In my job, I've helped a lot of people quit smoking. And I've heard a lot of reasons why smoking is a good thing.
Smoking helps you think, relaxes you, de-stresses you, keeps you from getting upset at your family, tastes good with coffee, tastes really good after a meal. Basically, makes things "better" and makes you feel "better".
I know you don't completely believe these reasons, or why know you should quit smoking. I also know a part of you DOES believe these things, and more.
You do have a strong reason to keep smoking or you would have quit by now. Just so you know, there are not any laws stating your reason to keep smoking needs to make any sense. It rarely does.
In fact, 99% of the reasons you continue can easily be proven incorrect. Maybe smoking keeps you from blowing up and yelling at your spouse because you're mouth is full of smoke, or even better, you have to go outside to smoke.
And most of the time you're AWARE it doesn't make sense. That doesn't change anything though, does it? Just one more log to toss on the fire of your motivation to quit. A fire that doesn't have much chance against the ocean of your craving to smoke.
It all comes down to two things. The belief that smoking will make you feel better and what you're trying to feel better than. That's it.
If you're hungry you feel like eating. If you're tired, you feel like sleeping. If you feel bad (stressed, over-burdened, upset, alone, whatever...) you want to feel good. And, whatever your mind has learned feels good, you feel like doing.
This feeling to do something is what you probably call a craving. Many smokers have more than one type of craving going on. The 'after you wake up' craving might feel different than the 'after a meal' craving. The same principles apply.
SO, how do you change these things? I can write on and on about this (and I have on my web site) It will come down to changing the feelings, motivations and beliefs involved.
First, feeling bad needs to be looked at and helped. If it's stress, get it managed, if it's a bad situation, do what you can to fix it or get help.
Second, you belief that smoking helps you feel good (it's probably the innocent mistake that smoking equals being an adult, in control, strong, capable, etc...) In truth, a cigarette is a plant leaf and chemicals wrapped in paper. The good feeling you're anticipating from smoking is created by your mind. YOU make yourself feel better when you smoke. So it only makes sense that you can make yourself feel good by doing something that is healthy. If, your mind believes it makes you feel good.
And there's the trick for most people. Successfully quitting smoking is much easier after changing these emotional connections. People don't often think of this. That is why the success rate of medication and nicotine replacement alone is so poor. The only current exception is Chantix and even Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, recommend behavior modification along with their medication.
Smoking helps you think, relaxes you, de-stresses you, keeps you from getting upset at your family, tastes good with coffee, tastes really good after a meal. Basically, makes things "better" and makes you feel "better".
I know you don't completely believe these reasons, or why know you should quit smoking. I also know a part of you DOES believe these things, and more.
You do have a strong reason to keep smoking or you would have quit by now. Just so you know, there are not any laws stating your reason to keep smoking needs to make any sense. It rarely does.
In fact, 99% of the reasons you continue can easily be proven incorrect. Maybe smoking keeps you from blowing up and yelling at your spouse because you're mouth is full of smoke, or even better, you have to go outside to smoke.
And most of the time you're AWARE it doesn't make sense. That doesn't change anything though, does it? Just one more log to toss on the fire of your motivation to quit. A fire that doesn't have much chance against the ocean of your craving to smoke.
It all comes down to two things. The belief that smoking will make you feel better and what you're trying to feel better than. That's it.
If you're hungry you feel like eating. If you're tired, you feel like sleeping. If you feel bad (stressed, over-burdened, upset, alone, whatever...) you want to feel good. And, whatever your mind has learned feels good, you feel like doing.
This feeling to do something is what you probably call a craving. Many smokers have more than one type of craving going on. The 'after you wake up' craving might feel different than the 'after a meal' craving. The same principles apply.
SO, how do you change these things? I can write on and on about this (and I have on my web site) It will come down to changing the feelings, motivations and beliefs involved.
First, feeling bad needs to be looked at and helped. If it's stress, get it managed, if it's a bad situation, do what you can to fix it or get help.
Second, you belief that smoking helps you feel good (it's probably the innocent mistake that smoking equals being an adult, in control, strong, capable, etc...) In truth, a cigarette is a plant leaf and chemicals wrapped in paper. The good feeling you're anticipating from smoking is created by your mind. YOU make yourself feel better when you smoke. So it only makes sense that you can make yourself feel good by doing something that is healthy. If, your mind believes it makes you feel good.
And there's the trick for most people. Successfully quitting smoking is much easier after changing these emotional connections. People don't often think of this. That is why the success rate of medication and nicotine replacement alone is so poor. The only current exception is Chantix and even Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, recommend behavior modification along with their medication.
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