| Why is quitting smoking such a difficult thing to do long | | | | Just think of all of the times when you have felt |
| term? Many people stop smoking for a few days or | | | | obliged to do something simply because every one |
| weeks at most and then start right back in. Let's look | | | | else was doing it. This is peer pressure (also known as |
| at 5 reasons why you are likely to fail in your attempt | | | | group pressure). It is human nature to want to be part |
| when stopping smoking. | | | | of a group, we are social and tribal beings, and to |
| 1. Boredom | | | | conform to that group. |
| The majority of people are bored very easily. | | | | For smokers this can be a powerful force that keeps |
| Boredom often hits you when your body has some | | | | you smoking even when you want to stop smoking. If |
| energy that it needs to use up but you are not | | | | you mix with other regular smokers then the likelihood |
| engaged in any activity; either physical or mental. This | | | | is that you are smoking more than you would normally |
| is totally different to the relaxing times when your body | | | | do simply because you are conforming to the group |
| is in a low energy state and needs to rest. During | | | | activity or because you are constantly being reminded |
| these times boredom doesn't usually occur and doing | | | | to smoke to be accepted in the group. When you are |
| something like watching television is a pleasure. | | | | stopping smoking this is the type of situation which will |
| The problem for smokers, and more so for those | | | | need you to be very strong willed to resist the peer |
| trying to quit smoking, is that it is at these times of | | | | pressure that you will surely feel. |
| boredom that you are most likely to light up a cigarette. | | | | 4. Stress |
| You are filling the void of boredom with an activity; | | | | Most smokers smoke more when they are under |
| albeit one you may not want to be doing. The solution | | | | stress. Also, many people start smoking during a period |
| is of course to find something else that can occupy | | | | of intense stress as a means of relieving the pressure |
| your mind. People who have engrossing hobbies or | | | | (of course this is not the answer!) Since stress usually |
| work tend to smoke less simply because they do not | | | | increases your smoking it is crucial that you find |
| need to; they are not bored! | | | | alternative ways to reduce your stress levels if you |
| 2. Habitual action | | | | are to reduce or quit smoking. One of the easiest, |
| Habitual behaviour is a natural phenomenon in most | | | | cheapest, and fun ways to reduce stress is to take a |
| animals and most of our habits are there to act as | | | | 20-30 minute walk each day. This is great to do |
| time savers and for efficiency. It wouldn't be very | | | | following a hard day since the gentle act of walking |
| useful if every time you got dressed in the morning | | | | releases pent up energy and burns off the excess |
| you used a totally different method; a new method | | | | stress inducing toxins in your body. |
| that you would have to learn afresh each time. There | | | | 5. Cravings |
| are people with rare brain disorders, usually related to | | | | The vast majority of smokers actually crave |
| memory, whom cannot remember how to do basic | | | | cigarettes. Cravings are created when the natural |
| daily things like dressing or making a cup of coffee. For | | | | need response of the body is satisfied but we |
| them life is a very real struggle simply because they | | | | continue to indulge in something. For example, many |
| are not able to rely on habitual behaviours to make | | | | eating disorders start with cravings which are allowed |
| common tasks easy and efficient. | | | | to get out of control. Eating is essential and natural but |
| For smokers, the habitual action of smoking: buying a | | | | most of us eat far more than we need at any one |
| packet, opening the packet, lighting the cigarette, etc., is | | | | time. Once our hunger (the need factor) is satisfied, |
| very strongly reinforced every time you smoke a | | | | your body tells you quite clearly, we should stop but |
| cigarette and so it becomes a powerful habitual | | | | most of us continue. This then builds up into a craving |
| activity. For those quitting smoking one of the essential | | | | because we are making the body feel like it needs |
| steps is to break this habitual activity. Because habits | | | | more than it really does. |
| are usually done without conscious thought; we do not | | | | The same goes for smoking. After a while smoking |
| even think about how we brush our teeth we just do it, | | | | ceases to become merely a casual pastime and turns |
| the habit of smoking is almost an automatic activity for | | | | into a craving. We do not need cigarettes and yet we |
| most people. | | | | crave them. The only real way to remove this craving |
| 3. Peer Pressure | | | | is to reduce our intake of the substance, in this case |
| One of the most potent influences a person can be | | | | reduce the number of cigarettes we smoke. |
| exposed to is what is known as peer pressure. Peer | | | | By reducing the quantity we can re-adjust the body's |
| pressure is the influence that our friends or | | | | desire for the cigarette and hence reduce the need. |
| acquaintances have on our own behaviours. Peer | | | | This can lead to a reduction in the dependency many |
| pressure begins as soon as a child becomes aware | | | | smokers have on cigarettes and lead the way to |
| and starts to learn and continues throughout our life. | | | | quitting smoking completely. |