Jai Madan shares how one can psychologically prepare himself to quit smoking
During the 17th century, religious leaders and statesmen in many countries condemned the use of tobacco. Smokers were excommunicated by the Church and some of them were actually condemned to death and executed. But the habit of smoking spread rapidly all over the world. The psychological pleasures derived proved much more powerful than religious, moral and legal persuasions.
What is the nature of this psychological pleasureIJ It can be traced to the universal desire for self-expression. We are constantly hunting for the carefree enjoyment we knew as children. As we grew older, we had to subordinate our pleasures to work and to the necessity for unceasing effort. Smoking, for many of us, then, became a substitute for our early habit of following the whims of the moment; it becomes a legitimate excuse for interrupting work and snatching a moment of pleasure.
Another reason for smoking is worry, anxiety. It depress us not only psychologically but also physiologically. When a person feels depressed, the rhythm of his breathing becomes upset. A short and shallow breath creates a heavy feeling in the chest. Smoking may relieve mental depression by forcing a rhythmic expansion of the breast and thus restoring the normal pace of breathing. Some people feel the “weight on the chest” is removed.
Try some of these to quit smoking:
Keep your hands busy with something else. For example, an elastic band, a paper clip or a pencil. If you’re used to smoking while talking on the telephone, hold the receiver in the hand you would normally use to smoke. Get involved in DIY (do it yourself), draw something, take up photography, play a musical instrument, work on a computer, pet your dog, play with an anti-stress ball.
Tell everyone that you are giving up smoking. Friends and family often give support and may help you. Smoking by others in the household makes giving up harder. If appropriate, try to get other household members who smoke, or friends who smoke, to stop smoking at the same time. A team effort may be easier than doing it alone.
Between your decision to quit smoking and your ‘quit date’, do not smoke the same brand. The difference in flavours and chemicals will make smoking less enjoyable, but not intolerable. Switching brands also helps to ‘de-automate’ smoking, which can help you become more conscious of your habit and increase your chances for success.
The internet is awash with anti-smoking hypnosis books, CDs and clinics and results may vary. Advocates claim that drugs and self help books only affect the conscious mind, and thus ignore the huge power of the subconscious. By unlocking this power, hypnosis can supposedly reinforce an improved level of motivation, focus of attention, positive visual imagery and freedom from anxiety and tension, as well as break the subconscious association of smoking with pleasure.
Eat four to six small meals during the day instead of one or two large ones. This keeps your blood sugar levels steady, your energy balanced, and helps prevent the urge to smoke. Avoid sugary or spicy foods that may trigger a desire to smoke.
Tell yourself “no.” Say it out loud. Practice doing this a few times and listen to yourself. Some other things you can say to yourself might be, “I’m too strong to give in to smoking,” “I’m not a smoker now,” or “I will not let my friends and family down.” And most important, “I will not let myself down.”