Quit Meter
$19,427.50
Amount Saved
Quit Meter
Days: 271 Hours: 9
Minutes: 59 Seconds: 11
Life Gained
Quit Meter
2045
Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter
40,900
Cigarettes Not Smoked
Quitting smoking is hard for at least five reasons.
1.) Nicotine dependence – Like heroin, nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs in the world. The nicotine in tobacco causes dependence by going to the brain quickly (within six seconds) and by, at first, giving a feeling of alertness and increased performance. Generally, people fail to remember the toxic signs of smoking they had when they first smoked: the dizziness and nausea. Eventually the dizziness and nauseas goes away and is replaced by physical tolerance. This means that the smoker needs more and more cigarettes to feel the same effects.
2.) Withdrawal effects – After not smoking for about an hour-and-a-half, withdrawal (or a craving) kicks in. This can include anxiety, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and restlessness. The desire for nicotine and the discomfort of withdrawal is what makes quitting so difficult. If you are a smoker or a former smoker, you will know or remember some of the great lengths taken when you were out of cigarettes. This may include rummaging around the house or car for change, standing outside in really bad weather for a few puffs, not being able to sit through a movie, going to great lengths to get a smoke… This is addiction and withdrawal from nicotine can, at first, be extremely difficult.
3.) Psychological dependence – Smoking becomes a crutch that smokers use to deal with stress and anxiety. The more a person smokes under these conditions, the less other ways of coping are used. Cigarettes quickly replace the other less harmful coping behaviors that a person would normally use. This often leads to an increase in smoking.
4.) Habit – Smoking becomes a habit because it’s practiced many times a day. For example, pack-a-day smokers lift cigarettes to their mouth and inhale about 109,500 times a year. Also, smoking is linked by habit to other behaviors such as drinking coffee, work breaks, drinking alcohol, and social situations.
5.) Pleasure - Many smokers get a great deal of pleasure from the habit. They enjoy the taste, smell and feel of cigarettes. Although directly related to habit, smoking a cigarette can be a very personal, relaxing occasion. This makes it difficult for some smokers to even think about quitting.
I hope this helps!
Quit Meter
$110,684.44
Amount Saved
Quit Meter
Days: 3614 Hours: 13
Minutes: 14 Seconds: 51
Life Gained
Quit Meter
45409
Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter
681,135
Cigarettes Not Smoked
