Anxiety Relief Tips & Strategies

Anxious, stressed people smoke. I know, because I was one of those people who immediately reached for a cigarette when I was feeling tense about something.

If you are a smoker or you know someone who is, please read on. Don’t worry. It isn’t a lecture.

Of course, you all know how dangerous smoking is to your health, and the health of anyone around you.

That’s why I’m writing on this topic today. I know what it’s like to be a smoker, and I know what it’s like to want to quit but keep failing. Heck, I must have tried 10 times or more before I finally succeeded.

I also know how great it feels to be a reformed smoker. You (or your smoker friends, relatives) can feel this good, too.

I have more energy, my lungs are clear, I’m not winded when I exercise, I don’t have coughing fits in the morning or through the day, my mind is more alert, I’m more able to concentrate, and the stress of smoking is gone.

Perhaps equally as important, I’m saving a ton of money by not smoking. This pleases me a great deal. A pack of cigarettes was only 26 cents when I first started. They were 95 cents when I quit back in 1975. What are they today? $5 - $6? More? I can’t imagine wasting that much money on cigarettes today.

I often envision setting a flame to a $10 bill when I see people lighting up. What a waste! I mean, it’s not like you get any nourishment from it. At least with wine (which is bad in excess), you absorb a chemical that cleans your veins. Cigarettes dump only bad chemicals into your bloodstream and your entire body.

When I was a smoker struggling with my anxiety and panic attacks, the odd thing was that smoking made me even more anxious. That’s because I was so worried about what this horrible habit was doing to me healthwise. It got so bad that whenever I lit up, I’d get anxious. I’d sense every twinge of pain and immediately think “this is it”. Each drag and every twinge was a constant reminder of the damage I was probably causing to my lungs.

This was good, because the fear and anxiety triggered by smoking enabled me to eventually quit after years of trying, and after 15 years of smoking 1-1/2 packs a day.

As it turned out, quitting smoking and overcoming my anxiety attacks involved the same technique – changing my mindset. I just decided one day I didn’t want these things in my life anymore. I wanted more than anything to stop being afraid. Cigarettes were just adding to my existing fear. I was ready to quit smoking and just knew I could do it.

Now that I know how much better it feels to be a non-smoker and how dangerous cigarettes are, I really want to help you to quit smoking.

Yesterday, I published an article on Quitting Smoking The Easy Way – Think It’s Impossible? You can view it at http://ezinearticles.com/?id=449189 . When you’re done there, you can read my review of a great program at http://www.book-titles.ca/StopSmoking.htm . It is guaranteed to work for anyone who is serious about quitting.

This program is like no other. It isn’t just another e-book. It is a complete program that was developed by a 2-pack-a-day smoker who quit after 30+ years. He conducted considerable research, interviewing members of the medical profession and hired professional consultants while putting together this program.

There’s actually an added benefit. It comes with some of the best relaxation audios I’ve heard, even if they do focus mainly on not smoking!

I strongly urge you to check it out. Please don’t wait until it’s too late. You can become an ex-smoker like me. You can reverse any damage you’ve already caused. And you most certainly will feel much better about yourself.

Today, I repeatedly get a clean bill of health from my doctor, and I want you to get the same great reports from your physician for many years to come.

Best of success in your recovery.

Sylvia

P.S.: If you are a non-smoker and this doesn’t apply to you directly, please pass these links on to anyone you know who smokes. They will thank you.