Tag: Tobacco

Kurt Lewin in 1936 gave a very simple formula an equation which said behaviour is a function of the person in the environment. What it means is the habit or behaviour of a person is just not dependent on a person’s character but it also depends on the environment one is exposed to.

This is very much true with tobacco also whether it is smoking or chewing.

Let us see an example – the beginning of tobacco depends very much on the person but also the environment he or she is exposed to at home or at the school or college. If someone at home takes tobacco whether chewing or smoking (a very common at home in north India is hukkah), one is likely to start tobacco.

During my medical study, the hostel was divided into multiple wings. I would talk about two wings the one in which I stayed. Another wing left to our wing. In the other wing stayed a boy, Sidhu (name changed) who was addicted to tobacco from school itself. Sidhu was a very social person and from a well to do family. He would often organise parties and go for movies and each time he would take someone along with him. By the end of 3 months, almost 50% of his friends were chewing tobacco. By the end of our MBBS almost everyone in the wing where into smoking and chewing tobacco.

But in the hostel wing I stayed, our seniors never promoted and were strict about tobacco consumption. No one in this wing ever took to this habit thankfully.

All of us have come through the entrance examination, studied hard have become doctors and into various speciality, but due to the environment, took to various habits. We cannot say that all of them had a weak will power. Environment affected them too!

It is for us as parents, seniors, teachers to guide our next generation in the right direction, we should be aware of the environment – the friend circle. I specifically tell children not to be associated with anyone who takes tobacco. However strong the child would be, their will power would get overwhelmed at some point in time only because of the environment with which they are associated with. Young minds are very easy to entice and lured to what is not good for them.

The other thing that I want to convey is that if anyone of your friends or colleagues is into tobacco, let us be good influencers on them. Help them get rid of the disease. We should not fall prey to this habit but let them adopt our good habit. If we hide or lie we cannot help them. They are into a wrong habit and we should help before the early signs of tobacco harm sets in. The advance harms are really dangerous and fatal.

The book WIN OVER TOBACCO MADE EASY would be of help. Visit the tobacco wellness centres.

A word of caution – the teachers, school counsellors, parents should be aware how to deal with such situation. I will talk about it in my subsequent blogs.

WILL POWER is the most important part in the quit process of tobacco. WILL power with the mindset to win!

The cold turkey method for quitting is totally based on will power. COLD TURKEY – you quit at one go! This usually happens when one gets a realisation of the harm by tobacco. The harm that has happened to self or to a close relative is mostly the advanced complication due to tobacco.

Mr. Kamal, a well-established chartered accountant, is a regular smoker of 15-20 sticks per day. His father, also a smoker, had a cardiac attack. While attending to his father, Mr. Kamal, realised the health hazards of tobacco. He already had early signs of harm due to tobacco.  His daughter was only 5 years old. He has smoked for 12 years already. He decided to quit. But at present the stress was too high. 3 months later on his trip to Haridwar, he had his last puff and gave away the cigarette lighter all to God Shiv and Goddess Ganga. He had a strong will power and he had prepared himself enough. It is now 11 years.

Mr. Raju decided to quit after he himself had a minor cardiac problem and when the doctor said the main reason for the problem is smoking. He used to take 10-12 cigarettes per day. He went cold turkey. Around 3 months later during a party with his friends, he took one puff and was again a regular. He continued for 8 years and in between he had multiple attempts. It is now 6 months following my intervention with Behavioural therapy and Medication, that Mr. Raju has successfully quit smoking.

Yes, WILL POWER is a must and is required but it may not be enough. WILL power needs constant efforts by your mind. Like any muscle, your mind can also get fatigued. It can be overwhelmed and then you would be back to your old habit. Do you have enough of will power to quit? TEST YOUR WILL POWER HERE.

A strong will power needs a progressive mind. YOUR MIND IS YOUR BIGGEST BLOCK.

Besides Mind may not be enough, the environment is also very important to keep your will power strong. We will learn about this in the coming blogs.

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It may be difficult to change one’s habit, adopt a new habit; more often than not the greatest challenge is to change the mindset.  Your mind is a powerful thing, what you tell yourself and the things you believe about yourself can either prevent change from happening or allow new skills to blossom.

Talking about mind, Dr Caroll Dweck described mind as – “Fixed Mindset” and a “Growth Mindset”. In a fixed mindset a person believes that his ability in a particular area is fixed, while using the growth mindset, one believes that he can improve, learn and build upon their current abilities. This is true with tobacco. This mindset is important. For some who have tried earlier but failed, it is on them now what.

I see two types of people – one with the fixed mindset who believe that they cannot quit, and if they do it will harm them. The one with the growth mindset would learn from the past, improve and with the help of specialist make a plan and would be able to quit.

The greatest challenge is the mindset. As a tobacco cessation specialist one should learn to change the mindset of the person from fixed to growth. The fixed mindset is dangerous it prevents your important skill development and growth, which could sabotage your health and happiness in the future. Know the early signs of changes now.

Recently I met two patients with similar situation. One a doctor and other a business man. Middle-aged into smoking since college days. Had angiography and stenting done, one 6 years back and the other 8 years back. They were advised to quit smoking obviously. However, they continued to smoke but had 3-4 failed attempts. I counselled them. The business man was progressive and could understand with a growth mindset. He took the plan we made for him. He would track the challenges, was on constant touch with me over phone and whatsapp; noting and taking suggestions. He is already in the winning pathway and last time I met him, he said that sir now smoking is the thing of the past.

The doctor was of fixed mindset – “I can quit when I want to”, but he had a strong feeling that he will be harmed if he quits, although he sat through my counselling but was non responsive. He has not answered any of my phone call or to messages. Learning and excepting new skill is a process and everyone would respond differently.

When one focusses on the new skills and habits the process, success will come and there will be progress. But if one focuses only on the result without going through the process there is likely to be despair, anger and guilt.

Let us take one step at a time. Learn from our past and progress in our path to success. Yes we can quit smoking or chewing tobacco.

Note the early signs of tobacco use. If you have any, it is time to quit now, better not to repent later. Note your cravings and triggers. Talk to your tobacco cessation expert, draw a plan focus on the process and sure you would be a WINNER!

If you have quit successfully, INSPIRE OTHERS, SHARE YOUR STORY.