| Many experts agree that smoking is only about 10% | | | | little bit. Just vacuuming the house makes me pant and |
| physical addiction and a massive 90% psychological | | | | gasp. |
| addiction. Your body will recover fairly quickly from | | | | - My feet are always cold. This could be due to high |
| nicotine withdrawals (the worst symptoms usually | | | | blood pressure and poor circulation associated with |
| abate in three days or less), but your psychological | | | | smoking. |
| dependency on cigarettes can be much more difficult | | | | - I have a nasty wet cough and I have to blow my |
| to end. | | | | nose way too often. Mucus build-up is the body's |
| One way to combat this is to do a bit of self-analysis | | | | reaction to all the toxins and chemicals in cigarette |
| before giving up cigarettes. | | | | smoke and could be a precursor to serious respiratory |
| Make a list with two columns. Label column one "Why I | | | | disease. Even if I don't get cancer, I don't want to be |
| Started Smoking" and label column two "Why I Want | | | | one of those people who has to tote oxygen bottles |
| To Quit Smoking." | | | | around everywhere. |
| In column one, list all the reasons you can remember | | | | - I'm always tired. Could it be that my body is using up |
| as to why you started smoking in the first place. Was | | | | all its energy trying to eliminate the toxins and |
| it peer pressure? Rebellion? Did you think it made you | | | | chemicals from cigarettes? |
| look cool? Did it make you feel like a grown-up? Really | | | | 2. Vanity Reasons |
| try to remember the exact reasons why you started | | | | - Smoking causes premature aging and drying of the |
| smoking and write them all down. | | | | skin. I don't want to look like a wrinkled up old prune! |
| Now look over that list. Do any of those reasons still | | | | - My fingers, fingernails and teeth are all tobacco |
| apply in your life today? Probably not. | | | | stained. Disgusting! How embarrassing. |
| If you're like most people, you will see that your | | | | - When I get on the elevator after a smoke break at |
| reasons for becoming a smoker are no longer valid, | | | | work, everyone wrinkles their nose and tries to edge |
| are often just silly, and are easily outweighed by the | | | | away from me because I reek of cigarette smoke. I |
| risks to your health and your family's well-being. | | | | feel like a pariah. It's embarrassing to always be the big |
| So let's move on to column two... Why do you want to | | | | "stinker" on the elevator. I feel like I have no self-control. |
| quit smoking? | | | | - My breath is awful. Kissing me must be like kissing an |
| This one may seem obvious, but it can be a bit tricky. | | | | ashtray. I spend a fortune on breath mints. |
| You really need to take some time and think hard | | | | 3. Financial Reasons |
| about this. Don't just list the obvious health reasons. | | | | - If I save all the money I used to spend on cigarettes, |
| You've been reading the Surgeon General's warnings | | | | I'll have enough to take a vacation in Cancun (or some |
| for years with little effect, so you need to come up | | | | other warm tropical place) every winter! |
| with reasons that truly have meaning for you. | | | | - I could use the money to pay off my credit cards! |
| The things most people write down will NOT help you | | | | - I could donate money to my favorite charity or |
| quit smoking... | | | | sponsor a child. My cigarette money could make the |
| - I don't want to get lung cancer. - I don't want to have | | | | world a better place! |
| a heart attack or a stroke. - I'd like to live long enough | | | | 4. Family Reasons |
| to see my grandchildren grow up. | | | | - My family can stop worrying about me. |
| Those are all good reasons to quit smoking, certainly... | | | | - My spouse will have to find something new to nag |
| but they deal in "possibilities" rather than in specifics. | | | | me about. Just kidding, honey! |
| Sure you MIGHT get lung cancer, you MIGHT have a | | | | - My children will be proud of me and (hopefully) they'll |
| heart attack or a stroke, you MIGHT die young and | | | | never start smoking themselves, having seen firsthand |
| miss out on seeing your grandchildren grow up... | | | | what a nasty destructive habit it is. |
| ...or you MIGHT NOT! You're not likely to break a | | | | 5. Cleanliness Reasons |
| strong psychological addiction based on what MIGHT | | | | - The walls used to be white. Now they're a nasty |
| happen. Your mind will work hard to convince you that | | | | dirty-looking brown. I need to repaint... again! |
| it won't happen to you! Instead, list health problems that | | | | - I stink, my car stinks, my house stinks, everything I |
| you are already experiencing. | | | | own reeks of cigarette smoke. I can't even lend a |
| Your list should point out things in your life that you are | | | | book to a non-smoking friend because they can't |
| actively unhappy about and are STRONGLY | | | | stand the smell of smoke permeating the pages! |
| MOTIVATED to change. In order to break your | | | | Do you see yourself in any of the items listed? You |
| psychological addiction, you need an arsenal of new | | | | may have many more reasons of your own. Find as |
| thoughts and desires that are stronger than your | | | | many compelling and emotion reasons to quit smoking |
| desire to smoke! | | | | as you can think of and write them all down. |
| Here are the types of things you want to put in column | | | | If you can re-train your mind to think of smoking as a |
| two... | | | | silly and self-destructive thing to do, then you're almost |
| Why Do I Want To Quit Smoking? | | | | sure to succeed. And if you need something to do |
| 1. Health Reasons | | | | with your hands... try knitting! |
| - I get so out of breath when I exert myself even a | | | | |