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You
must first have a strong reason to give up smoking
T
here are a few basic
steps one needs to follow to quit smoking. Firstly, there should be
a strong reason to quit. It could be a personal one, like your family
wanting you to give up or health reasons or even restriction on smoking
at the workplace or a ban on smoking in public places. All these could
add up and make you want to quit. Once the decision has been taken,
one needs to fix a date, be it a day or week later. After doing
that, one should inform near and
dear ones about the date you have decided to quit. This is to
garner positive support. After this, one needs to find the time when
one has the maximum urge to smoke. Some people like to smoke in the
morning, some after lunch or tea. The time has to be identified. Once
that is done, one has to come up with activities that will help one
stay away from the urge to smoke. For example, a person.can drink a
glass of water, or wash his face, go for a walk or chat with friends.
Any activity that will distract one from smoking should be done at that
time.
What
one needs to keep in mind is that this is not an easy task. The first
couple of days will be difficult, but it is a temporary phase which
will soon go away The first two weeks will be the hardest.
The
main thing is not to give in to temptation. Thus, one has to be extremely
careful for the first three months, so that the next six months are
easy. Once one crosses this stage, it is easy to overcome temptation.
Smoking
is harmful not only for the smoker, but also for those around. In a
room in which a person has smoked, the pollution level goes up to 300
parts per million, which is much higher than the pollution level of
a garbage bin in Mumbai (150 ppm). The permissible limit for humans
isjust 50 ppm.
—D'r
Prakash Gupta,
DIRECTOR,
HEALIS SEKHSARIA INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
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Do
your body a favour.
QUIT
SMOK
India
is afflicted with a tobacco epidemic and this will be the cause of around
a million
deaths
a year in the 2010s, according to a study. However, it is possible to
kick the . butt, say experts
and people who successfully quit smoking. Speak Up.finds out
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The
ban has benefited non-smokers the most
S
moking affects not only
you, but even those around you. The ban that came into force in October
last year made life easier for non-smokers. However, not many people
will quit smoking just because it is banned in public places. The consumption
has reduced to a certain extent because people have to take an extra
effort to move out of offices and smoke. Smokers need to understand
the damage the cigarette is causing, only then would they feel
like quitting. Obviously, if there are only few places for people to
smoke in, the change will automatically take place. The Work Place Tobacco
Association is a good initiative to stop tobacco consumption in offices.
If there are more such programmes, it will make a big difference in
the corporate world.
—Dr
Ashish Mishra,
HEALTH
DIRECTOR, DOW CHEMICALS, INDIA
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Only your willpower can help you quit
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I realised I did not want to die early
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Smoking affected my professional life too
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The doctor explained its hazards
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I
quit smoking two months ago. I had tried I to stop before, but was unsuccessful.
I was a chain smoker and all my friends and relatives tried very hard
to persuade me to kick the habit. It was only when I realised that this
addiction was eating me from inside that I could find the determination
to quit. It was becoming a hurdle in my path to success. Quitting required
immense resistance and
willpower.
However, I am happy that I was able to get rid of it.
This
decision of mine has given a positive direction to my life.
My
message to every smoker is that it is only your willpower
that
can help you quit.
—Vansh
Agarwal, bbm student
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I
started smoking, as it was a part of our culture in college. It was considered a stress-buster and those who did not smoke were seen as oddballs. Since I stayed in the hostel, there was no one to see what I was up to. I was scared when I had to return home. The habit was difficult to shake off and I couldn't resist even when I was home. When my parents scolded me, I shot back saying that my brother also smoked, so why the discrimination? Everyone tried to make me understand, but the habit was embedded deeply in my system. I started facing health problems and slowly, the realisation that this was harming my body made me quit. I have not touched a cigarette for the last six months. Quitting is tough, but I did not want to die early I had to do it to get my life back.
—Rlichi M, GRAPHIC DESIGNER
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I
am a boxer and because
of my smoking habit, my stamina had really gone down. My coach kept
telling me to quit, but I did not listen. So, he refused to coach me
further. I was disturbed when
that happened. I had fought with my family to become a boxer,
but my coach had bailed out. And all this only because of my addiction.
I made the best decision of my life when I decided to quit. It was
tough, but my aim of becoming a boxer was more important than anything
else. Now, I have kept away from cigarettes. I have started my training
all over again and more importantly, my coach is happy with me.
—Mangesh
Bhosale, boxer
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I
t was a few years since
I started smoking. I was careless about my health and habits and I started
falling ill frequently My parents did not know I used to smoke. When
we visited my family doctor, he asked me whether I smoked. There was
no point in lying to him. He asked me to reduce smoking and also explained
how my body had weakened. He told me that I was vulnerable to tuberculosis
and this really scared me. That was when I started thinking about my
family I knew my family needed my support, so I decided to stop smoking.
My family has been a great support and helped me in dealing with this.
It has been almost a year since I quit. Bhushan
Motkar, sales
executive, icici
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It started as a social activity for me
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One puff can crumble your resolve
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I knew it was bad, but I was addicted
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I felt bad when I lied to my mother
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S
moking started as a social activity for me, which later became an addiction. I did not smoke till I started working. In office, you are forced to do certain things just to be a part of discussions and the decision-making process. The smoking break was when my colleagues would discuss work and I had to join them. Initially, I used to just accompany them. Slowly, I started smoking and did not realise when it became a habit. My parents were shocked when they found out, as no one in " my family smokes. I tried explaining to them that this is how the corporate world works. I did not feel guilty giving this lame reason. It was only after I got married and my wife made me realise what I was doing..I couldo stop smoking because of her resolve and understanding. Smoking is hazardous and quitting is possible, only if you really want to.
■—Mehul Sharma, software professional
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R
esearch says that smoking
is the most addictive habit; even more than heroin or cocaine. This
is because cigarettes are easily available and comparatively cheap.
I had quit smoking and controlled the urge for five years. The next
time I tried to stop, I could do so for two years. This is the third
time I have given up smoking and it's been three years now. The worst
part about smoking is that one puff can crumble your resolve. You can
feel like getting back to it when you see someone else smoking or if
you are depressed. I have finally overcome the habit and cannot be lured
to fall into the trap again. It is sad to see so many people, including
women and young girls getting addicted to it.
—N
Chandramouli, ceo, bluelotus
group
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I
am a travel agent and
spend a lot of time outside home. With many of my colleagues smoking,
I fell into the trap very easily It was a bad habit and I knew it, but
I had become an addict. When my father saw me smoking, I was filled
with guilt. I did not go home for two days. My father called me and
I apologised to him. I also promised that I would quit smoking. It was
difficult to do so with the kind of people I worked with. So I changed
my shift and moved out of that group. However, they are still my friends.
It has been a month that I have managed to keep away Earlier, I used
to get tempted and gave in by smoking a few puffs, but now whenever
I feel that urge, I remember the promise I have made to my father.
—Vicky Shikotre, travel
agent
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I
t started as a macho activity with my peers in college. Showing off and trying to be a part of the group mattered the most in college. I was not a chain smoker, but used to smoke quite often with my friends. It was fun in the beginning, but once my mother found out and questioned me. I told her I smelled of smoke because my friends were smoking. I felt really bad that I had lied to her, so I decided to quit.
Since I was not a chain smoker, it was not difficult for me to stop smoking. The biggest hurdle for me was when I would go out with my friends. It is difficult to control the urge when those around you are smoking. I decided not to go out with them frequently My friends were also very understanding and never forced or tempted me to take it up again. It's been six months since I have touched a cigarette.
—Akash Desai, mba student
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