DIFFICULTIES

DIFFICULTY ... Almost everybody has problems when they stop, especially at first. Success does not mean NOT having problems or difficulty. Stopping smoking successfully means having problems and being able to work through them, sometimes quickly and sometimes gradually. These problems can include cravings, conflict, rationalizations, irritability, the desire to substitute food for smoking, and even relapses. If I understand that these feelings and issues are a normal part of stopping smoking, I can face and work through them in a positive way. If I expect stopping smoking to be effortless and smooth, I am much more likely to be thrown when I hit a bump.