Smokers need motivation to kick the habit
By Terry Rindfleisch of the Tribune staff
People who quit smoking are on the path to a healthier life.
But they must continue to reaffirm their reasons for quitting, and breaking that bad habit still takes some conscious effort and practice, said Susan Lundsten, Gundersen Lutheran wellness education specialist who facilitates the medical center's Journey to Freedom nicotine cessation clinic.
“After quitting, people need to look back at why they are not smoking, and think about their health, their grandchildren and why they are better off,” Lundsten said. “They need to reaffirm.
“There is a sense of well-being, and they breathe better, sense of smell increases and food tastes better,” she said. “Those are things to think about and focus on.”
Doris Doherty, a Franciscan Skemp Healthcare smoking cessation specialist who provides one-on-one counseling, said people who have quit smoking will continue to be tempted, but they need to learn how not to give in to the urge to smoke again.
“Remind yourself you are a nonsmoker and look at your urges and ask where you were when you had the urge, what were you doing and what were you thinking,” Doherty said. “You have to take the responsibility to reaffirm your decision not to smoke, and you have to do the work.”
When people stop smoking, the stress is still there creating a need for new ways of coping when you feel lonely, tired or angry, said Alicia Elsing, co-coordinator of the Mayo Nicotine Research Program at Franciscan Skemp.
“It’s important to recognize stress and have a plan for coping witth it,” Elsing said. “Take a brief walk or do something else positive when you feel stress.”
Break your tobacco habit patterns by avoiding high-risk situations and refocusing your attention on something pleasant, she said.
Delay making the move to smoke and realize most cravings will go away in a few minutes, Elsing said.
“You need to look for new ways of coping with stress, and smoking is no longer the answer,” Elsing said. “Relaxation techniques, exercise, eating healthy and getting enough sleep can help.”
Stress is the reason Chuck Deeth started smoking 40 years ago. Oddly enough, Deeth said his doctor recommended smoking a pipe 40 years ago to cope with stress.
“I don’t think that was so unusual back then,” Deeth said. “My dad was a heavy cigarette smoker, and doctors put him on a pipe to try to help him quit. He died after a second heart attack.”
Deeth, former basketball coach and athletic director at Onalaska High School, stopped smoking his pipe following a heart attack. He quit cold turkey after having angioplasty and a stent.
“I didn’t have it bad like cigarette smokers,” Deeth said. “I never felt I had a nicotine addiction, but more of a bad habit. Still, I tried to quit for a long time.
“I always had a pipe in my mouth and I tried to cut down to two to trhee pipes a day,” he said. “Smoking a pipe was a stress reducer. It was very relaxing to have a pipe, but looking back I can’t say it tasted that great.”
He said he was motivated to quit for his health. He said he feels better and exercises three times a week in the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“I can’t say I miss smoking, maybe when I’m out of my boat fishing,” Deeth said. “I was lucky I started on a pipe and never smoked cigarettes.
Deeth said it would be more difficult to quit smoking cigarettes, but the motivation should be the same -- for your health, your family and yourself.”
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
|
