How Fear Keeps You Smoking & how you can change it

If you’re a smoker and worried about the risks around COVID-19 then now would be a good time to think about quitting for good.

It’s a harsh reality that if you’re a smoker you’re more likely to get acute respiratory infections and have a higher risk of those infections becoming severe.

There has never been a better time to stop smoking.

But quitting is hard for many, and perhaps particularly so at a time of great stress and when many of our routines have been so suddenly disrupted

Perhaps, like the majority of smokers, the mere thought of stopping fills you with panic

If you smoke, the mere thought of giving up can fill you with PANIC...? Is this YOU?

You have every intention of quitting one day - just not today...

Is this YOU?

You are not alone

Most smokers continue to smoke for one reason...

FEAR!

THE ONLY THING THAT PREVENTS US FROM QUITTING IS: FEAR!

Fear - that you will have to undergo an unknown period of time suffering feelings of deprivation

Fear - that social occasions will not be quite as enjoyable without a cigarette

Fear - that you can’t concentrate or be as confident without that crutch

Fear - that your identity, your personality

or your character will change

Fear - that you will lose the “helpful friend” that helps you cope with stress And that quitting may cause you to gain a few pounds.

And here’s the news...

That fear of giving up

is actually CREATED by cigarettes

You never decided to fall into the nicotine trap!

But nicotine is designed to ensure that you remain there And you need to be motivated to break free

You can take some small steps towards a nicotine-free life A rehearsal for the time when you can give up smoking

for good!

1 Make a list of the reasons to quit

There are probably a number of them - but have you ever actually written them as a list?

2 Set a quit date And stick to it!

3 Change your brand

ONE week before your quit date - change your brand of cigarette. You

will find they are not as enjoyable

4 Try to change the hand you use to hold your cigarette

It will feel awkward - but th