http://vitalvotes.com/QA/Why-I-Don-t-Recommend-That-People-Stop-Smoking-1943.aspx

This is an interesting and short video clip discussing some reasons quitting smoking may not be a good idea. Its talking mostly from a physical health stand point and I basically agree.

(consider all of this with any addictions)

What I would also add is that, IMO&E, smoking is almost always therapeutic and actually has positive effects. Sound wacko? especially from a health nut like me?

People smoke to feel better. Some say they smoke cause they feel bad, stressed etc. Yeah they feel bad and smoke to feel better! Sure habit sets in etc but give them some stress or something to not feel good about and a smoke is on its way.

This self medicating mechanism serves to ease the stress or emotions underneath that the person may not yet have the capacity or ability to deal with or process.

Put simply a smoke can be a way to ease pain. Without that method of easing the pain the individual is likely to have even more stress from the deeper unresolved issues and pains or stress in the current circumstance than the stress the smoke has on the body.

That is, to a large degree, why smoking is so hard to quit for many people. It is actually serving them in their life where they are at that moment.

To take away something that sooths the pain is dealing with a symptoms of the pain, not a cause.

Fighting ones self to get rid of a survival or coping mechanism adds even more stress and damage and more negative emotions and feelings.

People simply quit smoking wqhen they are ready time and time again. The resistance to change is either less than the desire to change because a reason has been found (say a Mum with a kid on the way) or because the reason to smoke has gone down (dealing with emotional baggage and or learning better methods of dealing with stress and the world).


My thoughts are not to stress about smoking, or any other 'negative' habit one has. It only adds more damage and more pain. Accept it and let it guide you deeper. If health and healing grow then the need and desire to smoke will decline.

As an former smoker (now non-smoker-I dodn't quit I became a non-smoker, very different) I experienced load of stress trying to quit and then when I was ready to stop I had almost no cravings what so ever. Cause I was ready and no longer needed the vice.

But like Dr Mercola says there are plenty of phyical aspects also.

Thought it would be interesting to pass on the video clip and some of my thoughts and experience on the subject.