There is no doubting that nicotine is a physically addictive substance. Some organizations have even stated that nicotine addiction is as difficult to overcome as addictions to substances such as heroin and cocaine. Nicotine replacement therapies, therefore, seem like a smart alternative to smoking cigarettes. Sure, the nicotine itself isn’t good for your body, but nicotine gum and other products don’t carry the large number of carcinogens present in tobacco smoke. These products, however, often fail to help addicts quit smoking because they fail to address the role that psychological addiction plays in smoking cigarettes. E cigarettes provide a substitute that satisfies the psychological craving as well as the physical craving.
When a person becomes addicted to smoking tobacco, his or her brain begins to associate certain actions with pleasurable sensations. The very act of bringing the cigarette to one’s lips can cause the brain’s pleasure centers to light up in anticipation of the upcoming nicotine reward. The brain can also learn to associate the physical act of smoking with other pleasurable psychological states. If one commonly smokes cigarettes while drinking, then the physical act of smoking becomes closely associated with the pleasure obtained by ingesting alcohol. If one regularly smokes during work breaks, then the brain begins to link relaxation with the act of smoking.
E cigarettes satisfy the psychological craving by giving smokers a fake cigarette to inhale. The E cigarette looks and taste like a tobacco cigarette, so it tricks the brain into believing that you are actually smoking. Some companies even manufacture e cigarettes that replicate the appearance and flavor of certain types of cigarettes.
Over time, you can start to decrease the amount of nicotine that you use in the e cigarettes. You can also start to alter your mental associations by using e cigarettes less throughout the day. This approach helps you overcome addiction with much less suffering.
