Addiction to nicotine is one of the most difficult to overcome, and the psychological cravings can be an even greater challenge than the physical ones. To begin the process of quitting smoking, it is important to identify the difference between physical and psychological cravings.
Because nicotine is a stimulant, it increases blood flow to the brain within seconds of being used. It makes cigarette smokers feel more awake, alert, and focused. However, this is not because the nicotine itself makes smokers feel good. It is simply that with each new cigarette, smokers are ending a period of nicotine deprivation.
Smokers cannot feel normal without nicotine, because their brain is actually unable to function at a normal level without it. Once users quit smoking, and even after these physical withdrawal symptoms have faded, there are multiple psychological issues to deal with.
Many people that try to quit smoking don’t feel like themselves without cigarettes. This is the psychological addiction. As smokers, people become used to carrying a pack of cigarettes just as they carry their wallets, mobile phones, or car keys. Smoking becomes an integral part of who you are, and quitting can lead to a great sense of loss. Once the physical withdrawal symptoms have faded, it is normal to experience anxiety, depression, and other mental difficulties.
To overcome the psychological cravings of cigarettes, it is essential for those that are trying to quit smoking to recognise when and where their cravings occur. Many people include smoking as part of their daily routines, taking the time to enjoy a cigarette after meals, while drinking coffee, when socialising with friends, and so on.
Without these cigarette breaks, it can feel as if the entire day has been disrupted. In situations that people associate with smoking, they are more likely to give into cravings. Rather than needing the physical effects that nicotine has on the body, people crave the instant gratification they became accustomed too. This is why many stop-smoking products like patches and gums are often ineffective. It is not the nicotine that the body is missing; it is the act of smoking itself.
Identifying when, where, and why you smoke is the first step in fighting the psychological cravings. If possible, avoid situations or places you typically smoke and never have lighters or matches on hand.
Be sure to let those around you, especially friends and family, know that you’re no longer smoking. Sometimes just being aware of your habits as a smoker makes it easier to move on, but other times it is necessary to replace smoking with new habits. Whether it is going for a walk instead of having a cigarette after dinner, or simply taking a deep breath and reminding yourself of your goals, know that each time you say “no” makes quitting for good that much easier.
Another option that has helped thousands of people to quit smoking is electronic cigarettes. Once the addiction to nicotine ends, an electronic cigarette without nicotine can be a great tool for coping with the psychological addiction to smoking.
People typically smoke for the short-term benefits of cigarettes, such as sensory pleasure, oral gratification, and social interaction. Each of these psychological cravings can be fulfilled by switching to INCIG electronic cigarettes, which have the same look and feel of a traditional cigarette.
No matter which coping mechanisms are used to quit smoking, it is important to remember that cravings are often triggered by psychological cues rather than physical ones.
Physical addiction is to nicotine, whereas psychological addiction is to the act of smoking itself. Acknowledging the difference between the two is an important step in successfully quitting smoking.
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