Why Giving Up Smoking is Difficult?

If you're a smoker, chances are that you have tried to give up at some point in your life. It's not easy is it? Once you realize the power of addiction, it's easy to understand just how difficult it can be for people to give up on "drug of choice".

For smokers however, the urge to have "another cigarette" is even more powerful than with most other drugs, including alcohol and marijuana. Why? Because nicotine is one of the most addictive substances in the world.

How You Get Hooked?

When someone takes their first cigarette, they often remark on how disgusting it is. They cough, splutter, and can't quite understand why people like to "smoke" all the time.

It's not until the next day that they think... "actually, that was quite nice". It is at this point that they might reach for the pack again and have another puff. This is the beginning of an addiction. Let's break down exactly what happened:

• The first puff provided nicotine to the brain.
• The brain produced extra endorphins and serotonin, which encouraged pleasurable feelings.
• The brain associated nicotine with pleasure.
• We all like pleasure, so that brain demands more nicotine.

Hence, the more someone smokes, the more the brain adapts to the constant stream of serotonin that is produced on a regular basis. Going "cold turkey" and switching off the nicotine supply will therefore starve your brain of pleasure... which results in a craving.

Breaking the Chain

Fortunately, with persistence and determination, it is possible to break this vicious cycle. The brain is an amazing organ, which is constantly able to adapt to a changing situation. However, it's not so good with sudden, dramatic changes.

For this reason, many people find it beneficial to seek the help of a smoking cessation aid when giving up. This has the following affect:

• You swap nicotine for another, less addictive drug.
• Serotonin is still produced, but the new drug is far less addictive.
• You stop smoking, and eventually stop taking the new drug.
• Your brain adapts gradually and side effects are minimized.

This is why people who decide to quit cold turkey are far less likely to succeed in the long run. Their brains are suddenly jolted in to a new pattern, and the desire to light up again is too strong for them to resist.