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When we learn to see cigarettes as the horrific killers they are rather than the "friends" we thought of them as, we empower ourselves. Breaking the chains of nicotine addiction involves looking at the cold, hard facts about smoking head on.
Smoking changes us, and those changes happen gradually, over a long period of time.
In fact, the personality shifts we experience due to nicotine addiction are so subtle; most of us don't realize our cigarettes are responsible for them.
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At 10 years smoke-free, Michelle has plenty to say about how she quit, and the benefits she's enjoyed since doing so.
A long-time member and moderator for the support forum here at About.com Smoking Cessation, Michelle understands that lasting recovery from nicotine addiction involves more than abstinence.
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Photo © Michelle Boisvert
When we're aware of the kinds of faulty thought patterns that can throw a quit program off track ahead of time, we have the advantage of being able to create a plan of action to deal with them.
Let's take a look at 5 of the most common reasons people relapse and consider how we can navigate them successfully should they arise.
Knowledge is Power
When we quit smoking, most of us go through a fair amount of junkie thinking - the internal battle between ourselves and our addiction. Early on in cessation, the dialog can seem relentless. It is temporary however, and will pass, as long as we don't smoke.
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When you can't breathe, nothing else matters...
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), emphysema affects over 2 million Americans, the majority of whom are 50 years old and over.
Emphysema is a slow killer, progressing gradually over a period of many years. The damage done to the lungs with emphysema is permanent and irreversible, but if a person stops smoking early on in the disease, it may be possible to arrest further development and improve one's quality of life.
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Illustration courtesy of A.D.A.M.
