Understanding the nature ofnicotine addictioncan be a powerful step in quitting smoking for good.
Smoking is also a habit.
Despite the pleasure derived from this activity, smoking is harmfuleven dangerousto one’s health.
Julia Pfeifer / EyeEm / Getty Images
While it might feel good to smoke in the moment, nicotine is not a true friend.
Dopamine is often called the “feel-good” hormone as it produces feelings of pleasure.
The problem is that the effects of nicotine wear off fairly quickly.
As soon as a cigarette is snubbed out, the level of nicotine in the bloodstream begins to drop.
The fidgety tension is gone and they are back to feeling comfortable again.
This comfort won’t last long, though.
In another 30 minutes, the process will repeat itself.
This emotional attachment can make quitting even more difficult.
These types of triggers can encourage a person to smoke more.
The brain associates emotional triggers with a cigarette craving, creating a strong addiction cycle.
It plays tricks on the body and mind, convincing us that we need it to feel pleasure.
How to Quit Smoking for Good
The power that nicotine has over people who smoke is tremendous.
But the short- and long-termnegative health consequences of smokingare not worth any fleeting pleasure smoking provides.
Some negative effects of smoking, like lung cancer and heart disease, can take time to develop.
Having a plan can also help keep us on the path to abstinenceevenwhen the craving for a cigarette strikes.
An effective plan to quit smoking includes:
Some people use a"cold turkey" methodto stop smoking.
Quitting cold turkey means no longer using cigarettes as of their quit date.
Many online and over-the-phone resources are available for help quitting.
One is the National Cancer Institute’s free quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).
They supply the body with nicotine without also supplying other harmful chemicals found in cigarettes.
Over-the-counter NRTs are available in the form of patches, lozenges, and gum.
Medical practitioners can also prescribe nicotine replacement therapies in the form of inhalers and nasal sprays.
Varenicline works by making smoking less pleasurable.This can make it easier to quit.
Bupropion helps by reducing nicotine cravings, also potentially reducing the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
For people who smoke, it may feel like they’re in a close relationship with cigarettes.
This is when it’s helpful to remember that our relationship with cigarettes is a toxic one.
As long as we don’t give up on our journey, we can eventually be smoke-free.
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