Nicotine Is Addictive

Here is where the problem lies: addiction. The sad thing is that most people don't realize this.

Here are some of the most popular excuses that people use to try to justify their habit of smoking:

EXCUSE #1 - It relieves stress

It really doesn't. Your body and mind are capable of handling a lot of stress, and you do not need any drug to lend external support. The fact is that once your brain is addicted to nicotine, it weakens and becomes unable to handle problems. The result is that you get stressed very fast, and your brain starts demanding its dose of nicotine. When give it the nicotine it craves, you feel as if your stress is relieved.

EXCUSE #2 - It drives away sleep

Sleep is a natural part of the body's rhythm. Our bodies need rest, and demand it from time to time. When you smoke, the nicotine goes straight to your brain, interferes with its working, and causes confusion. You might be able to ward off sleep, but you are interfering with the functioning of your brain. This is like playing with fire.

EXCUSE #3 - It perks me up

Maybe - but isn't that a sort of external perk? Isn't that another way of saying, "I am unable to keep in high spirits by myself so I need to depend on cigarettes"? Look at all those little children - they are always in the highest of spirits. Wouldn't it be better simply to take life as it comes?

Most people wrongly think that it is only narcotic drugs that are addictive. This is wrong. Nicotine is as addictive as any narcotic. Once you get used to it, it is not going to be easy to break away from it.

An Unfair Battle

Let's take a moment to ponder our bodies. They are such remarkable things. Just think of all those activities that are going on so harmoniously inside our bodies. Most of these activities and functions go on without our own knowledge. It's almost like a well oiled machine.

And think of the countless number of times when you have fallen ill, and how this remarkable body has fought back and won the battle. Forget about giving credit to it. None of us does that. But the least we can do is lend it a helping hand.

The world we are living in is horribly polluted. And as it is, the body has a colossal task to fight off all those toxins. And here we are pulling in loads and loads of toxic smoke as many times a day as possible. The body will pull on as long as it can, and in the end, one fine day it will put its foot down and say "enough is enough, go ahead cough up and die". We can hardly blame it!

Let's now talk about our central subject, and that is how to stop smoking. It's not going to be easy. This is an exercise that will put your nerves, your muscles and every cell in your body to the utmost level of endurance. But in the end, when you triumph, you will realize that it was worth it.

After all, it is a matter of life and death. And believe me you can do it once you make up your mind.

The next section is: Deciding to Stop