Beating Your Psychological Addiction to Nicotine
Stopping smoking is a very concrete and simple goal. However, reaching that goal is not so easy than you would think. In my experience, the problem is not the physical withdrawal symptoms of Nicotine, because they are generally quite mild. The real problem of stopping smoking is beating your psychological addiction to Nicotine. Beating your internal Nicotine addict will be easier as long as you remember following three points:
- Understand that your mind is your worst enemy. Your mind will start playing games with you right after you have stopped smoking. It will try to get its dosage of Nicotine by using any means necessary. It is essential that you do not listen to it. Remember that smoking does not relieve stress or make you feel less nervous. Stress and anxiety are caused by the withdrawal symptoms of Nicotine, and they exist only in your mind. As long you remember this, you can stop smoking even without willpower.
- You do not need willpower. Most of the smokers are trying to stop smoking by using so called willpower method. This is a mistake, because they assume that stopping smoking has to be a painful experience. They assume that they have to give up something, which makes their lives better. However, if this is the case, why smokers are not usually recommending smoking to anyone? Why they do not want that their children start to smoke? After a smoker realizes that he is not giving up anything by stopping smoking, he also understands that there is no need for willpower. He does not need it, because he is making his life better.
- Concentrate on living, not stopping smoking. When you are trying to stop smoking, your mind is often tormented by thoughts of smoking. You should do yourself a favor and start thinking about living. By concentrating to the positive aspects of your life, you will soon find out that stopping smoking is not such a hard experience after all. This method works especially well, because thoughts of smoking will disappear soon, if you do not pay any attention to them. Keep your mind busy and remember to stay positive. Positive thoughts will help you to stay active, which makes forgetting smoking easier.
As soon you understand that stopping smoking is a battle against your mind, you have instantly made it easier for you. You know now that your urge to smoke is not a symptom created by your body. It is your mind, who is trying to convince you to start smoking again. However, if you have understood that you are not giving up anything important, beating your own mind will become a pleasant experience. If you continue your journey further, you will realize that you can beat your psychological addiction to Nicotine and finally be free.
