Quit Smoking Addiction

Why did You And Me smoke?
While most of the media attention focus on our chemical addictions to nicotine, you are actually addicted in many ways not just to cigarettes. Let me explain.

When you are lighting up a cigarette, you are filled with smoking related thoughts.

You are addicted to:

• the feel of the cigarette in your hand and mouth
• the actions of lighting your cigarette, (the flicking of your zippo lighter eh?)
  
• moving your cigarette up to your mouth,
  
• flicking ashes from the cigarette
  
• challenging your smoking buddies by flicking your cigarette butt as far as possible
  
• holding your cigarette between your fingers or hanging at the side of your mouth
  

You've also become addicted to the visual appeal of cigarettes:

• the flame, the smoke, even a dirty ashtray
• to the deep inhalations and exhalations you take as you puff on your cigarettes
• You may have become addicted to smoking buddies at your workplace

I know how it feels like, looking forward to your next drinking or pool session just because you can enjoy smoking together with your smoking buddies.

All these stimuli serve to meet some physical, psychological or emotional need within you.

Think about the pleasures you derive from smoking.

Some of the questions you have to ask yourself-->

• Does smoking make you feel "cool"?
  
• Do you get a lift or feel totally relaxed?
  
• Do you need to have something in your mouth or hands?
  
• Do you enjoy breathing deeply when you smoke?
  
• Do you feel a compulsion to head out to socialize with your smoking buddies every evening after work?

Next time when you encountered stress and have a urge to light up a cigarette, stop

1. take a pencil or a straw
   
2. put it into your mouth
3. inhale deeply and slowly
   
4. exhale deeply like you are blowing out smoke

you will find the process of smoking is the same as inhaling and exhaling deeply.

how you can stop your smoking addiction if all else fails