Managing Stress When Quitting Smoking

A few words about smoking, quitting, and stress.

Many people feel that smoking helps with stress.  But smoking actually puts stress on the body.  Nicotine in cigarettes is a stimulant that makes the heart work harder, and smoking cuts down oxygen in the body.  Quitting smoking can also cause stress, at least for the first few weeks.  

Stress of any kind can be a big trigger, so it's important to know how to handle it. 

What can you do to manage stress?

• Get plenty of sleep.
• Do something you enjoy every day.
• Set wise goals.
• Don't put things off.
• Ask for help.
• Don't take on more tasks than you can handle.
• Enjoy the small pleasures in life, like a nice sunset.
• Avoid long lines, heavy traffic, and other stressful situations.
• Choose to be around supportive people.
• Take time to laugh.
• Eat well and drink lots of water.
• Talk with others about your problems-don't keep your feelings bottled up.
• Close your eyes and do some deep breathing.
• Keep a journal.
• Get some physical activity every day.
• Take a long bath or shower. 

You may not be able to control all the stress in your life. But you can control how you deal with it.