October 13, 2010
Process Analysis Essay
Nicotine is a drug found in tobacco. It can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally addicted to nicotine. There are studies that have shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological dependence to quit and stay nicotine free. Quitting smoking is a step by step process that will enhance and prolong lives. Smokers often say that they want to quit, but do not know how. There is no one right way to quit, but there are some key elements in quitting with success. A smoker has to make the decision to quit smoking first. There are questions a smoker could ask himself to help make that decision easier, such as does …show more content…
This is a very important step for the smoker. The smoker needs to pick a specific day within the next month as his/her quit day. Picking a date too far away can allow time to rationalize and change a smoker’s mind. There should be enough time to prepare and come up with a plan. The smoker needs to circle the date on a calendar and make a strong, personal commitment to quit on that day.
A smoker needs to prepare for his/her quit day. There is no one right way to quit. A smoker can smoke until the quit day and then quit. Another way involves cutting down on the number of cigarettes he/she smoke each day. This method reduces the amount of nicotine in the smoker’s body.
Withdrawal from nicotine has two parts, which are the physical and the mental. The physical symptoms are annoying but are not life-threatening. Nicotine replacement and other medicines can help reduce many of these physical symptoms. Most smokers find that the biggest challenge is the mental part of quitting. If a smoker has been smoking for any length of time, smoking has become linked with nearly everything he/she does, such as waking up in the morning, eating, reading, watching television, and drinking coffee. This is why, even if a smoker is using a nicotine replacement, he/she may still have strong urges to