Stop Smoking

What do your cigarettes mean to you?
Understanding why you smoke is an important step in giving up. There may be more than one reason, of course.

An extension of my body
If you’re this kind of smoker, you’re probably not getting much satisfaction from your habit. Unlike people who smoke for pleasure, you might not miss it too much if you stopped.

A "treat"
Almost two out of three smokers say they just plain enjoy smoking. When you associate smoking with "good times", it can strengthen your habit further.

A comforting social ritual
Many people find the rituals involved with smoking calming and satisfying, and handle cigarettes as a way to feel less self-conscious in public.

My "tranquiliser"
The irony of using cigarettes to calm down is that the way they act on your body makes you more tense. Nicotine, far from helping relieve stress, may actually cause it.

An "upper"
The nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant, and it can make you feel temporarily more alert.

A "fix"
A withdrawal period typically involves both physical symptoms (tiredness, irritability, headaches, anxiety) and an emotional need for a cigarette.