Every smoker has a different reason for their continued addiction. Some enjoy the social side of smoking, some enjoy the act of smoking itself, and some hang on to the much derided concept of smoking being “cool” and “rebellious”. However, the main reason most smokers continue their habit is down to a fear of quitting.

Sitcom and drama writers have long relied on stories about their characters quitting smoking, usually for comedic effect. The general perception is that quitting smoking is hard and, during the process, the individual will become fraught and difficult to live with. Overall, this seems to be accepted fact and almost a cause for hilarity, when in fact it puts many smokers off the idea of quitting.

Every smoker knows that, with every cigarette, they are shortening their life span. But the alternative – the act of quitting – seems almost as bad. Many smokers fear they won’t be able to deal with the side effects of smoking cessation, such as withdrawal. Some fear that by quitting smoking, they will gain weight. These may seem like small fears compared with the idea of lung cancer, but they are nevertheless large contributing factors as to why so many smokers remain smokers.

There is no doubt that stopping smoking isn’t easy. As well as the effects of physical withdrawal, many smokers cannot face the loss of the social aspect of their life. Smokers are often heard to say that they don’t want to quit as the majority of their social circle smokes and they would somehow feel left out. But these issues must be pushed through to achieve any kind of success when it comes to quitting cigarettes for good.

Begin by acknowledging the issues. Acknowledge that, for a period of time, life may be quite unpleasant. You will have to deal with the aspects of withdrawal that are physical, as well as the social and emotional attachment to smoking. While it may seem easier to bury your head in the sand and continue smoking to avoid these difficulties, the simple fact remains that your life will be much, much worse than the occasional withdrawal pain and social problem if you continue smoking.

Be aware of the potential problems and try to plan around them. Although the problems themselves may be largely insoluble in advance, at least by being forewarned and aware of any issues you have a level of preparation that should make everything easier to deal with. And remember, the short term pain and problems of quitting will soon be replaced with a stronger, healthier lifestyle. Surely some things are worth a little sacrifice?

In this life, some things just go together. Two events, things or objects that seem so synonymous with one another it’s hard to imagine them functioning apart. When you think of one part of the double act, thoughts and memories of the other immediately come to mind. Yes, sometimes two things are so closely linked it’s hard to even then of them as separate.

When it comes to smoking, most people immediately associate the habit with lung cancer. Smoking and lung cancer are two of those things that go together, apparently seamlessly. The risk of lung cancer among smokers is much higher than in a non-smoker, but many smokers seem to have accepted their chances. The close relationship between the concepts of smoking and lung cancer has, if anything, blunted many to how severe and almost certain the link may be.

Any smoker, however, should be awoken from this attitude of acknowledging the link but ignoring it. Lung cancer is a horrific disease and should never, ever be underestimated. It often proves to be fatal, even with medical intervention, and many smokers focus on the life-threatening aspect of it rather than the general lifestyle. The common refrain is “we all have to die of something”, and with this actuality in mind they find it easier to continue smoking despite it’s sudden associations with lung cancer.

Any smoker looking for motivation to quit need look no further than lung cancer. Try focusing on the non-mortal aspects of lung cancer and the kind of life a smoker would lead before their death from the disease. Lung cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer any human can contract, often laying undetected for months. When it is detected, treatments are difficult and painful, from the standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy to operations to removing part of the lung.

People must consider that death is not the only thing that cancer can cause. Lung cancer can ruin and destroy both your quality of life and the memories people have of you. It may seem easy to flippant and insist that everyone has to die, but dying of lung cancer is one of the more foul ways of departing this planet.

And, of course, it doesn’t stop with lung cancer. Smoking is also linked with a variety of other cancers – throat, stomach, thyroid, mouth cancer for a start – as well as causing high blood pressure, heart disease and eventual heart attacks. A smoker may be reconciled to the fact that their favourite habit may kill them – but have you ever really considered how your last days on earth will be?

With most aids to stopping smoking, the emphasis is placed on eradicating the craving for nicotine by introducing a period of nicotine replacement therapy. This comes in many forms, from the standard patches and gum to the lesser known nasal spray and lozenges.

