up Cigarettes

1. Get Support

Social support is key for coping with stresses that trigger the urge to smoke. Identify family and friends who are supportive of your efforts and talk to them about your plan. Consider seeking counseling or joining a support group, as well.

Talking to others about quitting can provide outside encouragement, accountability for your choices, and an opportunity to vent when the process is hard.

2. Find Substitutes

Smoking does several things for you mentally. It satisfies an urge or craving, soothes stress, and fills up time. Finding other ways to achieve these goals will means you will have fewer reasons to return to smoking.

Choose a hobby that you can work on every time you feel the urge to smoke, like knitting, mobile games, or taking walks. Exercise is an especially effective choice because it helps you feel better physically and relieves stress. Build relaxing activities into your routine, such as reading, soaking in the bath, gardening, or listening to music.

3. Ask Your Primary Care Physician About Medication

The right health services can make it much easier to quit smoking. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help you quit in addition to recommending lifestyle changes.

Nicotine replacement therapy options include chewing gums, patches, and medications that help suppress cravings. Your doctor may also suggest medication to deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms like depression.

For advice and assistance to help you quit smoking, visit Patient Choice Medical Care in Hamden, CT. This medical center offers a range of health services to patients throughout New Haven County, CT. These primary care physicians pride themselves on forming lasting relationships with each patient by providing personalized, compassionate care that takes their concerns into account. To make an appointment, call (203) 535-0262 or reach out online.