Smokers usually picked up this habit due to the influence from friends and it could also from the strategic approached of the tobacco company. During our teenage years with wanted to experience more in life kind of attitude, you generally start smoking in an attempt to change your self-image and appear more attractive, more manly, more feminine, or more intelligent. We were all curious about everything and usually do the opposite which our parents or elders has been telling us not to do. But now, since we are all matured and knew that the habit of smoking can cause us to be sick, why are we still doing it?
Why do you smoke now?
You have been smoking for a while and you have matured. Now you know that smoking has not made you smarter, or cooler, or sexier. Smoking has not helped you to achieve your goals. Your accomplishments have been made in spite of smoking, but you are more aware that your health suffers. You can tell by your burning eyes, your hacking cough, and the phlegm in your throat. So, why do you still smoke? Most people continue smoking out of habit. They light a cigarette without even thinking. But sometimes people smoke under specific situations as a kind of ritual. Associating activities with smoking establishes Pavlovian reflexes. Pavlovian reflexes are named after Dr. Ivan Pavlov who was able to make his dogs salivate in the absence of food by just ringing a bell that had been associated with the dog's feeding time. In the same way, activities that you have associated with smoking, such as drinking coffee, will act as triggers. The mere sight of a cup of coffee will cause you to reach for your cigarettes without any conscious thought. Seeing friends smoking cigarettes, watching movies where the actors smoke, or the smell of cigarette smoke may trigger the psychological desire to smoke. Researchers have found that smokers with a damaged insula, a region of the brain linked to emotion and feelings, quit smoking easily and immediately. The study provides direct evidence that addiction to nicotine in tobacco smoke takes control of some of the neural circuits in the brain.
These are some of the reasons why people smoke:
No particular reason, but the cigarettes are handy
To reduce a feeling of anxiety or nervousness
To calm down when upset or angry
To socialize with other smokers
When feeling restless
As relaxation
To take a break from work
While having coffee or tea
When having a drink with friends
To satisfy an urge to smoke
After a meal
After sex
To pass the time while waiting for someone.
When driving in the car
When feeling depressed
When drinking beer, wine, or liquor
To celebrate something
To think about a difficult problem
