THE PROFILE OF A SMOKER – THIS IS YOU

        As you might suspect, smokers come in all varieties and attitudes. But generally speaking, there’s a lot of confusion and conflict about the role that smoking plays in the lives of smokers. On the one hand, they see smoking as a pleasant, relaxing and helpful personal ritual that provides unidentifiable benefits. On the other hand, smokers know that smoking is a serious health-hazard, which in all likelihood will end up killing them. Let’s look at some of the typical varieties of smokers and see if you are one of these.

1.    The Health-Concerned Smoker:

This type of smoker is very much aware of the dangers of smoking and all the many negative side-effects. However, he/she still cannot bring himself to quit. Experts believe that if you quit today, you will easily add seven years to your life.

2.    Smokers Who Feel Guilty:

Many smokers feel guilty about their habit. And this feeling increases the longer they smoke. Those who tried to quit and failed feel guilty far more than those who have not tried to quit. And smokers who have children at home feel the guiltiest because they are “polluting” the air their children breathe. Guilt can often turn into self-hatred.

3.    Smokers Who Respect Nonsmokers:

Many smokers are very sensitive to other people who do not smoke. A large majority of smokers refrain from smoking when they are with people who do not smoke, and most ask for permission to smoke while visiting a nonsmoking friend. In fact, many smokers feel that smoking should be regulated or banned at the workplace.

4.    Smoking As A Working Class Habit:

Among the general population, it is now understood that the more affluent and better educated people do not smoke. It is estimated that 50% of men who have blue-collar jobs smoke, compared to 26% of professional men. Also, some 32% of those who did not graduate from high school smoked, while the figure for college graduates was only 19%. In other words, smoking is a blue collar habit, since fewer people in white collar professions smoke.

5.    Smokers As A Persecuted Minority:

Since there is a widespread change in attitude toward smoking, many smokers feel like a persecuted minority. Many smokers point to smoking as creating a problem in their romantic relationships, even leading to breakup.

6.    Antismoker Discrimination In The Workplace:

Many smokers feel that they are discriminated against at work because of their habit. Here is a reason behind this attitude, since smokers as a rule have a higher rate of absenteeism, they have an increased risk of death, they have decreased productivity, they have an increased rate of maintenance, and smokers damage the environment for their nonsmoking co-workers.

7.    Smokers Want More Control:

The majority of smokers want more control over their habit. Over 90% want to quit, and about 84% have made a serious attempt at quitting.

8.    Smokers As Outcasts:

Being a smoker nowadays is like being an outcast, because the attitudes of nonsmokers have changed drastically. Backing these attitudes is the great amount of evidence that cigarette smoke is harmful to nonsmokers.

9.    Nonsmokers Have Become More Assertive:

In addition to their own feelings of confusion and guilt, smokers also have to deal with an increasing number of anti-smoking messages and a much more open display of anti-smoking feelings. Within recent years 39 states have passed laws prohibiting or limiting smoking in public places. Also, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently adopted a resolution urging insurance companies to raise smokers’ insurance premiums by roughly 50%.

10.  Why Smokers Can’t Quit:

The period of withdrawal poses a powerful barrier to quitting. As well, smokers often have many positive benefits that they associate with smoking. Here are some positive benefits that most smokers associate with smoking. Are any of these yours as well?

• Smoking helps me deal with stressful situations.

• Smoking gives me a pleasant and enjoyable break from work.

• Smoking helps me unwind and relax.

• Smoking helps me deal with painful or unpleasant situations.

• Smoking prevents unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

• Smoking helps me deal with an over stimulating environment.

• I enjoy the physical sensation of lighting and handling a cigarette.

• Smoking increases my enjoyment of pleasant experiences.

• Smoking helps me feel comfortable in social situations.

• Smoking helps me concentrate.

11.          Planning to Quit:

The majority of smokers believe that they will eventually quit, but they must choose their own time to quit, and most do so at a time when life is less stressful, and support for quitting is available.

12.          How to Help a Smoker:

Most friends of smokers do not do a good job of helping take control of the habit. The most common strategy is to nag a smoker into quitting. But this tactic usually has the opposite effect. Nagging just makes smokers smoke more, it seems.  Here are some hints that friends can use to encourage smokers to quit:

1)                Don’t nag, insult, or try to shame the smoker into quitting.

2)                Let the smoker know that he/she is valued as a person.

3)                Listen non-judgmentally. Try to understand what benefits the smoker derives from this   very seductive habit. Try to see the problem through the smokers’ eyes.

4)                Praise the smoker for even the smallest efforts to cut down or quit.

Perhaps you have found something that you can relate to in the twelve categories. The main point is to provide you with enough information to help you quit. The most frequently mentioned areas of concern that smokers mention when they try to deal with quitting are the following:

• How to stay a nonsmoker after I quit.

• The most effective way to quit.

• The most effective way to cut down.

• How to get ready to quit.

• Are there special needs for vitamins for smokers?

• How to find out if I am a high-risk or low-risk smoker.

• What smoking does to a smoker’s body.

• Dealing with weight gain after I quit.

• What withdrawal symptoms will I face after I quit.

• How can I cut my smoking risk through better stress management.

Whether you smoke or not is your choice. But to make that choice effectively you must consider your alternatives, and the benefits and hazards of each.

In quitting smoking (as in life) there are no magical cures or quick fixes. There are, however, some pretty powerful tools, many of them not widely known.

As a health-concerned smoker, you can take control of your smoking. Your spouse, family, your friends, your physician, and others in your home and community can provide important tools, caring, and support. But the key to success is for you to take primary responsibility to make the changes you desire.

Give yourself as much time as you need. Don’t let anyone push you into attempting to quit before you feel ready.

You’re going to do it your way. So let’s start!

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