Kick the butt. Get a life!

The other day my 20 years old son announced that he had given up smoking. He had picked up this ‘cool’ habit in the first year of college and had smoked cigarettes for almost three years now. I had accepted this ‘fad’ as his right to choose his own life style; but the news of his quitting was like music to my ears. As a parent I felt greatly relieved and happy; however, his statement got me thinking.

Why do people smoke? Why do they continue smoking even though they know that this habit of theirs is slowly but surely eroding their health? According to a study more than 70% of tobacco users want to quit, but can’t. Why do they find it difficult to overcome this habit? As I understand it, there are two primary reasons for it.

First of all, it is a stubborn habit. Most people naturally connect this habit with many everyday activities (visiting the loo), times of the day (first thing in the morning; after meals), social interactions (smoking with friends; smoking while drinking), and emotional states (sad, stressed; happy, celebratory) etc. These situations continually trigger the urge to smoke. Since these triggers often work at the subconscious level, this habit becomes difficult to get rid of. It acts like a reliable, old friend you can turn to for relaxation, comfort and focus.

Secondly, it acts as an addiction. The body and the mind get used to the ‘adrenaline rush’ from regular nicotine fix. The very thought of quitting triggers strong and uncomfortable physical and psychological reactions, pressurizing the person into resuming smoking. Sometimes this discomfort of quitting may last for several weeks or months.

What are these withdrawal symptoms? People who have tried quitting are well aware of them. Typical withdrawal symptoms are irritability, restlessness, sadness, nervousness, coughing, sore throat, constipation, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, difficulty in concentrating, decreased heart rate, and an increased appetite. No wonder most people have a hard time kicking up this habit!

In such a difficult scenario, what can a cigarette smoker do to drop this habit right away? The first thing a smoker should do is to get a physical examination done. They must learn the extent to which their health has been affected by smoking. This action puts the subsequent actions in perspective. Recommendations should be sought for reversal of the damage already done. This step is absolutely essential.

Then the smoker should seek support from family members and friends for emotional encouragement and listening ears. He will need all the support he can muster during this change process. He should not socialize with people who smoke (at least during the initial stage), as it is always hard to resist when someone lights up in front of you.

The third important action is to get a healthier lifestyle. The process of quitting can produce a temporary drop in energy levels. It can reduce concentration power and increased mood swings. To overcome these difficulties, one should improve one’s diet, exercise, and sleep patterns. One needs to take better care of oneself in order to replace the ‘nicotine highs’ with ‘natural highs’. All this requires a lot of self-control. However, there are no highs that nicotine can give but brain cannot generate through healthier means. You just need to discover these means. You need to plan in advance, be more creative and committed to the process.

In the absence of such a preparation, people often give up their attempt to quit smoking. How can these people stay motivated? Most people know that they want to quit smoking, but they do not know why? Most often the answer is that their mother/wife/girlfriend/doctor want them to quit. These external pressures can never be motivating enough. You need to genuinely want to quit, and know the reasons for quitting. If you are trying to quit smoking, you better have a list of reasons. This list can act as a kind of map you can turn to when going gets tough.

What are the common reasons for quitting?

• People want to add more years to their lives.
• They want to decrease their heath risks.
• They want to save the money they spend on cigarettes.
• They want to prove to themselves that they can meet the challenge of quitting smoking.
• They wish to improve their lifestyle.
• They wish to experience more natural energy.
• They want to be good role models for their children and grand children.
• They do not want to pollute the environment.

Take a look at these reasons and determine ‘your’ reasons for quitting. Whatever your reasons are, just write them down and keep this list handy. Read this list of reasons whenever you get the urge to smoke. This way you will lay a psychological groundwork to make quitting easier.

Clinical hypnosis works wonders in helping you keep your goal and the reasons for that goal continuously in your mind, 24×7. Since habits and addictions tend to be very psychological in nature, this is the most holistic approach to quitting. It can help you change and improve the way you think about yourself and your ‘problem’. However, it is your ‘desire to quit’, which is critical for taking an action.

Most smokers look for explanations and excuses for not quitting. Remember that you must hold yourself accountable for all that you do. Excuses are a dime a dozen and they don’t mean a thing. When all is said and done it is your choice whether to quit or not to quit. You can choose your convenience over a commitment or vice-versa. The fact remains that when you do not fulfill a promise, you let yourself down and regardless of your excuses you do not carry a high opinion of yourself. Don’t ever fall in this avoidable trap.

Are you wondering what made my son quit smoking? Well, the panacea for all ills: Meditation! I too had a small role to play in it. I had given him a book, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramhansa Yogananda. This book has had such a profound influence on his young mind that he has started meditating regularly. It is this new found passion, spirituality, which did the trick.

Since the proof of the pudding is in its eating, may I cajole all those smokers, who are planning to quit smoking, to try this tried and tested formula. Start meditating; do it right now. You will not only get rid of your addictions, but also reap many other health benefits.