Addiction vs. Habit

We have all heard the latest news: Smoking is bad for your health. This information has not been a secret. You don’t have to go around pointing it out. We already know. The strange part is that smokers know this too. That is why I hear phrases like, “I know I should quit” and “I want to be healthier, so I will quit”. Yet, many of these people are still smoking.

Here is another newsflash for you: cigarettes are addicting. Nicotine is an addictive substance that makes it very difficult to quit using it. Again, we all know this. For this reason we have products and programs to help people quit smoking.

So, if we all know it’s bad for us why do we keep doing it? We know it’s addictive, so why do we start in the first place? That is still a mystery to me. I have heard many stories and reasons for picking up cigarettes, but I am still curious. If you are a smoker, please send your comments to coach@byrdwellnessconcepts.com and enlighten us. We would like to hear your take on why you started and why you continue to smoke.

While there are many reasons to start smoking, there are even more reasons to stop. This is easier said than done, however. I mentioned the products and programs that are available to people ready to quit. These are very effective for many people. Others just don’t work. Why is this? It is because of habit.

There is a difference between habit and addiction. Addiction is the body physically depending on a substance to bring a desired effect. Habit is something that we have trained ourselves to do. Smoking becomes part of your life, not just because of the nicotine, but also because of the habits you have formed. On a typical day, you have made cigarettes a part of your life to the point where you do it without even thinking about it.

This is why it is so difficult to quit. Anyone can put them down for a few days and say they “quit”. But as soon as they start smoking again, they are smokers and are not considered to have “quit”. Studies show that the nicotine is no longer in your system after just a few days, therefore, the physical addiction only lasts that long.

It is not enough to simply quit smoking. You have to change your habits too. It may not be easy, but if you truly want to quit, you can. It takes discipline, but you can do it. If you truly want to quit, you will. With your health coach in our program you will not only quit, but we help you replace the habits of smoking. The only way to be a non-smoker is to develop non-smoking habits. It does’t come automatically, but your coach helps you set goals and supports you through the challenges. Step by step you will not only quit smoking. You will be a non-smoker.