The thing that you started just for fun, kicks back on your health and you desperately start searching the Internet, ‘How to stop smoking?’ But, before you start looking for remedies to get rid of the long-cherished habit, it is pertinent to understand why you got addicted to smoking in the first place.
Every pack of cigarettes comes with a statutory warning, “Smoking is injurious to health”. In spite of reading that, why do you buy? You keep on coughing and there is a pain in your throat. You understand that tobacco is the reason for the sore throat; still you buy a pack. Why? Because, it’s all in your head! You smoke because the polluted air has created a psychological impact on your brain.

Why Did You Start Smoking?
Quitting this addiction is possible in just two weeks, but you need to understand the root cause of the problem first. There are many reasons why people start smoking, but most of those are misguided ideas. Social appearance and fashion have nothing to do with smoking. You will neither look smarter with a cigarette in your hand nor will you be sent on an exile if you do not smoke. And smoking will not help in solving any of your problems. Therefore, the first step to quitting would be accepting the fact that you are addicted to tobacco.
Psychological Reasons behind Smoking
Ask anyone why he smokes, and you are sure to hear some of the strange, even bizarre, reasons. What’s your reason? Let’s guess:
- To show others that you are not afraid of anything
- To get an entry into a particular crowd – peer pressure that urges you to smoke
- To look cool, an idea promoted by films and advertisements – a style statement
- To follow someone – influenced by someone who is respected or admired
- To calm down the nerves – a way to release stress
- To lose weight in a negative way
Why Do You Still Smoke?
Maybe immaturity was the reason behind your addiction from a very early age. But, now that you are aware of the impact of smoking, why do you still smoke? The answers are very vague and mostly related to a specific situation. Smoking turns into a ritual, every time one faces such a state. Burning eyes, painful throat, breathing trouble and all the other effects of smoking are overlooked the moment that specific situation evolves. For example, the moment you see your friends smoking, the smell of tobacco triggers the psychological desire to smoke.
Some of the other reasons are:
- For reducing anxiety
- No particular reason
- For relaxing
- To celebrate
- To accompany
- After a meal
- To spend time
- No particular reason
All these are nothing but a state of mind that generates the need to smoke.
Strategies to Quit
Since this addiction is psychological, you need to build up strategies to quit smoking. You can start by educating yourself about the pros and cons of changing your behavior. Read as many articles as possible on health consequences of smoking and check where you stand. Quitting this habit can help you to save money, which you have been burning without any reason. Once the goal has been reached, it is necessary to substitute it with something new. Usually, when a psychological addiction is stopped, something new evolves. Reward yourself with a new lifestyle, hobbies or even chewing gums. Every time there is a craving, you can do these to prevent the relapse and after a point of time, your mind will get rid of the desire.
Instead of going haywire with ideas about how to stop smoking, understand why you are smoking. The moment you can identify the cause, strategies can be framed to successfully curb the cravings.