Overcome Smoking with your Mind and Behaviour

You want to stop smoking. Perhaps you've never tried but are convinced you could stop if you did. Or perhaps you have tried to stop several times - and failed. Why did you fail? Possibly you did not prepare yourself for the mental challenge of stopping - and it's a massive mental challenge. To quit smoking successfully, you need adequate mental preparation. The more prepared you make yourself, the greater your chances of succeeding and staying cigarette free.

Are you really prepared to stop smoking?

Why do you want to stop smoking? There are many reasons you might be trying to stop. You might be trying to kick the habit because you have heard about the diseases it causes and the threat to your health. It might because you find yourself wasting a lot of money. Maybe your husband or wife or children are putting pressure on you to quit smoking.

Unfortunately, it's been found that quitting smoking because of some external reason or someone else rarely works or rarely works for long. The only way you'll stop is if you do it for yourself - not for others. You have to stop smoking for YOU.

What makes you to smoke?

You started to smoke (and keep on smoking) for a variety of reasons. There are both physiological (addiction inducing chemical substances in cigarettes) and psychological (emotional) reasons.Some smoke for the taste, some because it makes them confident or calms them down. Some people find it relaxes them in tense moments. For others it numbs feelings and reduces stress. Alleviates loneliness, gives something to do. Gets rid of boredom. Kills time while waiting etc. Basically, smoking fills a void, fulfils a need you have.

Make a written record of the reasons you smoke or how it makes you feel when you smoke compared to when you don't.

You need a substitute for your smoking

To successfully stop smoking, you need to find some replacement therapy for the nicotine you breathe in when you smoke. What can you substitute for smoking in your life? It is easy to find a substitute for the nicotine which causes the physical symptoms and craving, but to succeed in quitting, you also need to find a substitute for the emotional void you feel when you quit.

Next to the reasons you've listed, think of and write down some activity you can partake in that will help you develop similar sensations or feelings.

Other things you can do are:

Hang out with people or make new friends who will support you and help you feel good - preferably non smokers!

Get yourself a new hobby that keeps your mind and your hands busy. It could be doing a course, teaching yourself a new skill, a sport or exercise. Do something that gives you a daily sense of achievement.

Try to exercise for a short while everyday. It could be several short walks, a jog, a session in the gym, swimming, tennis, dancing or any other exercise. It will probably be more fun if you make it a group or family affair. Once it becomes routine, you'll be surprised how it helps you reduce stress and improves your mental and physical fitness and sense of well being.