What are The 4 Stages to Quit Smoking?

 

What are The 4 Stages to Quit Smoking?

Cigarette smoking is the most hazardous habit people continue to do but cannot quit because of addiction. However, 60% of smokers in the Uk intend to quit smoking, and 10% claim that it takes three months to stop. Having said that, smokers go through four stages to quit smoking. Want to know what they are?

Take a look below to find out!

Pre-contemplation
Initially, in the pre-contemplation stage, smokers become defensive about their smoking behaviour and don't consider quitting smoking even after knowing its hazardous consequences.

However, this behaviour gradually moves towards awareness and intention of stopping.

Contemplation
Contemplation is an awareness stage, smokers who first become defensive about smoking try to conceive the health risk it may cause and the chances of it deteriorating their lives. So, smokers try to see a bigger picture of quitting this habit and intend to leave it at this stage.

Preparation
The preparation stage is when smokers set a goal of quitting cigarette smoking by looking out for other ways of getting nicotine. That's because when you are addicted to smoking, you cannot directly pull yourself back from it. You need to set some milestones initially. So, smokers tend to set milestones like decreasing the number of cigarettes and days.

Action (quitting)
Finally, at this stage, smokers try to hold back from smoking with the motivation from their close ones. After cutting back on the number of cigarettes a day or a week, they start swerving into quitting phase. This includes developing a healthy lifestyle with exercise and a healthy diet.

Maintenance
This is an after-quitting stage when you need to stop the urge of smoking from recurring—for example, holding yourself back even when you are around smokers or offered by one to smoke occasionally.

Key Takeaway
Cigarette smoking can be tough to quit initially, but it is possible once you intend to leave it. There are stop smoking services in Mitcham that can help you with cigarette smoking and develop a healthy lifestyle.