Quit Smoking

What most smokers don’t realize is that a smoking addiction is not just about addiction to nicotine. There are various other components of addiction that are equally important and bind you to smoking. This is also why it’s very difficult to quit smoking.

Smoking addiction – Causes

Smoking addiction is characterized by the smoker’s addiction to nicotine. One of the most common causes of this addiction is socializing, in terms of repeating behavioral patterns exhibited by the people around you. If you are living or working with individuals who smoke, then there is a good chance that you will take up smoking as well. For many, it becomes a matter of acceptability. You might not believe it but another common reason for people taking up smoking is an inherent need to chew and suck. All infants have this need for sucking and chewing, at times this need can follow you into adulthood. Smokers, albeit a very few, use cigarettes as a way of satisfying this need.

Automatic repetition is also a causative factor for smoking. Smoking becomes a part of a pattern that helps make a person feel safe and satisfied. Smoking becomes a habit in certain situations and environments. When you decide to quit smoking, it’s important that you identify these situations and environments and then make sure that you avoid them. Because of its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system, smoking is also used as a means of self medication. A person suffering from anxiety or depression might use smoking as means of working over his/her fears and attitude. Smoking induces a feeling of pleasure. This prompts people to give in to the temptation of smoking.

Smoking addiction – Common symptoms

If you want to identify a smoker, you will not have a whole lot of difficulty. There are specific symptoms that differentiate a smoker from a non-smoker. The damage caused by smoking is both physical and psychological. One of the most common symptoms of a smoker is a nagging morning cough. Apart from the tell-tale signs like dry and dark lips, change of skin pallor, and bad breath, there is also a persistent wheezing. Fatigue is another symptom associated with smokers. A person addicted to smoking can also experience a decrease in his/her sense of taste and smell. Gradually, smoking also adversely effects blood circulation. The result is cold extremities. A smoker’s feet and hands are generally cold. Many smokers are also prone to premature wrinkles.

There are also various illnesses that are symptomatic of smoking. They affect a person suddenly and offer no warning. The onset of coronary artery diseases has very few or absolutely no warning signs linked to it. Not only are their common symptoms associated with smoking addiction, but there are also symptoms linked to smoking cessation. These are in the form of nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Quit smoking – General precautions

When you quit smoking, you need to take certain precautions. This is because you are bound to suffer from a range of nicotine withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking. Certain precautions will help you provide relief from them. When you stop smoking, it’s important to get busy with some activity. This will help you distract your mind from nicotine craving. Get started on some relaxation techniques or Yoga, as you might suffer from insomnia and irritability as a result of smoking cessation. Relaxing your body will help you tackle these problems with ease. Fatigue and lack of concentration are two other common nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The one way that you can take care of these symptoms is by reducing your workload and taking rest whenever you can.

Using cough drops and the intake of various fluids is a necessary precaution that you can take to manage quit smoking symptoms like dry throat, cough and runny nose. Even if you are taking a prescription medication for quit smoking it’s always a good idea to eat healthy and embark upon a disciplined exercise regimen. This will help you take care of a majority of the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to note that experiencing withdrawal symptoms is the norm and you cannot escape them. These precautions will help alleviate the symptoms and take you through the most difficult period of smoking cessation. Before you begin to quit smoking, zero in on the triggers that increase your urge to smoke and try and stay away from such triggers.

Through this time, the only thought in your mind should be that, come what may, you aren’t going to touch another cigarette again.