Smoke free living...

Why many find it difficult to stop smoking

The immediate negative consequences of quitting cited by smokers include increased stress, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, negative affect and cravings. Research reported that ex-smokers still experienced these negative residual effects months later, and not just in the early weeks after cessation. It is little wonder then that more than 95% of smoking cessation efforts fail within a year  and of those who quit without treatment and abstain for one year, two to 15% relapse each year thereafter. The most difficult consequences of quitting cited by smokers include the craving urge and situational triggers, such as smoking while drinking coffee and lighting up when others light up. Strategies which specifically neutralize these issues may be of great benefit. Approaches which target both the cognitive (negative thoughts) and somatic systems (cravings) are showing promise in this field. Emotional Freedom Technique: A different approach EFT utilises the physical somatic activity of tapping with two fingers on acupressure points on the face and body, while focusing cognitions (positive thoughts) on the psychological problem. This type of exposure therapy appears to activate the amygdala, a part of the brain linked to memory storage, threat responses such as flight, flight or freeze behaviours, and emotions such as pleasure, anger and fear. Researchers at Harvard Medical School, in a 10 year research program investigating the effects and mechanisms of stimulating specific acupressure points for trauma related issues, found that rubbing, tapping or holding pressure on these points sent de-activating signals to the amygdala. By repeating the techniques while continuing to focus the mind on the psychological problem, the amygdala reduces its stress response, the hippocampus re-records the problem/memory without the physiological anxiety symptoms, and the neural pathways initially involved amend themselves so future confrontations with the problem or memory no longer cause distress.