While using these methods of nicotine replacement therapy almost doubles the chances of total cessation of smoking, these methods do very little to help the other problems of quitting smoking. While the main issue for most is the nicotine withdrawal, many smokers suffer emotional problems when quitting smoking. Some of this is chemical, as some of the chemicals contained without nicotine and cigarettes are powerful stimulants of the feel-good hormone dopamine. However, some of the problems are social and mental.

Non smokers may find it hard to believe, but many smokers actually enjoy smoking. They enjoy the feeling of sitting back and relaxing with a cigarette and the social life that comes with smoking; after all, nothing bonds people together like trying to smoke in the wind and the rain. Some people also suffer if they used smoking as a comfort, and as soon as these people have a bad moment or anxious period, their desire to smoke is unignorable and even with nicotine replacement therapy cannot be eradicated.

The emotive side of smoking is a powerful one, and one that is now recognised by doctors and researchers. At present, there is a way to help combat the emotional impact of stopping smoking. A drug named bupropion, given the retail name Zyban, is traditionally used as an anti-depressant. However, doctors found that people using it reported a lessening in their desire to smoke, even if they were not trying to quit at the time. More was researched into this, and soon the drug was made available to help people quit smoking who had no other mental illnesses. Zyban works by helping people deal with, and in some cases eradicate, the emotions associated with quitting smoking – such as restlessness, depression and anxiety.

The drug is taken for around 12 weeks, the course usually beginning one week before the person quits smoking. This is to allow for the drug to build up to the necessary levels in a person’s system. Two tablets are taken each day, eight hours apart, up to a maximum dose of 300mg.

Studies have shown that people were 25% more likely to cease smoking for good when taking Zyban, compared to those who were given a placebo. As Zyban itself contains no nicotine, it can be used in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and gum, giving the smoker a much better chance of stopping smoking for good.

Zyban is a relatively new drug and is therefore closely monitored. It is only available by prescription from a doctor and will only be given for smoking cessation once. It is particularly useful for those who have tried to quit smoking before and found the reason they returned was less due to cravings and more for emotive reasons. As more is discovered about Zyban and further clinical trials are conducted, the promising start of this drug in the fight against smoking may blossom into a stunning future.

The first point here may seem like an obvious one, but it does need to be stated. To successfully quit smoking, you genuinely need to want to do it. There are many reasons and motivations that make people want to quit, but the pressure needs to come from inside. If you are simply stopping to make someone else happy, the chances of you succeeding are slim. You have to find your own motivation and your own desire to really kick the habit once and for all.

If you are confident you are stopping for your reasons and no one else’s, then proceed on. Start by writing down why you’re quitting, as this is something you can refer back to when you’re in the midst of an intense craving and want a cigarette more than anything. Write in bullet points; short, succinct sentences detailing your reasons for wanting smoking to be a thing of the past for you. As well as health benefits, write down the emotional and financial side of stopping smoking.

With this complete, look in to nicotine replacement therapy. There is a huge range of methods available to help deal with the physical withdrawal of smoking, from inhalators which recreate the physical sensation of smoking to nasal sprays which recreate the “hit” and buzz of nicotine. If patches and gum have failed you in the past, do try one of the lesser known methods. By starting a course of nicotine replacement therapy, you are effectively doubling your chances of success.

You can also look in to group therapy, which tends to be run by doctors or hospitals. Here, you can sit and discuss the process of quitting, and have like-minded people in the same situation to turn to on bad days. Like nicotine replacement therapy, you are increasing your chances of success by attending therapy or counselling.

The next step is to set goals. After your first week of not smoking, gather together the money you would have spent on cigarettes and go and spend it. Make this a frivolous purchase, designed for nothing but fun. One week may seem like a short period in which to get a reward, but it should give you an incentive to continue. After the first week, schedule your next reward for one month without cigarettes, and then three months. This frivolous fun should help keep you on track during the difficult days, as they give something to look forward to and show that your efforts are not in vain.

Finally, one of the key aspects of quitting smoking – that is often forgotten – is that never consider yourself completely recovered. Try and think of yourself as an ex-smoker, not a non-smoker. “Just one cigarette” is often the downfall of many who have not smoked for years. Remain vigilant, always follow nicotine replacement therapy courses to their conclusion, and never be tempted just to try a cigarette and see if you still like it. You can beat the addiction, but it will always be ready to draw you back in. Keep that in mind, and the very best of luck!