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Quit
Smoking Cold Turkey
By Fred H. Kelley
One of the most popular and well-known ways smokers choose
to quit smoking is what is known as "cold turkey."
The phrase cold turkey is universally understood to mean to
quit smoking abruptly, often without forethought or
preparation, nor a gradual reduction in amount smoked. Most
people also assume cold turkey means to quit smoking without
using any smoking
cessation aids such as nicotine gum or patches.
The origins of the phrase cold turkey are not completely
clear but some quick searches online reveal several
explanations.
One site states, "The state addicts are in when
withdrawing from drug addition, especially heroin. Origin: In
the state of drug withdrawal the addicts blood is directed to
the internal organs leaving the skin white and with goose
bumps and thus resembling a turkey." (http://www.idiomsite.com/coldturkey.htm)
Another site explains, "This phrase meaning
"without preparation" dates to 1910. The use in
relation to withdrawal from an addictive substance (originally
heroin) dates to around 1922. The derivation is from the idea
that cold turkey is a food that requires little preparation in
the kitchen. So to quit like cold turkey is to do so suddenly
and without preparation. It is also boosted by the image of
the pallid flesh of a cold, dead, plucked turkey. In the state
of drug withdrawal the addicts blood is directed to the
internal organs leaving the skin white and with goose bumps
and thus resembling a turkey." (http://www.allexperts.com/previousqv.asp?QuestionID=2633904)
Yet another site says, "'Cold turkey' is actually
based on another colloquial phrase, "to talk turkey"
(sometimes "to talk cold turkey"), meaning to face
unpleasant truths squarely. It's not entirely clear how
turkeys came to be associated with honesty and straightforward
confrontation of difficulties, but it may simply be that
turkey farmers were renowned at one time for their lack of
pretense and blunt speech." (http://www.word-detective.com/back-p.html)
Whatever the actual origin, quitting smoking cold turkey is
probably the most popular, while not necessarily the most
successful, method for quitting. It may also be the most
challenging due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms the new
ex-smoker faces.
You can improve your chances for permanently quitting with
the cold turkey method if you follow a few guidelines:
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Understand that withdrawal symptoms such as
irritability, tiredness and more, may be fairly intense,
but they will lessen after just a few days.
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Drink lots of water to help your body flush itself out
quickly.
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Keep a straw or other cigarette
substitute handy to keep your hands and mouth busy.
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When cravings hit, close your eyes and count down from
10 to 0, very slowly. Breathe deeply with each count.
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Call a friend when you feel like reaching for a smoke.
Divert your attention.
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Take a quick walk, even if it is just to the bathroom
or mailbox.
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Superhuman willpower is often associated with using cold
turkey to quit smoking. While having strong willpower is
important, ultimately your success depends on how badly you
want to quit and whether or not you believe you can do it. If
you want to quit more than you want to smoke, and you believe
that you can quit, you'll likely be successful.
The cold turkey method is free, and you can do it at any
time. Why not today?
** Article © Copyright Fred Kelley of
QuitSmoking.com. Visit the web site at http://www.quitsmoking.com
for great information and products designed to help you quit
smoking.
Still need more reason to quit smoking? here are 20 additional tips to go
along with the 16 articles... Click
here
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