People who smoke cigarettes sometimes do not even know why they continue the habit other than there is a fear if trying to quit. They know they would feel better if they did. They know that they would be reducing their risk for developing cancer or other serious illnesses if they stopped. So, why can they not make themselves start the process of quitting? The emotional attachment to smoking is different for every smoker, but the physical reason is all the same.
The body is addicted to the nicotine and the brain never fails to let a smoker know it. There are little receptors in the brain that begin to scream at a smoker when the nicotine level in the body begins to diminish. Nicotine causes the brain to release chemicals in the brain that make a smoker feel good. This is what it is all about. The addiction to the release of the feel good moment is what a smoker does not want to do without. Many smokers do not even realize this is taking place in the brain because the feeling is so subtle when the body is having the nicotine craving satisfied.
When a smoker suddenly stops getting their nicotine fix, the brain and body reacts with rebellion to the absence of the steady supply of nicotine. It wants it and it wants it now. The lack of nicotine can cause a smoker to become irritable and anxious. They can get jittery and feel very restless all because their addiction is not being fed. This is really no different than addictions to other drugs that people do. It might not cause the severe symptoms that an addiction to heroine or other substances can cause, but it is very uncomfortable just the same.
It is the fear of having to go through the nicotine withdrawals that scare a smoker into not even trying to quit. Many times they have heard plenty of horror stories from others that have tried to quit, both those that were successful and those who were not. It is about the same as someone who has a terrible fear of going to the dentist. Someone like that can have a terrible toothache the same way a smoker can be suffering shortness of breath. They both know that they need to do what is best for themselves, but the fear paralyzes them into doing nothing.
What smokers do not realize is that after a few days the nicotine is out of their system. This does not mean that the craving to smoke because of the emotional addiction will not still be with them, but the physical addiction will be over. The emotional addiction is actually more complicated to deal with than the physical. This is when the help of a support group or becoming involved in new activities where no smoking is allowed can be a big help to conquer this part of the quitting process.
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