If you want to quit smoking, you can

How many people do you see at the end of the day on the street with a cigarette in hand? Don't be fooled, even if these people say they like to smoke, they are actually addicted.

Tobacco contains many substances that are not healthy for the body at all, and yet smokers continue to use. Maybe it has happened to you yourself, or you have people around whom it happens: any occasion to light up the cigarette and take a couple of puffs is perfect. And well, since you can leave it when you feel like it, well, nothing happens.

Now think about it: what really happens when you try to quit smoking? Can you do it without problems or is it difficult for you? Moreover, our question is the following: have you ever tried it? And here's one more question for you to answer: what happened when you quit?

No, smoking is not a habit. A habit is to go for a run in the morning, or read a good book after eating. Smoking is an addiction. And it is very difficult to overcome it and not relapse.

• Related article: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

But is tobacco really an addiction?

Well, yes, it is, despite the fact that people who smoke think that it is not. Tobacco addiction is caused by nicotine, and, like any other addictive substance, makes you constantly look for the perfect "excuse" to pick up a cigarette. It doesn't matter if it's to "relax" after a work meeting or because you "like" smoking.

When you use nicotine, your body gets used to it and needs you to give it to it to “feel good”. On the other hand, we cannot forget that the mere act of smoking is considered a social act, and as it is, despite the redundancy, socially accepted, well, nothing happens. We keep smoking.

• You may be interested: "Social skills as an addiction prevention tool"

a complicated process

We do not want to over-emphasise that quitting smoking is difficult because it is an addiction, and like other addictions, when you try to quit there are a series of symptoms that can affect you. From irritability to loss of sleep, they make up the symptomatology of the withdrawal syndrome. However, each person is different, and it does not have to affect everyone equally.

It is a fact that the hardest thing is to overcome the initial period, since it is when the body will ask you to smoke the most, but if you succeed, you will already have a long way to go.

• Related article: "Is there a relationship between people's self-esteem and addiction?"

Is there an easier way to quit tobacco?

No, there is not. Be wary of the miraculous methods you can find out there. However, there are some questions and practices that can help you, finally, to beat smoking.

First of all, it is important to know the reason why you want to quit smoking. By eliminating these harmful substances for your body, your body will feel better, and some of the problems you had will go away.

Let us ask you a question: how many times have you sworn that you were going to quit smoking, but on Monday? And what happened when Monday came? Did you leave it? Surely not, and that happens because we do not set a fixed date (near, as soon as possible). If you decide to quit smoking, why not do it today? It will always cost you a lot of work, but with a firm decision and a strong will, nothing can stop you.

On the other hand, there are times that we make resolutions for ourselves. And precisely because they are for ourselves, they remain in borage water. However, when you promise someone, when you convey to other people that you want to quit smoking, it is like a commitment that you acquire with those people. But not only is that, but you can also ask them for help.

Avoiding temptations is also a very good practice to quit tobacco. For example, if when you went with certain people you smoked, stop going for a while with them.

There is a very good motivation these days when the economy is such a complicated issue for many people: smoking costs a lot of money. The price of tobacco is high, and stopping consuming it will undoubtedly be an economic relief. Think about it, when you buy tobacco what you do is literally burn money. If you quit smoking, what you spend in a month on an addiction can be saved or spent on something else. Precisely that, spending the money you wasted on tobacco on something else is a reward for your effort. And you deserve it. You will enjoy it much more.

• You may be interested: "The best defense against addiction is prevention"

In conclusion

Many people will tell you that quitting smoking is very easy because they believe that it is simply something that you can quit whenever and however you want. The reality is quite another: tobacco addiction is as complicated as any other, and it requires a lot of effort and help to achieve it. But it's worth it.