Welcome to Help To Quit Smoking
Why Stop Smoking Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Why Stop Smoking. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Many experts believe smoking is only about 10% physical addiction and a whopping 90% psychological addiction. Your body will recover fairly quickly from nicotine withdrawals (the worst symptoms usually abate in three days or less), but your psychological dependency on cigarettes can be much more difficult to defeat.
from:One way to combat this is to do a bit of self-analysis before giving up cigarettes.
Make a list with two columns. Label column one "Why I Started Smoking" and label column two "Why I Want To Quit Smoking."
In column one, list all the reasons you can remember as to why you started smoking in the first place. Was it peer pressure? Rebellion? Did you think it made you look cool? Did it make you feel like a grown-up? Really try to remember the exact reasons why you started smoking and write them all down.
Now look over that list. Do any of those reasons still apply in your life today? Probably not.
If you're like most people, you will see that your reasons for becoming a smoker are no longer valid, are often just silly, and are easily outweighed by the risks to your health and your family's well-being.
So let's move on to column two... Why do you want to quit smoking?
This one may seem obvious, but it can be a bit tricky. You really need to take some time and think hard about this. Don't just list the obvious health reasons. You've been reading the Surgeon General's warnings for years with little effect, so you need to come up with reasons that truly have meaning for you.
The things most people write down will NOT help you quit smoking...
- I don't want to get lung cancer.
- I don't want to have a heart attack or a stroke.
- I'd like to live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up.
Those are all good reasons to quit smoking, certainly... but they deal in "possibilities" rather than in specifics.
Sure you MIGHT get lung cancer, you MIGHT have a heart attack or a stroke, you MIGHT die young and miss out on seeing your grandchildren grow up...
...or you MIGHT NOT! You're not likely to break a strong psychological addiction based on what MIGHT happen. Your mind will work hard to convince you that it won't happen to you! Instead, list health problems that you are already experiencing.
Your list should point out things in your life that you are actively unhappy about and are STRONGLY MOTIVATED to change. In order to break your psychological addiction, you need an arsenal of new thoughts and desires that are stronger than your desire to smoke!
The Psychology of Quitting Smoking
Here are the types of things you want to put in column two...
Why Do I Want To Quit Smoking?
1. Health Reasons
- I get so out of breath when I exert myself even a little bit. Just vacuuming the house makes me pant and gasp.
- My feet are always cold. This could be due to high blood pressure and poor circulation associated with smoking.
- I have a nasty wet cough and I have to blow my nose way too often. Mucus build-up is the body's reaction to all the toxins and chemicals in cigarette smoke and could be a precursor to serious respiratory disease. Even if I don't get cancer, I don't want to be one of those people who has to tote oxygen bottles around everywhere.
- I'm always tired. Could it be that my body is using up all its energy trying to eliminate the toxins and chemicals from cigarettes?
2. Vanity Reasons
- Smoking causes premature aging and drying of the skin. I don't want to look like a wrinkled up old prune!
- My fingers, fingernails and teeth are all tobacco stained. Disgusting! How embarrassing.
- When I get on the elevator after a smoke break at work, everyone wrinkles their nose and tries to edge away from me because I reek of cigarette smoke. I feel like a pariah. It's embarrassing to always be the big "stinker" on the elevator. I feel like I have no self-control.
- My breath is awful. Kissing me must be like kissing an ashtray. I spend a fortune on breath mints.
3. Financial Reasons
- If I save all the money I used to spend on cigarettes, I'll have enough to take a vacation in Cancun (or some other warm tropical place) every winter!
- I could use the money to pay off my credit cards!
- I could donate money to my favorite charity or sponsor a child. My cigarette money could make the world a better place!
4. Family Reasons
- My family can stop worrying about me.
- My spouse will have to find something new to nag me about. Just kidding, honey!
- My children will be proud of me and (hopefully) they'll never start smoking themselves, having seen firsthand what a nasty destructive habit it is.
5. Cleanliness Reasons
- The walls used to be white. Now they're a nasty dirty-looking brown. I need to repaint... again!
- I stink, my car stinks, my house stinks, everything I own reeks of cigarette smoke. I can't even lend a book to a non-smoking friend because they can't stand the smell of smoke permeating the pages!
