Prepare to Quit : Explore Your Quit Smoking Options

#Cravings #HealthNews #Nicotine #NicotineWithdrawal #QuitSmoking #Smokefree

Quitting is hard. But quitting can be a bit easier if you have a plan. When you think you’re ready to quit, here are a few simple steps you can take to put your plan into action.

Know Why You’re Quitting

Before you actually quit, it’s important to know why you’re doing it.
Do you want to be healthier?
Save money? Keep your family safe? If you’re not sure, ask yourself these questions:
What do I dislike about smoking?
What do I miss out on when I smoke?
How is smoking affecting my health?
What will happen to me and my family if I keep smoking?
How will my life get better when I quit?

Still not sure? Different people have different reasons for quitting smoking.

Learn How to Handle Your Triggers and Cravings
Triggers are specific persons, places, or activities that make you feel like smoking.
Knowing your smoking triggerscan help you learn to deal with them.

Cravings are short but intense urges to smoke. They usually only last a few minutes.
Plan ahead and come up with a list of short activities you can do when you get a craving.
Find Ways to Handle Nicotine Withdrawal. During the first few weeks after you quit, you may feel uncomfortable and crave a cigarette. This is because of withdrawal. During withdrawal, your body is getting used to not having nicotine from cigarettes. For most people, the worst symptoms of withdrawal last a few days to a few weeks.

During this time, you may: Feel a little depressed Be unable to sleep Become cranky, frustrated, or mad Feel anxious, nervous, or restless Have trouble thinking clearly
You may be tempted to smoke to relieve these feelings.
Just remember that they are temporary, no matter how powerful they feel at the time.

Fact:
The worst withdrawal symptoms only last a few days to a couple of weeks. Stay strong

One of the best ways to deal with nicotine withdrawal is to try nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT can reduce withdrawal symptoms. And NRT can double your chances of quitting smoking for good. NRT comes in several different forms, including gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler, and lozenge. Many are available without a prescription.

A lot of research has been done on NRT. It has been shown to be safe and effective for almost all smokers who want to quit, including teens. But if you have a severe medical condition or are pregnant, talk to your doctor about using NRT.

If you plan to use NRT, remember to have it available on your quit day. Read the instructions on the NRT package and follow them carefully. NRT will give you the most benefit if you use it as recommended.

Explore Your Quit Smoking Options
It is difficult to quit smoking on your own, but quitting “cold turkey” is not your only choice. In fact, choosing another option may improve your chances of success.

Check out:

SmokefreeTXT text message program
QuitGuide app and quitSTART app
Quitlines like 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).
Find a quit method that might be right for you.

Tell Your Family and Friends You Plan to Quit

Quitting smoking is easier when the people in your life support you. Let them know you are planning to quit and explain how they can help. Here are a few tips:

Tell your family and friends your reasons for quitting.
Ask them to check in with you to see how things are going.
Ask them to help you think of smokefree activities you can do together (like going to the movies or a nice restaurant).
Ask a friend or family member who smokes to quit with you, or at least not smoke around you.
Ask your friends and family not to give you a cigarette—no matter what you say or do.
Alert your friends and family that you may be in a bad mood while quitting. Ask them to be patient and help you through it.
Support is one of the keys to successfully quitting. Find more ways to get support to help you quit.
Make a Quit Plan
Having a plan can make quitting easier. Create your personalized plan to help you stay focused, confident, and motivated to quit.

Bell Hooks - To Truly Love

#BellHooks #Love #Respect #trust #Communication #Triple5LightTherapy #BlackTherapist #Therapy

Grindr turns 10: How a decade with GPS 'dating' apps changed us all

#Grindr #JoelSimkhai #LGBTQ #App What Uber did for cars, so Grindr did for hooking up. A decade after its release, NBC Out reflects on the impact Grindr has had on the gay and bi community. On the day he launched Grindr — exactly 10 years ago this Monday — founder Joel Simkhai said the only phone call he received was from the competitor, Manhunt, with a buyout offer of “$20,000 or $35,000.” Simkhai declined. But after actor and comedian Stephen Fry demoed Grindr live on the British TV show “Top Gear” a few months later in June 2009, everything changed. Simkhai said there were 10,000 downloads overnight and it “felt like every gay man knew about it.” “It’s basically a gay cruising application,” Fry told “Top Gear” host James May. “Get this, when you load it,” Fry said, “up appear all kinds of faces and pictures. And what’s so amusing is, you press them and it goes like, ‘Hi, I’m Mike,’ and it tells you how close they are — it says 20 yards away.” Now, a...

Kanye West Proves He Might Be the Most Narcissistic Rapper in the Industry

#KanyeWest #Narcissism #KimKardashian #Religion Kanye West was once thought of as a musical visionary. While some believe he is still a genius, these days, West supporters are becoming few and far between. West’s new journey as a religious leader has earned a lot of criticism, from those who believe that he is not qualified to speak for the religious community. Of course, there is also the issue of West’s undeniable narcissism. Keep reading to learn how West could possibly be the most narcissistic artist in the music business and why people could soon stop paying attention to him. Kanye West has a history of narcissism Kanye West | Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic West rose to fame in the early 2000s, with his breakout album The College Dropout . West’s catchy rhymes and innovative rap beats endeared him to the musical community and it definitely seemed as though he had a bright future ahead of him. West has pioneered the way for ...

"Love is a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust". Bell Hooks

#AfricanAmerican #BellHooks #Love #Respect #WhereWeStand #ClassMatters "Love is a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust". Bell Hooks A writer, teacher and cultural critic, bell hooks is best known for her work examining systems of domination, especially racism and patriarchy, and how they may be overcome. She has published more than twenty books, including Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black; Killing Rage: Ending Racism , and Where We Stand: Class Matters . hooks says that uncovering and naming the forms of oppression in our society is an extension of her lifelong curiosity about love and her desire to see love manifested. “Perhaps the most common false assumption about love is that it means we will not be challenged or changed,” she once wrote in the Buddhist magazine Shambhala Sun . “When I write provocative social and cultural criticism that causes readers to stretch the...

Triple5Light Therapy

Search This Blog