Inescapable Truth #6 “Breathe, Dammit”

Breathe

Of all the tricks I proffer to help people quit smoking… this is the one that most people have the hardest time with.

Not surprisingly… it’s the one I feel is absolutely critical to the process of quitting.

You must begin to BREATHE.

When the shortness of breath (which is a nice little gift courtesy of the damage smoking has done to your lungs and the withdrawal symptoms) strikes you, or the need for a hit off of a smoke is beginning to overwhelm you. BREATHE.

Take 3 or 4, long… hard… strong… DEEEEEP breaths. So deep that it hurts a little bit.

In through the mouth.

Out through the nose.

Deep. Until you can really feel it.

Hard.

This serves several purposes:

1. It helps detoxify your body. By deep breathing you cleanse the blood of the nicotine and the other chemicals that are causing many of your withdrawal symptoms. This is very important.

2. By cleansing the bloodstream you shorten the withdrawal period. Significantly.

3. It aids you psychologically with the oral aspects of the withdrawal.

And besides all that… it just plains helps you feel better.

Take my word for this.