Are You Addicted? The Self Assessment
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6. Do you get less of an effect—of pleasure or satisfaction—from the same number of cigarettes each day?
7. Do you continue to smoke, even though you enjoy only 10–20 percent of the cigarettes you light up?
If you answered "yes," know that many people get sick of their addiction over time, especially after age 40. What was social and fun becomes rote habit with less pleasure than advertised. Keeping this in mind can motivate you to move forward with breathing free.
8. Do you still enjoy smoking most or all of the time?
If you answered "yes," consider the question of smoking addiction in a hardheaded way. Is this pleasure so great that it's worth the health risks? Even if you still enjoy smoking, would it also be nice to shed the burden of guilt and shame you carry from smoking? Remember, this is your body, and there is only one available for each customer. So even with all the new replacement parts available, you still can't protect your body from all the pollution in the cigarette smoke. Getting smoke-free is like taking out a new health insurance policy with no monthly payments!
9. Do you feel anxious and nervous, and has this continued every day for the past two weeks?
If you answered "yes," you may have more anxiety about getting through your breathe-free day—the day you go completely tobacco-free. In that case, you may need to pay extra attention to the next step—working on preparation, confidence-building and motivation.
10. Do you feel sad and blue, and has this continued every day for the past two weeks?
If you answered "yes," you may have more emotional discomfort after getting through your breathe-free day. In that case, you may need to pay extra attention to the following plans to get that extra confidence that you can succeed. You may also need to carefully review with your doctor nicotine withdrawal symptoms, using successful strategies and learning to live well without tobacco.
7. Do you continue to smoke, even though you enjoy only 10–20 percent of the cigarettes you light up?
If you answered "yes," know that many people get sick of their addiction over time, especially after age 40. What was social and fun becomes rote habit with less pleasure than advertised. Keeping this in mind can motivate you to move forward with breathing free.
8. Do you still enjoy smoking most or all of the time?
If you answered "yes," consider the question of smoking addiction in a hardheaded way. Is this pleasure so great that it's worth the health risks? Even if you still enjoy smoking, would it also be nice to shed the burden of guilt and shame you carry from smoking? Remember, this is your body, and there is only one available for each customer. So even with all the new replacement parts available, you still can't protect your body from all the pollution in the cigarette smoke. Getting smoke-free is like taking out a new health insurance policy with no monthly payments!
9. Do you feel anxious and nervous, and has this continued every day for the past two weeks?
If you answered "yes," you may have more anxiety about getting through your breathe-free day—the day you go completely tobacco-free. In that case, you may need to pay extra attention to the next step—working on preparation, confidence-building and motivation.
10. Do you feel sad and blue, and has this continued every day for the past two weeks?
If you answered "yes," you may have more emotional discomfort after getting through your breathe-free day. In that case, you may need to pay extra attention to the following plans to get that extra confidence that you can succeed. You may also need to carefully review with your doctor nicotine withdrawal symptoms, using successful strategies and learning to live well without tobacco.
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.