Nicotine in the main addictive ingredient in the cigarette. It is also responsible for the withdrawal symptoms that smokers experience on quitting smoking.But what are the challenges that a smokers has to face on the emotional front on quitting smoking. This article tries to understand the Emotional journey on quitting smoking.
Stage One: Fight against the physical urges:
- It is the initial phase of our fight and our spirit is high.
- The fight here is against a long standing habit and a harmful toxin called nicotine.
- A toxic body craves for nicotine here and only with our will power we deny the urge to have a puff again.
Stage Two: Fight against the psychological effects:
- When we quit smoking we compel the mind to adjust.
- The mind rebels and we experience feelings of anger,irritation and frustration.
- This is the time we start thinking of the alternatives after quitting smoking.
Stage Three: Fight against Character:
- It is the toughest phase of our fight.
- Our character gets tested here as we are tempted by many “harmless alternatives” to smoking.
- Realizing that there cannot be any alternative to smoking is the challenge here.
- Otherwise,we give up all the efforts that we put.
Stage Four: Fight against Self-esteem:
- We realize our mistakes here and a sense of guilt engulfs us.
- Brooding on it and the other losses in life during the smoking phase leads to depression or low self esteem.
- There can be a fight against social stigma too for many.
- With the support of family members and friends this phase can be conquered.
- The experience is next to re-birth.
Stage Five: Fight against our mental prejudices:
- It is the stage of recovery.
- We try to come to terms with our new life.
- We give up our earlier notions and gain knowledge about healthier life style.
- Our past life is bide farewell by accepting our mistakes and correcting them.
Stage Six: Fight against complacency:
- Success over one addiction should not fill us with an over dose of courage.
- Life is learning from mistakes and committing new ones.
- But there is no excuse for repeating the same mistakes again.
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