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October 12, 2007

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Articles

Finally Smoke Free: Breaking the Chain for Life
by Shayn Cutino

Late Summer, The Earth Element & Digestive Health
by Lourdes Gonzales (August 2007)

Finally Smoke Free:
Breaking the Chain for Life

Despite the known dangers of smoking, 47 million Americans still choose to smoke!

Picture this for a moment; a co-worker arrives at work one day beaming with joy. One by one, people start to inquire why he’s so happy and he proudly announces that he just purchased a new car…the one of his dreams. As lunch time approaches, everyone prepares to go out to lunch to celebrate his new purchase. He has announced that he’ll drive and suggested that everyone meet at his car at 12:10. As you approach the new vehicle, you stop in horror. There he is, standing outside his new vehicle smoking a cigarette. Here is my point; that this person has more respect for his new vehicle than he has for himself. I’m sure all of you have witnessed a similar scene at some point and time. Why is this?

Most people who want to stop smoking are just plain tired of it, but the thought of smoking lingers and the habit prevails. They keep lighting up to satisfy their habit saboteur and instead of getting relief, they get frustration, anxiety and even ill. If you are really tired of cigarettes and smoking controlling your life, use your subconscious to kick the habit.

Did you know that the health benefits of stopping smoking start almost immediately? Check out some of the statistics:

• After 20 minutes blood pressure and pulse return to normal
• After 8 hours nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood are halved
• After 8 hours oxygen levels in the blood return to normal
• After 24 hours carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body and the lungs start to clear out the build up of tar
• After 48 hours there is no nicotine left in the body. Taste and smell improve.
• After 72 hours breathing becomes easier, bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase
• After 2-12 weeks circulation improves
• After 3-9 months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as the lungs now have 10% more oxygen
• After 1 year the risk of a heart attack is halved
  

You have discovered that smoking is less of an addiction than it is a difficult habit to break. If harmful habits were easy to change and could be broken just by saying so, people would not have the physical and mental health problems most addictions cause. How do you know that nicotine addiction is the least of your problems? Science has demonstrated that when you do not smoke for three days there will be little or no traces of nicotine found in your blood stream; therefore, nicotine will no longer be the cause of your smoking addiction. Therefore, it stands to reason if nicotine isn't the problem it is the habit which has been ingrained in your subconscious that you need to change.

A habit is a subconscious pattern of behavior, something you do repetitively with little or no conscious control. Your subconscious has taken over the act of smoking and you don't consciously think much about it. Smoking oftentimes just seems to happen. For example, when you light a cigarette you do not consciously think, “Now I am going to light a cigarette,” as you take a pack from your pocket. Most likely you are in the process of performing some other conscious act such as writing or talking on the phone and as you light the cigarette and begin to inhale and exhale you enjoy each and every drag until you put it out.

Even though the addiction to smoking may feel very physical, the smoking addiction has been scientifically proven to be more psychological than physical. Changing your mind to change a habit is the only method proven over a century of time to work consistently well in the removal of unwanted behavior, especially smoking!

You have little or no conscious control over the act of smoking. If you did you would already have stopped. To change a habit you need to change the pattern of your behavior from the inside out. If you want to quit smoking but just can't get smoking off your mind, your mind is no longer working for you but against you and it needs to relearn good habits.

Face it, the real cost of smoking isn’t about the dollars; it’s about your life. Just a reminder that the Great American Smoke Out is November 15th. Join millions across the country and get your health back for good!

Shayn Cutino is a Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist.