Quit Smoking Cigarettes Without Pain?
Don’t Kid Yourself – Nicotine Addiction is a Hard Habit to Kick
Nov 7, 2009
Drop back a generation or two, and cigarettes were “cool” and were not on the social no-no list. James Dean did not get a eyerolling pass for having a cig tucked in the side of his mouth. It made him “hotter” for that time period.
Smoking Is Not So Cool Today
Fast forward a few years, and the “stop smoking” nag pack kicks in full force and makes smoking not only a health issue but a social issue that isolates and marginalizes those who toke a little nicotine now and then or on a regular basis.
Yes. Everyone Gets the Picture. Cigarettes are the Devil.
Yes. Smoking is bad for you. The Surgeon General of the United States makes that clear on every pack of cigarettes that any smoker buys. Health cost are tallied and touted, but if smokers die as early as noted, then the overall health care costs should balance out. That may not be a popular sentiment, but extended life spans do cost in terms of Social Security payments, health care costs, and assisted living maintenance.
Quitting Cigarettes is a Good Thing
Nicotine addiction is a problem, and most smokers do want to kick the habit. But the cure can be worse than the disease for many smokers. That’s why it often takes several attempts to kick nicotine addiction and stay cigarette-free long term.
It’s rare to find a cigarette smoker who has no clue of the health tolls associated with smoking tobacco. After all, they are listed on the sides of the cigarette packs.
Unfortunately, nicotine is an addictive drug as noted by the National Institute on Drug Addiction and most often started before the age of 20 when decision making skills are not honed. So the patterns are set during the formative years and become, in essence, a part of who and how the smoker views himself or herself.
Kick Cigarettes and Never Look Back?
Though many companies and groups promise nicotine freedom without pain, it’s rare that anyone who is a regular cigarette smoker drops the habit without some physical and emotional fallout. After all, cigarettes are usually a part of the daily routine for smokers, much like eating or going to the bathroom, and are just part of what the smoker does during the day.
There are side effects with any type of quit smoking program. Social programs can be stressful and make smokers feel like failures when trying to get off cigarettes. It really is not as simple as “just saying no.” Nicotine gum can give some people gut-jerking hiccups. Chantix can cause terrible nightmares or kick off a depressive spell that is a major illness that should not be taken lightly. In fact, some suicide deaths have been linked to the use of Chantix.
Are Smokers Destined to Smoke Until Death?
Although dealing with the nicotine demon is not an easy battle, more and more people are kicking the cigarette habit. That does not mean that it is easy, but it can be done.
For each smoker who is trying to quit, the process of stopping smoking is a unique experience. Some cigarette smokers can set a date and go cold turkey. In some cases, a major health problem may be the incentive to stuff the butts for good. Other smokers do well with programs with social interaction and support from family, friends, and other smokers or ex-smokers. For some, medical intervention may prove the most effective.
Regardless of the approach, it is rare for a smoker to quit painlessly. Anyone hooked on nicotine and emotionally and socially attached to lighting up will likely feel a loss or void. It may be hard to function right after giving up cigarettes. Cigarettes become part of the pattern of life for smokers.
But the numbers of smokers have continued to drop year after year (down to around 20% now in the U.S.) lately with the media blitz against smoking and smokers and the rising cost of the habit that is now taxed at rates that give a real bit to the idea of sin taxing.
So, while kicking a nicotine addiction and giving up tobacco can be rough, it can be done. And, most people do feel better physically, emotionally, and socially when they can put away the cigarettes once and for all. Getting there, however, is rarely painless – no matter the approach taken.
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