Getting Past the Guilt

[Dr_Hurt]

People who have tried to stop smoking many times often blame themselves or feel guilty that they continue to smoke. Many people want desperately to stop and have tried often and have been unable to stay smoke-free. As a result they feel terrible about themselves. I would like to encourage you to stop blaming yourself and focus the anger where it belongs.

Tobacco companies have created a highly sophisticated and extremely addicting product in the cigarette. Nicotine is the addicting substance in cigarettes. The nicotine molecule can travel into the brain only in an “unbound” or “free” form. Tobacco companies have ‘improved’ cigarettes by using ‘bases’ like ammonia to change the pH of cigarettes and enhance or ‘free-base’ nicotine thus making the nicotine travel to the brain more quickly, speeding up the delivery of nicotine increasing its addicting potential. The companies also manipulate the amount of nicotine in the cigarette so that they are consistent from one smoke to the next. All of this makes it more difficult for most smokers to stop. Unfortunately, using this product as it is designed to be used will kill more than one half of the people who use it. If you smoke, it is important that you stop, even though it can be hard. Don’t blame yourself; instead, use every tool available to help you stop smoking. Learn how to stop giving your hard-earned money to the industry that continues to hook their customers to this most deadly product. Go to the EX site to re-learn your addiction. http://becomeanex.org/#relearn_addiction


Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org

[jennie3]

Good info!

[jennie3]

Good info!

[nan7]

Thanks Dr. Hurt, I am a relapser and your blog does take away some of the guilt about smoking.

I just wonder what causes the huge, axiety ridden, aversion to quitting. I know I will be getting my nicotine from patches, and still, you would think someone was asking me to cut off my right arm when I think about doing the "quit". It is a strange thing. Once I get a patch on, and start getting the nicotine, I am suddenly fine with quitting. what is that huge fear that iniltially flares up?

[jennie3]

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