My Last Cigarette

By Iván Salvaterra

First, let me congratulate you. The mere fact of being interested in this book speaks volumes about you. He is aware of the problems associated with smoking and is looking for advice to get rid of that addiction as soon as possible. The truth is that there are no magic formulas, but rules that lead in the short and medium term, to throw your last cigarette in the trash can, and recover your health in an absolute way.
No matter how many times you have tried, surely you have not been clear on how to do it. You are always on time, you just need to strengthen your will and follow the advice I give you here, which, together with the right approach, can overcome the urge to smoke and beat nicotine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ediciones Afrodita
• Release date: Apr 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223634881

Book preview

My last cigarette

Smoking cessation health program

quickly and definitively

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Ivan Salvaterra

Ediciones Afrodita

Content

Chap. 1 Addiction

Chap. 2 Cigarette addiction: characteristics

Chap. 3 Nicotine

Chap. 4 Facts about cigarettes and smoking

Chap. 5 Methods to quit smoking

Chap. 6 Final Questions and Answers

Chapter 1

The addictions

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The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines addiction as Dependence on substances or activities harmful to health or mental balance.

This means that addiction or dependence, both biological and psychological, is a loss of freedom regarding a product or behavior.

We all have habits that order our life; but sometimes, we also embrace those that give us relief or forget; in particular, when certain events exceed our ability to understand or control. So, sometimes we overeat, we drink a few drinks that are out of bounds, others consume drugs or pharmaceuticals, and there are those who, as in the case that this book deals with, smoke to overcome pain, relax or fall asleep. It is there when the escape to the substance becomes the preferred solution against displeasure, but unfortunately, it can become an addiction.

The term addiction describes the states of dependence on a product, and behavior characterized by loss of control. The addicted subject is a slave to the product (alcohol, cigarette, cannabis, heroin, etc.) or through a behavior (gambling or betting, internet, sex, etc.) without which he suffers.

Addiction is the difficulty experienced by the subject to curb his need to get rid of any feeling of anguish, anger, guilt, or sadness that makes him suffer as quickly as possible, or even apparently pleasant or exciting feelings, but unconsciously experienced as prohibited or dangerous. Behavior or consumption is an attempt to erase feelings, and emotions and it is a very tempting promise to find well-being or at least a better being. From the discovery of the addictive solution that brings appeasement and relief of suffering, it becomes compulsive to seek it in the face of any psychological suffering. Repeated, this irrepressible and frantic search can lead to the loss of the subject's freedom in relation to a product or behavior that characterizes the addiction. When the intake of a substance becomes a unique solution against stress, the addict loses the freedom to abstain and becomes a slave to the product or behavior that has become compulsive.

The most widespread addictions refer to cigarettes (nicotine) and alcohol. Apart from these legal substances, there are innumerable illicit substances that can cause addiction. Among them are cannabis, heroin, cocaine, morphine, amphetamines, and synthetic derivatives. They have in common to act on the brain and modify our psychic functioning, our way of perceiving, feeling, and reacting. Some bring relief, others... chemical ecstasy.

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The meeting

Addiction arises from the encounter of an individual and a given product, at a given time. Sometimes this encounter feels like love at first sight. It begins with an incantation and seems to transform reality in a dazzling way: psychic tensions, anxieties, and problems seem to disappear into a feeling of well-being. But the effect of the product only lasts for a while and disappointment comes quickly. In the long run, reality only changes for the worse: the problems are still there, and they are not erased, but in order to produce the same relief that makes them tolerant, the product must be consumed in increasing doses. The subject dedicates more and more time to his addiction, to the detriment of other activities (work, studies, family, etc.). The vicious circle sets in... More and more consumption, more money spent, debts, isolation... There are no happy drug addicts, such is the title of a bestseller from more than 20 years ago by Claude Olievenstein.

Encounter with alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs often occurs in adolescence. The consumption of psychoactive substances brings some relief to the difficulties of the gestation of identity and the risks of the relationship with the other and in particular the sexual relationship.

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Neurobiological functioning of addiction.

Dopaminergic neurons are divided into two main groups located at the junction of the diencephalon and midbrain: the nigrostriatal system (involved in Parkinson's disease) and the mesocorticolimbic system. It is the latter that interests us in the context of the reward circuit.

The reward system is activated by dopaminergic neurons. The cell bodies of the neurons of the mesocorticolimbic system are located in the ventral tegmental area between the two dark substances. They project to the entire limbic system: nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercles, tonsils, septum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex. This system is involved in addictions to all substances.

In addition, addicted patients have neurons with greater sensitivity than average to substances. This explains the ease of installation of the addiction and the difficulty in getting rid of it.

As we can see, addiction is not just a lack of willpower but rests on solid neurobiological foundations.

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What are the signs of addiction?

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Whatever the type of addiction or dependency, the behaviors that should alert you are the same:

• Alcohol consumption in children or young adolescents: They need to increase the doses or the time dedicated to the addiction to feel good. For example, they need more alcohol to stay calm, or play more risky games of chance to feel aroused again. This reflects the existence of addiction.

• Difficulty tolerating the absence of addiction in the long term. For example, not being able to go a week without accessing the Internet (other than for valid reasons), or without drinking.

• Addictive behavior often exceeds in duration or quantity that of the average person: smoking more than planned, gambling more and more than expected.

• Desire to limit your addiction, but efforts in this direction are unsuccessful.

• Persistence in the addiction, even though you are aware that the addiction is harmful to you.

• The person dedicates more and more time to her addiction so that it is always available, to the detriment of other activities. For example, start running games of chance instead of going on vacation or working.

• Habit changes: For example, for alcohol, a person who drank alone with friends begins to drink even alone.

• Mood or personality change: nervousness, irritability, aggressiveness, especially if the addiction has not been satisfied.

• Need for addiction to feel