Smoking tobacco is both a
psychological habit and a physical addiction. The act of smoking is ingrained
as a daily ritual and, at the same time, the nicotine from cigarettes provides
a temporary, and addictive, high. Eliminating that regular fix of nicotine will
cause your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. To
successfully quit smoking, you’ll need to address both the habit and the
addiction by changing your behavior and dealing with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Managing unpleasant feelings such as
stress, depression, loneliness, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common
reasons why adults smoke. When you have a bad day, it can seem like cigarettes
are your only friend. Smoking can temporarily make feelings such as sadness,
stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air. As much
comfort as cigarettes provide, though, it’s important to remember that there
are healthier (and more effective) ways to keep unpleasant feelings in check.
These may include exercising, meditating, using sensory relaxation strategies,
and practicing simple breathing exercises.
For many people, an important aspect
of quitting smoking is to find alternate ways to handle these difficult
feelings without smoking. Even when cigarettes are no longer a part of your
life, the painful and unpleasant feelings that may have prompted you to smoke
in the past will still remain. So, it’s worth spending some time thinking about
the different ways you intend to deal with stressful situations and the daily
irritations that would normally have you reaching for a cigarette.