"I know smoking is bad for me - why can't I just quit?"
A lot of smokers ask themselves this question when they are trying to kick the habit; they feel that since they are so hooked on there is no hope - however understanding the nature of addiction tells us that it takes a little hard work and change - and that there is hope.
India has 75,000 to 80,000 new cases of oral cancer a year - the world's highest incidence. And an estimated 2,200 deaths per day are tobacco related; about one in three smokers who do not stop will eventually die because of their smoking- knowing this, what makes it difficult to kick the habit? Everyone knows that smoking is harmful, but few realize just how risky and addictive it is.
Most smokers want to stop and do indeed try, but only one in three succeeds in stopping permanently before age 60. By this time, much harm may have been done to the body - some of it irreversible.
The reason why so many people fail to stop is because they are addicted. Being addicted does not mean that you cannot stop - only that it is likely to be difficult. Anyone can succeed if he or she goes about it the right way.
Nicotine dependence is the physical vulnerability of your body to the chemical nicotine, which is potently addictive. This chemical produces physical changes and alters your mood that is temporarily pleasing; these effects reinforce your continued use of tobacco and nicotine dependence.
How do I know if my habit has become an addiction?
Nicotine addiction in the form of smoking, or chewing tobacco, etc, is characterized by the following symptoms
Craving The strong need or compulsion to smoke or chew tobacco
Loss of controlThe frequent inability to stop smoking or chewing tobacco once a person has begun.
Physical dependenceThe occurrence of withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when it tobacco intake is stopped after a period of heavy use. These symptoms are usually relieved by drinking alcohol or by taking another sedative drug or a tobacco substitute.
ToleranceThe need for increasing amounts of nicotine in order to get 'high' or feel 'relaxed'.
Why is it so hard to quit smoking or chewing tobacco?
Since nicotine based tobacco products are so addictive, repeated use and the body getting conditioned to having nicotine in the bloodstream, can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit. Thus good feelings that result when an addictive drug is present - and the bad feelings that result when it's absent, make breaking any addiction very difficult. In fact, research into smoking/tobacco chewing/other such oral addictive substances, has found that pharmacologic and behavioral characteristics that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
What Sustains Your Addiction?
The nicotine you get from cigarettes gives you instant pleasure, which is what makes it so addictive. When you inhale the smoke from a cigarette it only takes 7-10 seconds for nicotine to reach the brain. Once it gets there it triggers the release of chemicals namely dopamine which is responsible for bringing pleasure to the person which is thus associated with the high that one might feel when smoking. Because it happens so fast you get an instant gratification on that chemical level, which you may experience as relaxation or even a mild high.
The brain of a person who is addicted differs from that of a person who is not dependent on smoking.
Experiencing any pleasurable event, results in a large increase in the dopamine level in the brain... with a quick return to normal level after the event so the brain is ready to enjoy another pleasurable event. With the first nicotine high, the dopamine level rises higher, however as compared to other pleasurable events the dopamine level doesn't return to the normal baseline. It plunges to 0 i.e. no dopamine and stays there.
The set point changes and the brain's dopamine "thermostat" is reset. The baseline of an addicted person becomes much lower than a person who is not addicted to smoking. Therefore with each succeeding use the baseline becomes lower and lower, a person must use more and more to get to his/her "normal" baseline.
Breaking the Cycle
What drives basic human behavior? Very simple... we seek pleasure and avoid pain. We search for experiences that will make us feel good, that are rewarding and avoid painful things. Many people think that quitting tobacco use is a matter of will power. However, due to the chemical nature of the addiction, it is much more than that.
Trying to successfully quit smoking involves a step-by-step process and is best done with the sustained help of a counselor, a medical practitioner and support of family / friends. It involves a systematic mental preparation, systematic lifestyle changes and even medication.
Smoking or chewing tobacco is a habit that is 'learnt' and hence can be 'unlearnt' - it requires sustained effort and willingness to seek help. Quitting is hard - but it can be achieved. Each time you try to quit, you can learn about what helps and what doesn't. However, even with this reality, the good news for you is that, most motivated people are able to quit smoking and even after quitting, continue to take the effort to keep away from smoking/chewing tobacco, for the rest of their lives.