Many smokers try to quit smoking but fall back into the same habit for various reasons. Anyone that has been through this kind of experience may attest that it almost feels like a rollercoaster. The experience itself is not pleasant when one thinks about the dangers of smoking. As such, it is important to understand why most smokers go into a relapse so that you can kick the habit on your first try or become successful if it is another attempt. But, before delving into that, one might ask why quitting smoking seems so hard?
Well, smoking tobacco slowly turns into a physical addiction over time. The nicotine rush from cigarettes provides a temporary and addictive high. Cutting off nicotine consumption causes the body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. At the same time, the ‘feel good’ effect of nicotine makes smoking a psychological habit. As a result, smokers may be accustomed to taking a few puffs as a way of dealing with depression, stress, anxiety, or even boredom. Other smokers are in the habit because friends, family members, and colleagues smoke as well, so this becomes part of how they socialize.
To quit smoking, one needs to understand the psychological dependence and physical addiction that go along with it. Failing to do so leaves room for mistakes that make it easy for to revert to smoking even after making an earnest effort to quit. If you have tried to quit smoking but failed, it may have been due to one of the following reasons.
Cutting off Nicotine Intake too Soon
It takes time to quit smoking. You can make up your mind to kick this habit for good, but pure willpower is simply not enough. Most ex-smokers fall back into the habit because they chose to quit smoking abruptly. Health experts recommend a gradual approach when one wants to break free from nicotine addiction. This allows the body to become accustomed to staying without the addictive substance. Therefore, remember to start slow before you take the plunge.
There are many nicotine replacement therapies these days that can prepare the body to cope with the effects of ceasing smoking. One good example is electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes come with refill cartridges that contain regulated contents of liquid nicotine. This allows you to reduce your daily fix of nicotine to a point where you are used to very small doses. The result is that you will lessen the impact of withdrawal symptoms.
Failing to Identify Smoking Triggers
Every smoker has a smoking trigger. Perhaps the act of smoking is ingrained as a daily ritual, serves as one of the ways you relate with peers, or it is how you cope with different emotions. Failing to understand the kind of smoker you are all too often leads to a relapse. If you know what causes you to smoke, you can make the necessary adjustments to avoid those triggers. This might mean avoiding specific situations, activities, feelings, or people.
Not Knowing How to Deal with Cravings
Cravings are inevitable for anyone that chooses to quit smoking. They result when the body starts to withdraw from nicotine. If you don’t know how to cope with the side effects that come along after ceasing all forms of nicotine intake, you are likely to give into cravings.
There are different ways of coping with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. These methods range from exercising and diet changes, to seeking moral support. If you choose to quit smoking, ensure to speak to your doctor on how best to cope with the withdrawal symptoms that come along.
Annella Williams is a motivational speaker by day and blogger by night. She has a penchant for sharing useful information that helps people quit drug addictions. Visit this website to learn more about e-cigarettes, one of the devices Annella recommends to those who want to quit smoking.
