The idea that quitting smoking is close to impossible is often perpetuated at internet quit sites. This video hits home the point that this is a dangerous misperception. Quitting is in fact more doable than most people think.

Below are two short commentaries that highlight how I see things a lot differently than most other Internet sites, most other quitting experts, and most sadly, most people who are still smoking in the world today. These groups view quitting smoking as an almost impossible to accomplish task, a task that only a small percent of smokers ever successfully accomplish. In the real world, nothing is further from the truth.

The common belief that "Most people who try to quit will fail"

There is a strong belief by many that most people can’t quit smoking. You will often hear or read quotes like: only 5% of people who try to quit will actually succeed. This is a statistic that is grossly misunderstood and leaves people thinking that they have very little chance of ever successfully quitting smoking.

The fact is, in America today, we have more former smokers than current smokers. Over 45.9 million Americans have successfully quit, and there are some 45.4 million who still smoke. If only 5% of people who try to quit succeed, how do you have more former smokers than current smokers?

Most people who looks at their own real world examples will realize that there are a whole lot of former smokers out there. Start surveying your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. You are going to find that a whole lot of these people used to smoke and don’t any more. You will see from your own real world experience that successful cessation is possible. Most of these people quit on their own with a whole lot less understanding and support than you are getting now.

You can join their ranks and achieve long term success, and the health and life saving benefits that go with quitting, by making and sticking to a personal commitment to never take another puff.

At Freedom, relapse is not a normal part of quitting

Never get the impression that relapsing is a normal part of quitting. Relapsing is only normal for people who don’t understand addiction or don’t believe that they themselves are addicts.

Once you joined up here you were probably making an acknowledgement of your state of being at that time, that you were an addicted smoker. That state is never going to leave. Once an addict, you will always be an addict. But over time, it will become an asymptomatic addiction, hence, no visible signs, no real need.

However, your body is permanently altered and if you ever let your guard down for a second then a relapse is going to be a reality. Nobody knows if they are going to have another quit in them. But as long as you follow one simple lesson here, you will never have to worry about another quit. That rule is: to stay smoke free, and reap the health and lifesaving benefits that go with being smoke free, you must never take another puff!

Joel

Closely related resources:

• Is relapse a natural part of the addiction process?
• If this is your first time quitting

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