Why Is It So Hard to Quit? 7 Facts You Might Not Know About the 'Psychology' of Smoking

Have you been trying to quit for years but don't know how? Don't consider yourself 'addicted' yet smoke whenever you can? Here are some facts you won't want to miss about the psychology behind smoking.

Millions of people die each year from diseases and health problems caused by smoking. If you also smoke (and we sincerely hope you don't), and despite trying, find it very difficult to stop – it's time to become aware of the psychology behind cigarettes, and yes - there is one.

The facts presented below are based on empirical data from various studies that aimed to identify the real challenge in the decision to quit smoking, and why most people develop an obsessive dependence on this 'ritual'.

The facts speak for themselves:

1. Cigarettes are wrapped in transparent cellophane on the outside and silver paper on the inside for a reason. Manufacturers and marketers wanted to give the smoker the feeling of receiving a kind of 'gift'. Many smokers have described their love for cigarettes due to the soft, pleasant, and smooth touch of the 'gift' paper, and the excitement they feel every time they open a new pack.

2. Researchers explain that the silver paper that wraps the cigarettes gives them a luxurious and attractive appearance, conveying to the smoker – 'you are wealthy'.

3. The strong smell of tobacco and nicotine also acts as a psychological catalyst for cigarette consumption. Studies show that smokers become addicted, among other things, to the 'sweet' smell of cigarettes.

4. The act of inhaling smoke increases oxygen in our bodies and enhances blood flow from the heart to the body. Thus, the immediate feeling from smoking is relaxation. This is because when nicotine reaches the liver, it releases sugar into the bloodstream, providing a sense of calm and satisfaction.

However, once the cigarette is finished, and the insulin has broken down all the sugar, there is a drastic drop in sensations, and one becomes tired, hungry, and restless. And what do you do to calm these feelings? You guessed it, take another cigarette and enjoy another yet false 'moment of glory' of happiness and relaxation.

5. Based on the previous point, many people mistakenly believe that the cigarette fills some emotional void, but as mentioned – the opposite is true. The only thing the cigarette effectively fills is the lungs, and unfortunately, this 'filling' in the long term is deadly.

6. Many smokers, when asked why they don't quit smoking if it's clear it's harmful to their health, answered that it's 'convenient' for them, and at the moment, they don't have the willpower to stop. 'But when I really want to, it won't be a problem to stop,' many of them said.

But cheap psychology works here too. Researchers found that in the subconscious of these individuals, impressions such as: 'I'll be bored if I stop smoking', 'What will fill me if I stop smoking', etc., are received. So what really prevented them from stopping was the dependence and fear of being bored.

7. Believe it or not, but smoking is also an act influenced by strong social factors. Many smokers, for instance, reported that it's easier for them to open up and form interpersonal connections with other smokers, with the excuse to start a conversation being the cigarette. (When someone asks if you have a cigarette, for instance, it may sometimes be because they are trying to connect and start a conversation, and the cigarette is just an 'excuse').

Another social influence is the 'fear of what others will say' – after all, I've already made so many 'friends' thanks to smoking, and besides – everyone around me smokes. How can I tell them I've quit, and what will I talk to them about during 'smoking' breaks – when I'm no longer a smoker?!