Cigarette smoking is a widespread habit that was once considered socially acceptable, but that has been rapidly changing in the last couple of decades. Being a smoker nowadays might be a quite complicated undertaking, having to look for a designated smoking area many times a day. Smoking is sometimes even being viewed as an antisocial behavior by some people.
Addiction to Nicotine
Nicotine is a highly addictive and powerful chemical that affects the body’s dopamine system which controls our reward neural pathways. Nicotine can alter the brain’s chemistry, leading to dependence on this chemical. The main reason why people smoke cigarettes is that they are addicted to nicotine.
When you smoke a cigarette, nicotine enters tour bloodstream and reaches your brain within seconds, causing a rush of pleasure and relaxation. Over time, your body develops a tolerance to this chemical, and one needs to smoke more cigarettes to achieve an equal effect. Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable feelings such as irritability, fatigue, anxiety, and cravings. They can occur when a person tries to end smoking, making it challenging to break the habit.
It might be uncomfortable to quit smoking
After smoking for many years, our mind has built an automatic habit. Changing this habit can create a sense of discomfort, we might feel uneasy. It is in our nature to avoid discomfort whenever possible, therefore most people would rather continue smoking than experience the high levels of discomfort from quitting.
The incorrect belief that smoking is stress relief
Many believe that they need to smoke to relax or to help them cope with stress better. Smoking cigarettes can provide brief stress relief for some people. The act of smoking can be calming and relaxing. However, the stress relief provided by smoking is only temporary, and it can lead to a cycle of dependency and dependence. On top of it, smoking dramatically increases your blood cortisol levels. This stress hormone dramatically increases the strain on your body.
Routine and habit
For some people, smoking cigarettes is a habit or routine that might be difficult to break. Smoking may be a part of their day-by-day routine, such as smoking a cigarette after a meal, with a cup of coffee, or during a break at work, during social situations etc. Some smokers use a cigarette to signal the beginning and the end of tasks. The habit can turn out to be so ingrained that people smoke without even thinking about it. When smoking is absent, your mind can tell you that something important is missing and remind you to pick up a cigarette. That is also the reason why nicotine patches alone tend to not be effective in the long term.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is yet another cause of why people smoke cigarettes. Many teenagers start smoking due to the fact they want to be part of a social group and fit in with their peers. Smoking can be seen as a way to be cool or rebellious, and it can give young individuals a sense of identity and belonging. Smoking therefore can become almost a badge of honor or some extension of identity for some smokers.
Advertising and Marketing
Cigarette advertising and marketing have played a considerable role in promoting smoking as a stylish and desirable habit. In the past, cigarette companies used catchy slogans, glamorous models, and endorsements from celebrities to promote their products. Although cigarette advertising is now heavily restricted, the effect of marketing can still be felt. Cigarette packaging can also be appealing and attractive, with colorful designs and logos. This can make smoking seem more beautiful and desirable, particularly to young people who can also be susceptible to marketing messages.
Lack of Knowledge
Some smokers smoke cigarettes because they don’t recognize the risks and dangers of smoking. They may not realize the link between smoking and lung cancer, heart disease, and different health issues. This lack of knowledge can lead to a false sense of safety and make it harder for people to quit smoking.
Awareness campaigns and education can help to address this lack of knowledge and supply people with the information they need to make the right decisions about smoking.
Using willpower, nicotine patches or cigarette substitutes to quit smoking
To quit smoking requires more than just willpower. Using willpower alone, smokers can attempt to quit many times before they succeed, and then they often relapse afterwards. It is estimated that only 3% of people are able to quit smoking cold turkey without any assistance.
Many people have tried to quit smoking by using nicotine patches. These interventions often have mediocre results as they do not address the underlying unconscious patterns of smoking. Even if a person forces themselves to quit using willpower, they are often left with a sense of deprivation. And when stressful events arise, they often relapse back to the same habit.
Cigarette substitutes such as electronic cigarettes or vaping are now increasingly being banned in public spaces. The latest research indicates that vaping can cause severe lung and heart problems, almost on the same level as cigarettes can.
Feelings of blame and failure
When a smoker attempts to quit but relapses, they often experience self-blame. Many avoid the quitting process to avoid the feelings of failure. Successful quitting requires a change in mental and behavioral habits.
The true cost of smoking are hard to see
In day to day life, it is difficult to see the big picture when it comes to smoking. Smokers often do not think that they will be affected by the effects of smoking, but statistics estimate that up to 75% of smokers will die from smoking related diseases at some point.
Hypnosis to quit smoking
Hypnosis has become an increasingly popular option as it has been demonstrated in numerous studies to be much more effective than any other intervention when it comes to quitting smoking. Hypnotherapy can allow you to unconsciously understand your association and relationship with smoking and change that pattern for good. Everyone has a different reason to smoke and we can address these reasons in a way that works for you.
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that includes inducing a state of heightened awareness and relaxation. During hypnosis, a person is more receptive to suggestions and can use this to their advantage to help remove bad habits, such as smoking. One of the advantages of using hypnosis to quit smoking is that it addresses the root cause of the addiction – the programming in the unconscious mind. Smoking is often a dependence that is deeply ingrained in the unconscious, making it difficult to break the habit via willpower alone. Hypnosis to quit smoking can help reprogram the unconscious mind, making it simpler for individuals to quit smoking once and for all. Another benefit of hypnosis is that it can help manage the withdrawal symptoms that often accompany quitting smoking. Withdrawal signs and symptoms can include irritability, anxiety, and cravings, which can make it difficult to stay on track with quitting. Hypnosis can help individuals manage these signs and symptoms by providing them with relaxation strategies and coping mechanisms that are taught at the deep, unconscious level, so they are automatic, without need to consciously think about them.
While hypnosis can be an effective tool for quitting smoking, it is important to note that it requires the individual to have a strong desire to end and a commitment to making changes in their life.
So ask yourself this question now: Are you ready to quit smoking today? If yes, contact us here and schedule a free 30 minute session with us.
