Jawahar , 2nd Year Civil Engineering

In this modern world, one may find many cigarettes packets, adult or teens smoking, and movies / social media promoting drugs. You may be a chain smoker too! But don’t worry. You are still trying to find some ways to quit that have driven you here. In this post, we will provide a good knowledge of this addiction, and some essential tips to recover. Hope you find it useful. Actually, most of the teens start to smoke after seeing their friends and favorite TV personalities, who used to smoke. They think that it looks glamorous and exciting. This is the way most of us start to smoke. According to the survey of 2019, around 1.3 billion people are addicted to cigarettes. They think that it looks glamorous and exciting. This is the way most of us start to smoke. According to the survey of 2019, around 1.3 billion people are addicted to cigarettes.

WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY CONTAIN?

Cigarettes actually contain chemicals like nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene, and tar (Tar? Ah, yes!). Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, it enters our bloodstream, and quickly travels to the brain, and release a feel-good hormone called dopamine, and removes unpleasant feelings. All this will happen immediately in ten seconds after inhalation.

WHY IS IT HARD TO QUIT?

Nicotine helps them to stay focused, and to cope with stress and work pressure. Shortly after completing a cigarette, the smoker starts to feel anxious, and irritated. It makes them mentally dependent on nicotine. Their body and mindset used to function with a certain level of nicotine. This creates more and more nicotine receptors in the brain. When we suddenly quit, the receptors become strawed of the brain, which lead to depression, and tension, until you get your next fix. And when you can’t quit, it means you’re addicted. You might have a hard time concentrating or sleeping, have strong urges to smoke, having headaches, or sore throat. These are called ‘withdrawal symptoms.’ Even if they want to quit, the body and mind can’t change immediately, and they will start to feel anxious and uncomfortable. This is the biggest challenge in overcoming this addiction.

Then here comes the question ‘How to quit?’ First, one should understand that overcoming from an addiction is not a mere physical process, but mainly a psychological one. It takes some months, or even years, for a person to completely withdraw from his habit. It is all based upon his addiction level. Even you may be a chain smoker, but the fact is, anyone can overcome, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

You should be consistent and must have patience. There are 6 essential tips we provide you, that help one to quit his addiction.

1) AVOID TRIGGERS :

Clean all the cigarette packets, lighters, and ashtrays around you. Social media, and cinema showing smoking scenes, will trigger a person to relapse. It is better to avoid these things until you completely overcome this. Avoid bad companies or friends who compel you to smoke. Try not to drink alcohol, as it creates the urge to have a puff. This will be extremely helpful in your ‘recovery process.’

2) CLEAN MINDSET :

The motive for quitting smoking should be completely for the sake of yourself and your wellness. Find a good reason and always desire for a better, healthy lifestyle. This will motivate you, and help you overcome. ‘Find a powerful reason to quit.’

3) WORK :

Most of the smokers usually have a common schedule for smoking. One may immediately have a cigar after a meal, while hanging out with friends, after tea, or while using social media. These deep-rooted programmed mindset will urge one to relapse when particular time arrives. Try to stop if you can, or just try to shift it to some other time if you can’t immediately quit. Slowly, after your consistent efforts, this mindset will disappear. For example, if you used to smoke immediately after meal, just have it on some other time when you are free.

4) NICOTINE TABLETS :

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that make our brain, dependent on it. When one can’t immediately quit, of course, it’s not easy, just jump to nicotine pills. They are pills containing safer amount of nicotine usually recommended for chain smokers who wants to quit. This nicotine will dissolve in the bloodstream, and give you a feeling of having a cigarette.

5) NEVER BE ALONE :

Physical loneliness is a big obstacle in the recovery process. When you’re alone, you may be tempted to relapse, as you start to think that no one is supervising you. Go for a walk, hit the gym, go to library near you and to read some books. This will divert you. Avoid bad companies or environment. If you can’t go for a walk, just stick to your hobbies like sketching, reading books or gardening.

6) TRY AND TRY AGAIN :

It is very normal for an addict to fail in his/her recovery efforts. You may have been consistent, that doesn’t matter, you will relapse in between times. But you will be (should) learning a lot of lessons from those failures. Don’t worry, just move on, and get back to your path. Recovering from any addiction will have many obstacles and failures in its path. It won’t be easy, but still you can! When you quit completely, you will be better, and optimistic in facing difficult situations. The more you face failure, the more you learn!