LET'S TALK BASICS: Addiction and dependency
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Let's take a look at how cigarettes can hook you. When you smoke, nicotine enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain within seconds. Nicotine causes a release of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are what make you feel good and make the brain think something good is happening. The problem is, after repeated smoking, the brain becomes used to the increase in neurotransmitters. This is when a smoker starts to use nicotine just to feel normal. |
What happens when you take away nicotine? The brain doesn't get the amount of neurotransmitters it's used to getting. This causes discomfort. For some people it results in irritability, sadness, depression, and other withdrawal symptoms.
The brain remembers what happened when it had nicotine and will do what it can to get it again. Having another cigarette puts nicotine back in the brain, releasing the amount of neurotransmitters it's been used to: the withdrawal goes away and the feeling of being normal is restored.
Just as the brain learns to respond to nicotine, it can learn to respond to different cues-it can learn other ways to make you feel good without addiction and dependency. For some, this means starting a new hobby or getting more physically active. What will it mean for you?
You can expect good days and bad days when you quit. This may include cravings, irritability, and also a sense of accomplishment.
View past quit attempts as practice. You can take what you learned from the past and use it next time.
Do something fulfilling and stay active. This helps with irritability and weight gain.
Know that nicotine can be addictive. It can also stimulate feel-good chemicals in the brain. Just as the brain learns to respond to nicotine, it can learn other ways to get good feelings.
