Why do people smoke?
Smoking is driven primarily by nicotine addiction, which can make it feel difficult to quit. Many smokers adjust their smoking habits, such as puffing and inhaling, to get the nicotine their body craves. However, smoking is influenced by more than just addiction—social, economic and personal factors all play a role.
Smoking habits often begin and continue due to a combination of influences. Your family, friends and social environments can play a huge part, as can broader societal and economic pressures. Political and economic conditions also affect access to resources for those who want to quit.
Despite public health efforts, smoking is still a significant issue. In the UK, smoking rates dropped from 20% in 2011 to 13% in 2022. However, smoking remains more common in disadvantaged areas, where 16% of adults smoke, compared to just 10% in wealthier regions. These differences highlight the need for targeted support in specific communities.
Understanding why you smoke is an important first step. By recognising the different factors at play and seeking the right support, quitting smoking is achievable, helping you move towards a healthier, smoke-free future.
What drives people to give up smoking?
Many people decide to quit smoking because they want to protect their health. Smoking is a leading cause of life-threatening illnesses like lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems. By quitting, you can reduce these risks and take control of your health.
Smoking affects more than just your health—it can impact your fitness, appearance and even how you feel in social situations. Quitting can help you feel better, look better and enjoy a higher quality of life.
Smoking is expensive. Many people quit smoking to save money, and with smoking becoming less socially acceptable, quitting can help you feel more comfortable in public spaces. In the UK, smoke-free zones are becoming more common, adding to the motivation to quit.
Quitting smoking can protect the people around you, especially children and non-smokers, from the dangers of second-hand smoke. Being a role model for your family and safeguarding their health is a powerful reason to quit.
Why do people struggle to stop smoking?
Text: Describe the difficulties people experience when trying to give up smoking and address any worries they may have, such as putting on weight. Are people who smoke more likely to have other conditions that can impact their ability to quit?
Nicotine Dependency
Nicotine changes the brain’s chemistry, making it hard to quit. When you smoke, nicotine releases dopamine, which creates a feeling of pleasure and well-being. This dependency makes it difficult to stop, as your body craves the dopamine boost smoking provides.
Challenges and Fears
The fear of withdrawal symptoms, stress and potential weight gain can make quitting smoking feel daunting. Nicotine can suppress your appetite and speed up your metabolism, so when you stop smoking you might worry about gaining weight. These fears can be especially strong for those already concerned about body image.
Mental Health Conditions
If you suffer from anxiety or depression, quitting smoking can feel even harder. Mental health issues can amplify withdrawal symptoms and make it more difficult to manage the stress of quitting. It’s important to address your mental health as part of your plan to quit smoking.
Daily Habits and Triggers
Smoking often becomes a part of daily routines, such as having a cigarette with your morning coffee or during work breaks. These triggers can make it harder to quit because smoking is so deeply ingrained in your lifestyle.
How can a smoking addiction be overcome?
Stop Smoking Medicines
Prescription medications like Champix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion) can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms by altering your brain’s response to nicotine. These medications can increase your chances of quitting by making withdrawal easier and reducing the pleasure of smoking. However, ensure you are aware of all the potential side effects first.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
NRT provides nicotine without the harmful chemicals in cigarettes, with options including patches, gums, lozenges, and inhalers. NRT helps manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, giving your body time to adjust to lower nicotine levels. NRT only tackles the physical addiction, so it’s often best combined with behavioural support.
Vapes/E-Cigarettes
Vaping offers a way to simulate smoking and obtain nicotine while reducing exposure to harmful chemicals. E-cigarettes can be a useful tool for reducing or quitting smoking. The long-term health effects of vaping are still unclear, and there is a risk of continued nicotine addiction.
Support Networks
Having the support of friends, family, colleagues or a support group can make quitting smoking easier. They provide emotional support, practical advice and accountability, helping you stay on track.
Apps and Online Programmes
There are many apps and online resources to help you quit smoking, offering tools like progress tracking, motivational messages and tips for managing cravings. These resources are convenient and personalised to help you quit smoking on your terms.
Consulting Healthcare Professionals
It’s always a good idea to speak with your GP before starting a quit-smoking plan. They can provide personalised advice and recommend treatments.
How can hypnotherapy help?
At Inspired to Change, we know how difficult it can be to stop smoking. That’s why we offer a powerful, single session of hypnotherapy to give up smoking. It’s designed to help you quit for good by addressing the deeper causes of your smoking habit.
Lasting around 120 minutes, our quit smoking hypnotherapy session focuses on accessing your subconscious mind—the part that controls automatic habits like smoking. By working with your subconscious, we help you tackle the mental and emotional triggers that drive your urge to smoke. This process reduces cravings and reinforces your commitment to becoming smoke-free.
Everyone’s experience with smoking is different, so our session is tailored specifically to you. During this one-off session, we’ll work closely with you to address your unique challenges and provide the support you need to feel confident in quitting smoking.
Your hypnotherapy session will focus on both the mental and physical aspects of your smoking habit. You’ll quickly gain a clear understanding of the deeper reasons behind your smoking and learn new ways to manage cravings.
Using hypnotherapy to give up smoking is a medication-free option, offering a natural method to help you stop. Our session helps you regain control over your choices and strengthens your commitment to staying smoke-free. You’ll leave feeling equipped to overcome the habit and move forward towards a healthier, smoke-free future.
Please Note: While our single hypnotherapy session has helped many people quit smoking, individual outcomes may vary. Success depends on your personal commitment and motivation to quit. Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool, but it works best when combined with a strong desire to make lasting changes.
Our Stop Smoking Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