Do you see yourself in any of the items listed? You may have many more reasons of your own. Find as many compelling and emotion reasons to quit smoking as you can think of and write them all down.
If you can re-train your mind to think of smoking as a silly and self-destructive thing to do, then you're almost sure to succeed. And if you need something to do with your hands... try knitting!
Why Stop Smoking Specific links
Why You Should Stop Smoking... 50% Off!
- Smoking causes numerous health problems including Cancer, Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis and Heart Disease just to name a few. Smoking is not worth dying for! We'll help you to stop smoking.
-- http://www.quitsmoking-quitsmoking.com/
Looking for why stop smoking
- Find: why stop smoking. Review & compare!
-- http://www.findstuff.com/
Find why stop smoking
- Helpful Links for why stop smoking
-- http://www.toseeka.com/
why stop smoking Information
- Learn about why stop smoking
-- http://www.couponmountain.com/
why stop smoking Info
- Get Info on why stop smoking from 14 search engines in 1.
-- http://www.search4.info.com/
Why Stop Smoking News
SETTLEMENT DOLLARS: State use of tobacco funds gets low marks - Atlanta Journal Constitution
 WJBF-TV | SETTLEMENT DOLLARS: State use of tobacco funds gets low marks Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - But Ford warned that stop-smoking programs may face cuts as the state budget suffers under the strained economy. Ford said she did believe that there is a ... States' Use Of Tobacco Money Varies Widely US Smoking Rates Drop to 20 % Master & Settlement: Tobacco foes want even more money |
Stop smoking! - The Leader Newspapers
 eFluxMedia | Stop smoking! The Leader Newspapers, NJ - Challenge yourself and join the more than 45 million Americans who have tried to quit smoking for one day. Smokers, take this short-term challenge to not ... Great American Smokeout is November 20. Stop smoking, save money 'Quit Booths' part of Smokeout Northeast Ohio Health and Medical Consumer News |
Hobby Helps Man Stop Smoking - WYMT
Hobby Helps Man Stop Smoking WYMT, KY - "To keep from smoking I just cut wood. and then I just got in a habit I guess" Myron Sandlin from Buckhorn said. Sandlin says he has carved out nearly 1000 ... |
Women help snuff out smoking at hospital - Connecticut Post
Women help snuff out smoking at hospital Connecticut Post, CT - So, in spring 2007, Charbonneau and Parniawski resolved to stop smoking. With a combination of willpower, mutual support and the assistance of the ... |
Help available for those who want to quit smoking - Lawrence Journal World
Help available for those who want to quit smoking Lawrence Journal World, KS - By Karrey Britt • Lawrence Memorial Hospital is offering a free one-session class that covers the steps to successfully quit smoking. The class will be from ... |
Stop-Smoking Drug Could Lessen Symptoms of Autism - About - News & Issues
Stop-Smoking Drug Could Lessen Symptoms of Autism About - News & Issues, NY - Another point of interest - about which we need to learn more - is what, exactly, a stop-smoking drug is likely to do for (or to) individuals with autism. ... |
State helps veterans quit smoking - Taunton Daily Gazette
State helps veterans quit smoking Taunton Daily Gazette, USA - ... supply of nicotine patches valued at $100 retail, along with informational resources on the benefits of quitting smoking, and tips on how to stop. ... |
Annual stop-smoking day is Thursday - KTAR.com
Annual stop-smoking day is Thursday KTAR.com, AZ - Among the tips to stop smoking: make a list of why you are quitting; throw away all cigarettes, ash trays and other smoking-related articles; tell friends, ... |
Stop smoking today or never start - The Langston University Gazette
Stop smoking today or never start The Langston University Gazette, Oklahoma - Seventy percent of smokers say they want to stop smoking, but can't. That's because nicotine is a highly addictive drug-as addictive as heroin or cocaine. ... |
Palmetto Health, USC to offer stop smoking program - WIS
Palmetto Health, USC to offer stop smoking program WIS, SC - COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Palmetto Health Richland along with USC's Department of Family and Preventative Medicine are offering a free adult smoking cessation ... |