Stop Smoking - Overcoming This Physical And Psychological Addiction

By: Carol Stack



Simply wanting to stop smoking is a large part of the battle to succeeding. Often knowing that cigarettes are destroying your health is not enough incentive. You don't want to think about all the health problems that smoking can cause.

After all, between the physical addiction to nicotine and the psychological addiction, the whole person, mind and body, is craving the next cigarette. With that strong pull encouraging you to the next smoke, the thought of getting cancer, having a heart attack, or hurting your unborn baby might not be enough to make you decide to stop smoking.

That your health doesn't deteriorate with the first cigarette encourages you to believe that smoking is not dangerous. Tobacco takes twenty to fifty years to damage your body with cancer or heart disease.

For a young person who is encouraged to start smoking at fifteen or seventeen that seems like a lifetime away. The sad thing is, by the time the damage is done it can be too late to quit smoking. They can end up dead of a heart attack at forty-five or dying of lung cancer at fifty.

How does one succeed in stopping the mind and body from continuing this addiction? You must deal with the body and the mind separately but at the same time. In other words, deal with the physical addiction with one technique and the psychological addiction with another technique all at the same time.

It's actually easier to deal with the physical addiction. There are patches, pills, and gums that you can use if you need them. Your doctor will be able to help you in this area by recommending products that can help your body lose the desire for a cigarette.

The psychological addiction is more complicated to overcome. Everyone would rather experience pleasure than pain, and trying to stop smoking will produce pain. To the smoker, cigarettes produce pleasure.

Some smoke to have something to do, or because they believe it will calm their nerves. They might associate smoking with a pleasurable experience, such as smoking with friends at the bar or while they play poker. They aren't smoking because they feel the need for the nicotine, but because they associate smoking with a good time.

So how does one overcome the psychological addiction? Some professionals suggest filling up the time you would normally be smoking with some other activity. The activity needs to be a positive one or it won't work.

Have the activities planned out. Know exactly what you are going to do in place of smoking and be prepared for it.

Include times of regular exercise, meditation and breathing exercises. Believe you can stop smoking and surround yourself with people who will encourage you to succeed.

Most importantly, get rid of the idea that life isn't worth living without cigarettes. That thought must not be allowed. Change that thought to "life is worth living without cigarettes." Instead of thinking that cigarettes are good, replace the thought with something like "cigarettes are killing me."

By changing your thoughts about cigarettes from positive to negative you will change your beliefs about them. When your beliefs change, then you lose the psychological craving for them and it's easier to stop smoking.

More Articles

Being Around Smokers Can Increase Your Risk Of Disease

... cancers, and the list grows by the day. Women and nonsmokers have been found to be more prone to breast cancer than any other form. The WHO report indicates that smoking cigarettes is not only damaging to the smoker, but also to the health of people just standing nearby. For women, smoking is synonymous ... 

Breaking The Habit: Stop Smoking, Stay Healthier, Live Longer

... progress will be guided and any chance of relapse will get debunked fast enough. If you plan to embark on this journey without the help of a professional, it is important to have determination. You may consider trying nicotine gums, patches or pills. You may also want to join groups such as Nicotine Anonymous. ... 

Characteristics Of People Who Quit Smoking

... success. So then, where is a solution? Well, it begins with the characteristics of a successful quitter which I shared above. A genuine desire to succeed must be there and this is not something that someone can give to another. It is either there or it is not. Also, for long term success, it goes even ... 

Defeat Nicotine And Quit Smoking With A Firm Resolution

... extent it has taken hold of you because its destructive capacity is no less than additives such as heroin or cocaine. Remember, in the blood of a hard smoker, each and every cell is surcharged with nicotine. It has become part of the blood. Therefore, pregnant mothers -beware! Your smoking is injurious ... 

Do I Smell Bad From Cigarettes?

... are kids we think we should do what the other friends are doing and we smoke to be a part of the gang. When are older, we think it might help us with the stress we experience in our lives. Then it becomes a bad habit we can't get rid of. Sure the tobacco is addictive, but isn t that another lame excuse? ... 

Frequently Asked Questions About Snoring

... a cure for snoring? There are many different actions a snorer can take to cure snoring. There is surgery available, however, there are a few things to consider before undergoing surgery. For one, the cost of surgery is high and your insurance may not provide coverage for surgery to stop snorong. Another ... 

Health After Smoking

... definitely pay off in renewed good health, and with healthy financial benefits as well. Assume that you spend $50.00 per month on cigarettes. If you were to invest that same $600.00 each year into a stock mutual fund, annuity, or other financial instrument that generates 5% annually, you will have saved ... 

Healthy Alternatives For Smoking Addiction

... your health. One of the best things you can implement in your lifestyle in an attempt to break a smoking addiction, is a healthy diet and exercise routine. Both of these factors will help your body to readjust so that it does not need its dependency on nicotine products. A daily regimen of high energy ... 

Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Make A Personal Change. The Secret Formula That Guarantees Success!

... accomplish positive outcomes. Example: A woman is deeply in love. Her boyfriend breaks up with her, and breaks her heart. Her unconscious mind wants to protect her emotionally and prevent her from having her heart broken again. So it motivates her to get fat to keep her out of relationships. That way ...