Some people try to "cut back" for a while and some can do that. I tried it several times and within a few days I was back up to the same level of smoking. The truth is, for most of us, it is best to quit "cold turkey", that is, just put them down and walk away from them. There are aids available to help you through it. Use them! They really help.

Nicotine has got ahold of you now and it isn't going to let go without a fight. The most common withdrawl symptoms include food cravings, "the jitters or shakes", anxiety, short temper and insomnia. These are short-lived but can be intense. Usually the first few days (3-5) are the worst. After that, the physical symptoms begin to disappear. As I mentioned earlier, there are aids available to help minimize them.

First, remember that the available aids to quitting are not the complete answer. You still have to WANT to quit. Once the nicotine is gone from your body, the physical addiction is broken!!!! There may be times later when you want to smoke. That craving is TOTALLY mental, so just change the subject in your mind. This is a complete lifestyle change and it will probably mean making other changes, at least temporarily. That said, here are some hints:

BEFORE QUITTING:

• Enlist God's help. He can give you strength beyond your own resources! I wasn't successful until God helped me.
  
• Get a support group - ANTI-smokers. Let them know you are quitting. Believe me, they'll help!
  
• Set a target date a few weeks in advance.
  
• Move ALL your smoking outdoors, especially at home and in your car. The smoke smell takes a while to go away, especially in the car. It may involve cleaning carpets, upholstery, etc. Don't allow anyone to smoke in your home or car. Most people understand.
  
• Start buying your cigarettes by the pack instead of by the carton. This is a VERY important mental step.
  
• Tell everybody that you are quitting. You may be less tempted to cheat if you know people are watching you.
  
• Begin to think about the positive things that will result: you'll feel, taste, smell and sleep better. You also won't be a slave to your nicotine fits anymore. And you'll also have more money available.
  
• Develop an "attitude" towards smoking. Say things to yourself like "These &^!? things are running my life!". Get mad at them.
  
• Purchase the aids available such as the patch, nicotine gum or a prescription from your physician. In my opinion, the generic patches work just as well as the name brand and cost a lot less. But you now have a monetary stake in this.

• If you are using the patch, you must NOT SMOKE EVEN ONE CIGARETTE within hours of having a patch on! You can literally get nicotine toxicity and die!!!!! NOT EVEN ONE!
  
• Get rid of all cigarettes, pipes, cigars, tobacco and the ash trays!
  
• Try to stay busy. It will keep your mind off smoking.
  
• Using the stop-smoking aids available today is the surest way to success. It takes time for your body to stop craving a certain amount of nicotine. Once you've stopped all nicotine, your body will rid itself of the rest of the nicotine within a week.
  
• Avoid situations where you used to smoke, such as bars, parties, etc., at least for a while after you quit. Go places where you can't smoke instead.
  
• Sit in the non-smoking section where available. After all, you ARE now a non-smoker!
  
• Don't let stressful situations make you smoke - that's just an excuse. You'll be stressed at times for the rest of your life, and you need to learn to handle stress without smoking.
  
• Take up a light form of exercise. When a craving strikes, take a brisk 5-minute walk. It will help calm the craving.
  
• Carefully monitor your eating habits. Don't substitute high-calorie foods for cigarettes.
  
• Like an alcoholic, you are "recovering". ONE cigarette is all it will take to get you started again. You are "One puff away from a pack a day" and will be so for the rest of your life.
  
• You will probably want a cigarette on occasion from now on. People who quit 20 years ago report wanting one occasionally. It's purely a mental thing and will disappear within a few minutes.
  
• Reward yourself somehow. You deserve it!
  
• Don't forget to thank God for helping you quit! Ask His help in REMAINING a non-smoker.