The dreaded breakup letter. We've all felt the sting of letting go of something familiar, even if it's not good for us.

For many, tobacco has been a constant companion for years. Even when we realize it's time to part ways, it's tough. Quitting tobacco fee

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 4.5% of U.S. adults used electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) in 2021. E-cigarette sales surged 46.6% from January 2020 to December 2022.

In my clinical practice, I often get questions about helping peo

I often see patients who tell me their biggest barrier to quitting smoking is their stress! However, many of them admit that stress is a constant in life, and then realize that if they go by that, there may never be a good time for quitting smoking.

While

I met with a patient this morning whom I'll refer to as Bob. Bob is a retired man from the Midwest with significant tobacco-related health concerns, including lung function and circulation issues. As we were getting to know each other, he mentioned that h

We are creatures of habit by nature, enjoying the comfort of daily routines.

These routines might include waking up and having a cigarette, making coffee, doing the Sunday crossword puzzle, having a soda with lunch, watching TV late at night, enjoying dess

In the United States, 55% of individuals over the age of 18 report drinking alcohol in the past month. Among this same group, 13% report currently smoking cigarettes. The prevalence of smoking is higher among people who consume alcohol, and the prevalence

Have you ever felt like you were unraveling at the seams, and could not explain why you felt this way? It may seem like this “breaking at the seams” is happening out of nowhere, but there are often SIGNS. SIGNS that have gone IGNORED, and which place you

Smoking can influence our relationships in myriad ways, and an often-overlooked aspect is its use for conveying non-verbal messages. Indeed, your smoking habits might be sending silent signals.

For instance, have you ever leveraged smoking as an escape rou

We have written articles in this community about the importance of having support people to help with a smoking cessation attempt in order to enhance success. Is this just a good idea or is there evidence behind this to support the effectiveness of this a

Some people can quit tobacco cold turkey. Internal drive, motivation, and maybe a very strong external motivation pushes some to quit and stay quit.  Most people try this method. It makes a lot of sense. But, research over the past 25 years has shown tha

The path to a tobacco-free life is a winding one, filled with emotional highs and lows. As one navigates this transition, it's typical to confront a spectrum of emotions, from guilt and grief to regret, resentment, shame, and vulnerability.

These emotions

Many people feel that they “can quit on their own.”  Or they may say, “I need to do this on my own.” 

I always feel a little twinge of sadness when I think about how that must feel when looking at such a big behavior change like quitting smoking. For, fro

Lately, in my sessions with patients, I have noticed a common theme while exploring some of the things that triggered their relapse.

Battling Autopilot Mode

Many of my patients shared that they became too comfortable, or they stopped paying attention to sit

Addiction has three core features: 

1. Adverse impact on health, social standing, interpersonal connections, and/or finances
2. Tolerance requiring higher and higher doses to achieve same effect
3. Withdrawal causing mental or physical symptoms associated with discon

I met with a few patients this week who have been tobacco-free for periods ranging from 6 months to 24 months or more.  However, all of these patients had experienced a lapse recently, having smoked a few cigarettes, or even a pack, due to life stressors.

We all have times in our lives when things do not go as planned. We plan to quit using tobacco and then:

• An important relationship encounters some struggles 
• Our job feels overwhelming
• Our children are struggling
• We experience an unexpected financial hardsh

Sometimes cravings get worse when there is an underlying stressor in our lives. Two major stressors that can affect us significantly are

1) making big decisions, and
2) being in the position of waiting for an outcome that we really have no control over.

Mak

As you are aware, nicotine “hijacks” the brain; and so, feeding the addiction itself becomes the primary goal when someone is using tobacco. And often, activities, interests, and/or relationships become less important when we are using tobacco. Consequent

Often people who are on a quit journey describe cigarettes (or other tobacco products) as their best friend that has been with them through “thick and thin.” It has been there as support at various times throughout their life - when things are going great

The part of the quitting process that can be the most difficult for many people are the lifestyle changes themselves. While the medication piece is an important one with quitting tobacco, the behavioral change part is also important – but, more difficult

When you are working hard to make positive changes in your life, such as quitting tobacco, it can become particularly important to have people in your life to provide support during this time. Support can be crucial as you begin to navigate or cope with t

One of the common barriers to engaging in a smoking cessation quit attempt or, after temporary success, relapsing back to cigarette smoking is weight gain. Although it is true that the weight gained after a period of successful abstinence could potentiall

Winter is one of the most difficult seasons for many of us to endure. As we trudge through the cold temperatures, the limited daylight, and those bouts of seasonal depression, we anxiously anticipate the arrival of spring and the sense of renewal it bring

When talking with patients about quitting smoking, at some point in the conversation, they may tell me that this is just not a suitable time for them to quit. They may then go on to raise the medical, financial, and/or family concerns that are very demand

Changing a behavior is a complicated process that is much easier said than done. It requires stopping a certain behavior while introducing a new set of actions to replace said behavior. This process is one which does not take place miraculously overnight.

Mindfulness can help manage cravings and provide a space to flexibly move toward your goal of living tobacco free. Mindfulness can help identify the triggers that lead to smoking; and by being more aware of those triggers, can lead to better decision-maki

When it comes to choosing nicotine replacement, there are several over the counter (OTC) and prescription only options available. Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges are available OTC. Nicotine patches are available in 21 mg, 14 mg, and 7 mg of nicotine pe

First Things First:

As you begin the process of making any behavior change (whether it be a goal such as eating better, exercising more, or quitting tobacco), here are some questions to consider:

How prepared are you to make this change? Do you have the i

Working in tobacco treatment for 26 years, one begins to notice traditional clinical approaches colliding with emerging evidence. Traditionally, we have started medications to assist with quitting when our patients are ready to make a quit attempt, holdin

There are many ways to find motivation to make any type of change:

• A slow transition
• A meaningful conversation with a loved one
• A significant event for yourself or someone you know, such as a health issue
• The desire to provide a positive example (i.e., for o