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If you attempted to quit smoking in the past and regressed, or if you’re currently thinking about quitting, it is at all times a good idea to understand the factors involved in the process of quitting smoking. It is imperative for you to understand exactly what you will experience while defeating your smoking addiction so that you are better prepared to manage the various potential situations.

People who attempt to stop smoking usually go through 5 stages, with each step having diverse psychological manifestations. Evidently, there is an appropriate way of handling each step to make sure that you progress to the following step and in due time succeed in kicking the habit completely.

Stage 1: Pre-Contemplation

Pre-contemplation is the first step in the process of smoking cessation. It is somewhat customary for most smokers to attempt to quit smoking in response to peer pressure; like for example, family, friends, and colleagues pressuring him or her to quit smoking. As a matter of fact, this individual does not sincerely wish to quit smoking, but is forced to do so thanks to outside influence. In other words, this individual may try to stop smoking not because he or she is especially willing to do so, but because he or she succumbed to pressure. When the process starts off under these conditions, the most probable result is that the person will soon relapse and take up smoking once more, given that the motivation is lacking or inappropriate.

Stage 2: Contemplation

Contemplation is the second step in the process. At this stage, the desire to kick the habit is present, but the smoker does not mean to do something in the imminent future. The said individual knows the reasons for quitting, and in all probability agrees with such reasons. Nevertheless, during this stage, said smoker still manages to justify smoking, with the distant and abstract notion of one day giving up smoking.

Stage 3: Preparation

The third phase in the quit smoking process is known as preparation, which can be perceived as the waiting room for the actual stop smoking process. The smoker has a genuine intention to quit and has in fact taken the first steps to reach that goal. Typically, these measures are intended to make the transition smoother, like, for example decreasing the number of cigarettes one consumes on a daily basis, or switching to a light/filter brand.

Stage 4: Quitting

Fourth in the quit smoking stages is actual smoking cessation. In this stage, the smoker has decided to kick the habit and has done something to fulfill this plan. As said smoker quits smoking, he/she has to endure withdrawal, not give in to the often compelling desire to smoke again, and in general adapt to a smoke-free life. The fourth quit smoking stage can last from 6 months to a year.

Final Stage: Post-Quitting Maintenance

The fifth and final stage is known as post quitting maintenance, which generally starts about a year after giving up smoking. During this period, relapses are entirely possible. Around seventy five percent of people who gave up smoking are inclined to smoke again during the first year after smoking cessation. Nonetheless, a relapse does in no way mean that their efforts were useless, since studies reveal that it takes about three attempts to completely stop smoking. While a relapse is normally deemed a regression, this should not dissuade you from attempting once more and trying harder the next time.

In conclusion, you must understand the implications of the 6 quit smoking stages so that you will be more equipped to deal with every particular scenario that you will in all probability face. A knowledge of where you stand in the stop smoking timeline will allow you to measure your progress and encourage yourself further until you finally quit smoking for good.

To download your copy of the Free Quit Smoking Guide, and to read more articles related to Stop Smoking In Stages, please visit this quit smoking website

Article Source: http://bb-articles.com