Ask almost
any current smoker why she continues to indulge in such a dangerous
activity and she will normally reply, "Because I like smoking."
While she may say this in all honesty, it is a very misleading statement,
both to the listener and to the smoker herself. She does not smoke
because she enjoys smoking, rather she smokes because she does not
enjoy not smoking.
Nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug. The smoker is in a constant
battle to maintain a narrow range of nicotine in her blood stream
(serum nicotine level). Every time the smoker's serum nicotine level
falls below the minimum limit, she experiences drug withdrawal. She
becomes tense, irritable, anxious and, in some cases, even shows physical
symptoms. She does not enjoy feeling these withdrawals. The only thing
that will alleviate these acute symptoms will be a cigarette. The
nicotine loss is then replenished and, hence, the smoker feels better.
She enjoyed smoking.
A smoker must also be cautious not to exceed his upper
limit of tolerance for nicotine or else suffer varying degrees of
nicotine poisoning. Many smokers can attest to this condition. It
usually occurs after parties or extremely tense situations when
the smokers finds themselves exceeding their normal level of consumption.
They feel sick, nauseous, dizzy and generally miserable.
Being a successful smoker is like being an accomplished tightrope
walker. The smoker must constantly maintain a balance between these
two painful extremes of too much or too little nicotine. The fear
which accompanies initial smoking cessation is that the rest of
the ex-smoker's entire life will be as horrible as the first few
days without cigarettes. What ex-smokers will learn is that within
a short period of time, the physical withdrawal will start to diminish.
First, the urges will weaken in intensity and then become shorter
in duration. There will be longer time intervals between urges.
It will eventually reach the point where the ex-smoker will desire
a cigarette very infrequently, if ever. Those who continue to smoke
will continue to be in a constant battle of maintaining their serum
nicotine level.
Included in this battle is the great expense of buying
pack after pack and the dangerous assault on the smoker's body of
inhaling the poison nicotine along with over 4,000 other toxic chemicals
which comprise the tars and gasses produced from the combustion
of tobacco. These chemicals are deadly by themselves and even more
so in combination.
So the next time you think of how much you once seemed
to enjoy cigarettes, sit back and take a serious, objective look
at why you have such an idealization of this dangerous product.
Consider all the consequences. You will probably realize that you
feel physically and mentally better now than you ever did as a smoker.
Table of Contents
1. Why
People Smoke
2. I
Smoke Because I Like Smoking!
3. I
Smoke Because I'm Self-Destructive!
4. You
Smoke Because You're A Smoke-a-holic!
5. I
Have to Smoke Because of All My Stress!
6.
I've Smoked for So Long and So Much, What is the Use in Quitting
Now?
7.
What A Relief, I Think I Have Cancer!
8. The
Power of Advertising
9. A
Safer Way to Smoke
10.Are
You Smoking More and Enjoying it Less?
11.A
Fate Worse than Death?
12. Quitting
by Gradual Withdrawal
13. I
Can't Quit or I Won't Quit
14.Why
Did I Start Smoking? Why Did I Quit?"
Quit
Smoking Tips
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