THE STRESSED SMOKING MYTH
By Dr. Daniel Seidman
From: Breathe
Easier: Stop Smoking
"I need
cigarettes because I am stressed. I need this to cope with stress."
Many smokers share this common belief. You may really believe this and, like so
many smokers, this is how you explain your smoking behavior to yourself. But
what if it's just a belief, not a fact?
What if smoking is just an overrated activity…a bad habit…rote, negative
behavior having nothing to do with stress management? Perhaps it distracts you
when you're upset. But can smoking solve real-life problems? No, it is a
real-life problem itself. This is the classic false belief of addicted smokers,
and it must be challenged and debunked to learn to live smoke-free.
When did smoking a cigarette ever solve a real-life problem?
Smoking because of stress is what is called a rationalization. This is
something you tell yourself to try to make yourself feel good about something
you really feel bad about. We all do it, but smokers are especially prone to
rationalize about stress and smoking.
The truth is that an addicted smoker doesn't need a reason to smoke. The
momentum of smoking, its automatic quality, is a three-headed monster. It comes
from:
Complete this exercise to prove to yourself why you should live smoke-free.
*(or copy the questions that are at the end of this page)
Smoking is an uncreative and repetitive response to life stress. It actually
weakens the opportunity to develop healthy and flexible coping responses by
relying on a fixed and rote way of responding to living.
Talk about living inside a box…only this one is a cigarette box!
*(incase they delete the page:
"I need cigarettes because I
am stressed. I need this to cope with stress."
Many smokers share this common
belief. But can smoking solve real life problems? No, it is a real-life
problem itself. This is the
classic false belief of addicted smokers, and it must be challenged and
debunked
to learn to live smoke-free.
To combat the urge to smoke when
you're stressed, complete this exercise. Refer to your reasons whenever
a stressful situation has you
reaching for cigarettes.
Write your reasons to live
smoke-free...
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Now, write your reasons to
continue smoking and compare the two...
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(From the oprah show, according to Dr. Oz. )