Official website of Ministry of Health - Fiji
| Home | About Us | News | Projects | Favourites | Contacts | Search | |
| Services | Employment | Research & Grants |

DEALING WITH STRESS

 

Is it true that smoking relieves your stress?

The Truth is NO !

Smoking doesn't relax you. Nicotine in tobacco makes your heart beat faster and causes your blood pressure to go up. It can make you more stressed.

FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES YOU TO STRESS

  • Is it a person or a group of people?
  • Is it a topic that is being discussed?
  • Is it a situation you are in?
  • Is it a deadline at work or even the type of work you do?

 

Often Sometimes Never  
  I light up a cigarette when i get frustrated

                      

 

 
  Smoking makes me relax in a stressful situation

                      

  When I'm depressed, I reach for a cigarette

                      

Think about it and find out ways to cope!

 

TIPS FOR RELAXATION

Avoid situations that cause you stress until you are ready to deal with them. I you smoke when angry then
leave the room or surrounding as soon as you start getting angry.
Go to a quiet place, sit down and do the exercises listed on the left.
Use relaxation techniques to calm down when you are angry or upset
breathe deeply
relax your muscles
stand in a comfortable position
Close your eyes
relax your arms, shoulders and the rest of your body
breathe in and push your stomach out
breathe out slowly
repeat until you start feeling relaxed.
Exercise regularly. Exercise relieves tension and improves your mood.
Get enough rest. Take time to relax, no matter how busy you are.
Give yourself a bath, a warm shower, go for a swim or get a massage.
Sip a glass of water
Go for a walk
Listen to soft soothing music

 

Remember the four (4) D's of Quitting

 

Delay acting on your urges to smoke.

Don't open a packet or light up a cigarette. After five minutes, the urge to smoke weakens and your decision to quit  returns.

 

Drink Water.

Sip it slowly, holding it in your mouth a little longer to savour the taste.

 

Deep breathe.

Take a long slow breathe in, and breathe out slowly. Repeat this two times.

 

Do something else.

Take your mind off smoking by taking action-put on some music, go for a walk or talk to friend.

 Family Health Youth Sexual Health   Workshops Reproductive Health Care  ENT Clinics  Alerts Filiarisis Dengue
  Contact Us:
Ministry of Health P.O. Box 2223, Government Bldgs Suva, Fiji
Dinem House, Toorak, Suva Ph.(679) 330 6177 Fax(679) 330 6163
Email: info@health.gov.fj		  
Your Comments Here - Copyright Ministry of Health