If you've approached to the idea of quitting smoking in the past and regressed, or if you’re currently at this moment thinking about quitting for good, it is always a good idea to understand the components involved in the process to quitting smoking. It is absolutely vital for you to understand exactly what you will experience on the process of defeating your smoking addiction so that you are better prepared to manage the various potential situations.
People who attempt to stop smoking usually go through five stages, with each step having diverse psychological manifestations. Evidently, there is an appropriate way of handling each step. Each step needs different forms of approaches to tackle the problem. In order to make sure that you progress to the steps and in due time succeed living your new lifestyle smoke free, read on.
Stage 1: Pre-Contemplation
Pre-contemplation is the first step in the process to cease this habit. It is somewhat customary for most smokers to attempt to quit smoking in response to peer pressure; like for example, family, friends, and colleagues pressuring him or her to quit smoking. The truth is, this individual does not truly agree to quit smoking, but is forced to do so thanks to outside influence. This individual may try to stop smoking not because he or she is especially willing to do so, but because he or she succumbed to pressure. If someone has no intention of changing, why would they bother? When the process starts off under these conditions, the most probable result is that the person will soon relapse and take up smoking once more, given that the motivation is lacking or inappropriate.
Stage 2: Contemplation
Contemplation is the second step in the process. At this stage, the desire to kick the habit is addressed, however the smoker may not bother taking action to do so. The individual knows acknowledges that it is important to make a change and in all probability agrees with such reasons. Nevertheless, during this stage, said smoker still manages to justify smoking, with the distant and abstract notion of one day giving up smoking. Many smokers fall into this stage and become chronic contemplators, they find it difficult to leave this stage.
Stage 3: Preparation
The third phase in the quit smoking process is known as preparation, which can be perceived as the waiting room for the actual stop smoking process. The smoker has a genuine intention to make a change and has in fact taken the first steps to reach that goal. Usually, these measures are intended to make the transition smoother such as decreasing the number of cigarettes one consumes on a daily basis, or avoiding the grocery store (to buy cigarettes) on the way home from work.
Stage 4: Quitting
Fourth in the quit smoking stages is actually going to make the most progress. In this stage, the smoker is ready. They have decided to kick the habit. The individual has done something to fulfill this plan. This stage is very vulnerable to relapse. This is when the smoker returns to a previous stage. As said smoker quits smoking, he/she has to endure withdrawal, not give in to the often compelling desire to smoke again, and in general adapt to a smoke-free life. The fourth quit smoking stage can last from 6 months to a year.
Stage 5: Maintenance
The fifth stage is known as maintenance, which generally starts about a year after giving up smoking. The person has successfully quit smoking, now they have to maintain the duration. During this period, relapses are entirely possible to occur. For example, this person may face unemployment or the pink slip (term that refers to being fired or laid off from one's job) . They may find that “one extra cigarette” would be acceptable in such a stressful situation. Around seventy five percent of people who gave up smoking are inclined to smoke again during the first year after smoking cessation. Nonetheless, a relapse does in no way mean that their efforts were useless, since studies reveal that it takes about three attempts to completely stop smoking. Even if you face relapse, this should not discourage you from attempting once more and trying harder the next time.
Final Stage: Termination
The sixth and final stage is known as termination. This is the ultimate stage a smoker would reach. The individual has completely removed one’s self from the lifestyle, ideas, or the thoughts of smoking. With absolutely no relapse whatsoever, the person has completed the end goal.
In Conclusion
You must understand the implications of the six stages to quit smoking so that you will be more prepared to deal with every particular scenario that you will in all definitely face. A knowledge of where you stand in the stop smoking timeline will allow you to measure your progress and encourage yourself further until you finally quit smoking for good.
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