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The brain of an addicted smoker treats nicotine as if it is essential for survival.Genetic traits may predispose some smokers to stronger addiction.Most smokers try to quit unaided, resulting in a high failure rate.If you smoke, no one needs to tell you how bad it is. So why haven’t you quit? Why hasn’t everyone? Because smoking feels good. It stimulates and focuses the mind at the same time that it soothes and satisfies. The concentrated dose of nicotine in a drag off a cigarette triggers an immediate flood of dopamine and other neurochemicals that wash over the brain’s pleasure centers. Inhaling tobacco smoke is the quickest, most efficient way to get nicotine to the brain. “I completely understand why you wouldn’t want to give it up,” said Dr. David Abrams, an addiction researcher at the National Institutes of Health . “It’s more difficult to get off nicotine than heroin or cocaine.” Smoking “hijacks” the reward systems in the brain that drive you to seek food, water and sex, Dr....

Facing Up to Smoking :: The more you know about why you smoke, the easier it will be to quit. You may reach for a cigarette during a stressful commute. Or you may want to smoke when you first wake up in the morning. Learn what your smoking triggers are, and how to handle them. Common Triggers Frustration Fatigue Anger Stress Hunger Boredom or loneliness Drinking or socializing Watching others smoke Track Your Smoking Habits To learn about your smoking habits, track them for a week. Attach a small notebook or piece of paper to your cigarette pack. With each cigarette you smoke, write down the time, where you are, who you’re with, and how you feel. How to Cope with Your Triggers Change the habits that lead you to smoke. For instance, if you often smoke at a morning break, go for a walk instead. Distract yourself from smoking. Keep your hands busy by playing with a paper clip or doodling. Keep your mouth busy by chewing on gum or a carrot stick. Limit contact with people who are smoking...