To work out how smoking is affecting you it is useful to look at both the good and the bad things associated with it. If smoking was a totally unpleasant experience, you probably wouldn’t do it and if there was nothing bad about it, you would have no need to stop.
So what is good about smoking? What do you like about it? What do you look forward to when you are thinking about smoking?
It’s relaxing
It helps me unwind after work
It helps me to concentrate
A cigarette is my reward throughout the day
I enjoy the taste
I enjoy the ritual of handling and lightening up
It’s something to do with my hands
It helps me to control my appetite
It’s something to do when I am bored
It gives me confidence in social situations
It helps me cope with feelings such as anger, anxiety or
frustration
A lot of people I know smoke – it’s just what we do
Now it’s time to look at the concerns you may have about smoking:
I worry about the impact it’s having on my health It’s expensive It’s not as enjoyable as it used to be I feel controlled by my smoking habit I worry how it is affecting my kids My kids worry about my health I feel bad about myself I feel pressure to quit from my family, friends, doctor or others It’s becoming socially unacceptable with the new smoke free legislation I can no longer smoke in work I have to pay higher life insurance I don’t like the unpleasant smell of smoke at home, in the car or the office I don’t like the smell of smoke on my breath, hair and clothes I don’t like the nicotine stains on my teeth and fingers Although many smokers can see the benefits of stopping – feeling healthier, having more energy and having more money – it is still difficult to make that first step. They worry about dealing with cravings, being unable to cope with stress, putting on weight or feeling irritable.
To check if you’re really ready to quit smoking, we encourage you to go back to looking at your concerns about smoking. Be honest about the impact that smoking has on your health, your family, your budget. Are they important enough to make you want to stop and do you think you have the confidence to succeed?
