To make any great life change you must first go through five basic stages of change. Quitting smoking is one such life change and thus adheres to the stages of change principle.
- Precontemplation- Not even thinking about quitting smoking
- Contemplation- Thinking about quitting, but not quite ready to quit
- Preparation- Getting ready to actually quit
- Action- Quitting smoking
- Maintenance- Remaining a non-smoker
You are currently in one of the 5 stages listed. The following is an example of the first stage:
You do not want to quit. You hate people constantly nagging you to quit, or all the people who may not say anything but are passing judgement nonetheless. You are an adult, with the right to make your decisions and choose your own path.
Smoking or quitting is your choice to make; the only purpose of this website is to ensure that you have all the information to make the most educated choice. Our purpose is not to throw facts and figures at you, but to help you look at smoking: smoking in general, and specifically why you smoke.
Why You Smoke
It is important to first know why you smoke, there are six main reasons:
- stimulation
- handling
- pleasure
- relaxation
- craving
- habit
Look at those reasons and see if you could achieve the same goal using a replacement for smoking, something that was not as harmful to yourself and those around you.
For example, if you smoke because it gives you energy, you could easily achieve the same boost by exercising or taking deep breaths.
The alternative is much healthier and more effective. This holds true for most reasons; there is usually a healthier and superior alternative to smoking.
General Facts
- Nicotine has an initial stimulatory effect, which is why it gives a boost. After this initial stimulatory phase, nicotine acts as a depressant, forcing you to get another cigarette to feel the lift.
- Nicotine does not in fact relax you but rather increases both your blood pressure and your heart rate. It only gives the illusion of relaxation because it gives you a chance to take a break and get your mind off of whatever you are doing.
- The tar in cigarettes is made up of trace amounts of hundreds of harmful chemical solids, not to mention all the toxic gases released from a cigarette.
- This tar puts you at an increased risk for cancer, asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.
- One of the gases released from smoking is carbon monoxide. This enters your lungs and begins to compete with oxygen for the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. This causes decreased amounts of oxygen to reach all parts of your body, decreasing the overall efficiency and performance of your organs, muscles and other systems.
Hopefully this page helps you think a little bit about why you smoke and gives you some facts to consider. Whether or not you decide to quit now, or ever, it is important to realize that it is your decision. However you are not alone if you decide to quit. The following is a list of resources and support groups you can contact if you need additional information or decide to contemplate quitting smoking.
Get Help
Canadian Cancer Society 1-888-939-3333
Heart and Stroke Foundation 1-888-473-4636
Occupational Health University of Waterloo Campus
Ontario Lung Association 1-800-972-2636
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada
Smokers Helpline 1-877-513-5333