Common Smoking Triggers

[cyan123]

Smoking is an addiction and a habit too. To get rid of this habit one needs to change his routine or his surroundings depending on the triggers that compel him to smoke. One must keep a track of the situations which motivate him to smoke.

The most common reasons for smoking are hunger, anger, tiredness and loneliness. Hunger is a situation that tells a person that everything is wrong and it needs a cigarette to set things right. Anger is another situation when the mind needs a cigarette to cope up with the situation. It is easier to avoid such situations and people who bother. Cigarettes seem to act as a good companion when a person feels lonely. When a person is tired, he tends to get irritated and yearns to smoke.

Being in the company of people who smoke can force a person to light up. It is better to keep away from areas designated for smoking. Taking breaks at work often triggers smoking. It is preferable to stay with people who do not smoke.

The other triggers are alcoholic beverages, sex, stressful work situations, social functions, boredom, coffee, driving, end of a work day, enjoying a sense of accomplishment, facing family crisis, finishing a meal, getting out of bed, playing cards, reading, talking on the phone, waiting for someone or something, watching TV etc.

One of the Ways to stop smoking is by identifying the triggers that compel one to smoke and avoid those situations. One can substitute smoking with some activities that interest them in such situations.

 

[anni]

I'm not quite sure as to the purpose of the information you've provided? Smoking is of course a dreadul habit, so thank you for any added help in controlling cigarette urges. If you're also a PTSD sufferer then know it's also a stress reliever, so it's a tough thing to break when the adrenaline spikes. Loneliness, hunger, companionship, plain habit are all easy to beat compared to resorting to a good smoke when our stress-triggers hit. It's an entirely different ball game at that point. I personally forgive myself the occasional pack of cigarettes-I could be confessing to a whole lot worse 'crimes' but don't have any.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I wasn't quite sure of this post either, and wondered why it was posted in the first place. Smoking is a nasty habit as we all know. I smoked for 41 years, and then quit. I now have mild Emphysema from smoking. But, I was addicted, and had PTSD, and I do know how hard it is to quit.....It ain't easy folks, but it can be done....

 

[Lucycat]

yes, I too am smoking. I started, after having given up 9 years ago, when I was diagnosed with PTSD. I'll stop again when I am ready. If I were to avoid all the triggers mentioned then I might as well top myself!!!

 

[Iam]

Dang....I quit 32 years ago and started up again 2 1/2 years ago. Quit for 6 months and started again a couple of weeks ago. It seems crazy to me that I would pick up the habit after quitting for so long. My T thought I was crazy to quit at this time.....guess he was right

 

[anthony]

It had a link that I removed, though I figured I would leave it as atleast it makes some sense... I was merely testing validity more than anything.

 

[anni]

It all made good, common sense of course, The person seemed maybe like someone cruising around with an agenda, didn't mention PTSD o identify themselves as sufferer or carer-just launched into a professorial blurb on smoking, like an uninvited guest lecturer. It also actuallu missed what I think is probably the main crutch linking PTSD to this annoying habit of a lot of us-the stress factor, which kind of indicated they were not conversant with 'us'. Not to be exclusionary but the various crusaders need to come up with a better approach.It just feels intrusive to have them come into the forum, good intentions notwithstanding.

 

[anthony]

Spammers do continue to try... its a massive business, just like spam. If it didn't work, they would stop it themselves.

 

[cherryblossom]

I don't really see the point in this post, as the post itself doesn't mention PTSD.

I'm a smoker and my doctor has told me catagorically, that now is not the right time to quit, because I'm way too stressed, and already have enough on my plate. We all know the dangers of smoking and what we need to do to quit. This post just sounds like a lecture I could do without, right now. Maybe others will see it as a help.

 

[amethist]

My husband was also told not to quite smoking just yet, but cut down as much as possible. He was told "Your head is not ready for any more stress inducing situations for now".

As we all know quitting can be stressful enough for some, so throw PTSD into the works, a case of light the blue touch paper for a volcanic eruption.

Amethist

 

[anthony]

It was giving up smoking suddenly that unleashed everything within me that it was keeping suppressed. Exactly what you said above... I should have done, being to slowly cut back, not just quit cold turkey. After the fact though is really not an issue I guess, as I can't go back and its not necessarily relevant to anyone else giving up smoking unless they aren't diagnosed with PTSD but have sufferer significant trauma and already have tell tail signs, ie. drinking, attitude, etc.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

Bit off topic but same kinda general idea. When I started my trauma therapy I was asked 'do you drink?'. I don't believe in lying to therapists because then you just don't get the proper help. SO I said 'Yeah I have a couple of glasses of wine most nights'. I expected a little lecture that went something along the lines of 'You know that really isn't a healthy way to deal with this. Are you aware that alcohol is a depressant long term and blah blah'. Nope, she looked at me and said 'while that's not ideal, I think we'll put that to the side for now. As ironic as it sounds, for now, it may be a crutch you need and it might actually help us get through the more important issues related to the traumas. Once we have that out of the way I'll talk about the drinking'. Cutting down is probably a healthy and realistic goal - cold turkey all of a sudden while unleashing trauma therapy upon yourself - hmm, could be a recipe for disaster.

Probably quite wise words, because you really cannot climb Mt Everest in one giant leap. And if you try you're doomed to failure (an emotion which could make things a lot worse). Small steps. There are certain things you should probably put off even attempting, at least until you reach base camp.