Why is it so difficult to quit smoking? Over 35 million smokers worldwide try to quit every year yet less than 5% actually succeed in reaching their one-year anniversary.

Cigarettes are addictive because they seize hold of you in two ways. First, the physical addiction to nicotine causes your body to depend on smoking to feel normal. On top of that, smoking at regular intervals throughout the day becomes part of your lifestyle – almost a part of who you are. Together, these powerful factors are very challenging to overcome.

HOW ADDICTION WORKS

When you’re physically addicted to cigarettes, your body is tricked into believing it actually needs nicotine to function. So if your nicotine levels drop, your body alerts you with a variety of withdrawal symptoms – similar to how thirst alerts you to dehydration and hunger indicates a need to eat. Common physical withdrawal symptoms include headaches, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability, frustration and insomnia.

Smoking is a powerful habit. It almost becomes a part of who you are and how you live your life. Over time, you become accustomed to having cigarettes with your morning coffee, after meals, during breaks, when you’re stressed, when driving and the list goes on. Since cigarettes have been there for you every single day, learning to live without them is a real challenge. For many, it’s like ending a relationship. It takes support to make it through and that’s where we come in.