I like to touch and handle cigarettes.

Quiz: Do you smoke for this reason?
If you answer "often" or "sometimes" to the following questions,
this is one reason you smoke.

• I feel more comfortable with a cigarette in my hand.
  
  
• I enjoy getting a cigarette out of the pack and lighting up.
  
  
• I like to watch the smoke when I exhale.

This type of smoker gets physical pleasure from handling ciga- rettes and the rituals of smoking. It just "feels right" to have a cig- arette in his hand or mouth. In fact, many smokers say they've gone back to smoking because, "I had nothing to do with my hands."

Getting over this obstacle can make it easier to quit smoking and stay smoke-free. The tips below suggest other ways to satisfy the handling urge.

Tips To Help You Quit

• Pick up a pen or pencil when you want to reach for a cigarette. Doodle ­p; or make a list of your reasons for quitting.
  
  
• Play with a coin, twist your ring, or handle whatever harmless object is nearby.
  
  
• Put a plastic cigarette in your hand or mouth. Some have a minty taste to help you focus on how fresh your breath is without tobacco.
  
  
• Hold a real cigarette if the touch is all you miss. But if handling a cigarette makes you want to light up, stick with the substitutes.
  
  
• Eat regular meals to avoid being hungry. Don't confuse need-ing to eat with the desire to put a cigarette in your mouth.
  
  
• Take up a hobby that keeps your hands busy. Try knitting, carpentry, painting, or making bread.
  
  
• Have a low-fat, low-sugar snack like carrot sticks, apple slices, or a bread stick. Suck on a sugar-free hard candy or mint.

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