131 Improving Your Physical Health to Help you Conquer Stress Smoking Regular smoking of tobacco over years is responsible for heart disease and a variety of cancers. In addition to the nicotine and tar found in cigarettes, cigarette smoke consists of about 2,000 different chemicals. Smoking is an addiction and habit-forming, therefore stopping smoking is not easy for many people. We recommend joining stop smoking groups, hypnosis, or if you experience great difficulty, cognitive behaviour therapy. In addition, many people have found nicotine patches a very useful aid. If you encounter difficulty in stopping smoking, go back to Chapter 3 and note down any thinking errors you may be using that hinder you. For example: · It will be too difficult to stop smoking. · I'll be impossible to work or live with. · I'll put on weight. · I feel on edge when I'm not smoking. · I can't stand feeling on edge. · I don't like saying `no' if a friend offers me a cigarette. You can use the thinking skills in Chapter 3 to assist you in dealing with these health-inhibiting thoughts (HITs). Create your own health-enhancing thoughts (HETs) such as: · Yes, it is difficult to stop smoking, but I will give it a go. · I will be difficult to work or live with for a few days but I'll get over it. I'll let everybody know that. You may find anti-craving imagery helpful too (see page 98). Relaxation There are a number of different relaxation techniques that help to reduce the physical effects of stress and tension. If you already use yoga, massage, meditation or imagery exercises successfully, you may not need to read this section.