by Susan Hicks

Created on: April 28, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

How to Stop Smoking Cigarettes

We all know why we should stop smoking including all the health benefits of quitting, but for most the how to stop is tricky to say the least.

I have been addicted to cigarettes since the day I was born. Growing up I do not recall noticing my parents smoke, however I do remember when they finally quit. My father quit when he was thirty at which time he took up smoking cigars. My mother finally quit when she was fifty, right after her first heart attack. Neither discussed the withdrawals.

I started smoking at the age of 17 just trying to be cool with my friends. I did not enjoy smoking much so it was an occasional fling for a couple of years until I got married, when I took it up full time right along with my husband. Smoking seemed a natural part of life in the 1960's, and most of the people I knew smoked. Then I turned thirty, and suddenly everything that was normal became irrational. My sense of responsibility seemed to kick in. Even cigarettes seemed bad. That must have been around the time the government decided to acknowledge the detrimental effects of nicotine and begin anti smoking campaigns. People started to take notice. I believe the first Great American Smoke Out was in 1976, and awareness was the key. Since then, changes in attitudes about smoking have dramatically increased, ultimately leading to fewer smoking related deaths.

So, why are people still smoking cigarettes some thirty plus years later? Why are we having such a heard time quitting despite the years of studies, public events bringing awareness of the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking, laws governing the sale of tobacco products to children, higher taxes on tobacco, public bans on smoking, etcetera?
Some may say the need to smoke is all in your head, but that is only partially true. While it is true that nicotine causes real physical addiction, some of the reasons why one may quit only to relapse may be attributed to stress, anxiety and low self esteem. A negative outlook on life has a major affect on how people handle certain emotional situations. For some, cigarette smoking may help mask the pain of denial, depression and other life altering events. When making a commitment to quit smoking one must be ready to accept the challenges of dealing with the real issues of the addiction, including why you smoke and how to handle the withdrawals.

I have quit smoking again for the umpteenth time. As my very wise and much smarter than I granddaughter reminded

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