Words of Wisdom from SharLeigh
BREAK THE CHAINS
OF NICOTINE
This year the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” focused on the passing of Captain Phil Harris. There was one segment that I found to be really amazing. The Captain was in Adult Critical Care after having an operation to remove a portion of his skull because of a massive stroke – he was connected to tubes, his speech was slurred, and he was, literally, fighting for his life. Yet, when one of his son’s came to visit him, the Captain asked him for a cigarette! Do you ever wonder why smokers cannot give up? The Surgeon General has made it known how dangerous tobacco products are to our bodies, yet people still ignore the warnings. The answer to this question is very scary – nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco products, is as addictive as cocaine, morphine and heroin. The drug is a stimulant and a depressant that affects the brain, which in turn affects your mood and performance. When nicotine first enters the body there is an immediate rush that perks you up, followed by a prolonged sense of euphoria (relaxation). When you first started smoking, ten cigarettes a day may have been enough, but before you knew it you needed a pack and then two or more to get through the day. Your brain, seeking that euphoric feeling, convinced you that smoking makes you feel good and that you are better able to cope with life when you smoke. When you decide to quit and stop smoking, your body begins to crave nicotine and withdrawal symptoms including irritability, impatience, anxiousness, depression, restlessness and lack of concentration appear. This is your brain SCREAMING for that nicotine – and, for many, the point when they give up and start again. But it is not hopeless. Many smokers have broken the habit using various methods. This article is dedicated to a dear friend and other ex-smokers who have taken up the habit again. Please do not let your life go “up in smoke” with cigarettes. Stop and realize how precious your life is to the loved ones around you. Be strong and break the habit for good – if not for yourself, for them!