March 5, 2019
Tips
How can we overcome this fear that prevents us from moving forward and freeing ourselves from our dependence? The answer is to turn fear into courage. Decryption.
It is not easy to stop smoking and abandon what can be seen as a “reassuring” ritual. Quitting can indeed be the source of a deep feeling of fear. So, how can you overcome this fear that prevents you from moving forward and clearing yourself of this addiction? The answer is to transform this fear into courage. Easier said than done, to be sure. To maximize your chances, you must know what is meant exactly by “fear” and “courage” and then how you can go from the former to the latter.
First, let’s see what the feeling of fear is generally referring to. We can say that fear is an emotion characterized by an intense and unpleasant reaction to a perceived danger, present or future, real or the fruit of one’s imagination. This is a basic emotion that we can observe in both animals and humans. Psychologies magazine proposes this definition of "fear": "Threats or situations of physical or psychological danger make us enter a specific emotional state, often accompanied by physiological reactions: shivers, sweat, stomach pains, acceleration of the pulse.""
Testimonies from smokers who want to quit show that this feeling of fear overwhelms them and slows the cessation process down. The reasons behind this feeling can be the following :
Of course, these feelings are real and must be taken into account as they are both the results and symptoms of a psychological and physical dependence. That’s why they are a genuine obstacle to the withdrawal.
According to Le Monde, courage is "a distinctive feature in living beings that enables them to overcome their fear; tolerate the pain, face a danger, start something difficult or adventurous."
In the case of smokers who are hindered in their smoking cessation by their fears, such situation is the chance to transform these fears into courage. By drawing inspiration from positive psychology, these smokers are encouraged to surpass themselves by developing their own strengths, resilience and their underestimated – if not unknown – abilities in order to overcome the obstacle and achieve their ultimate goal.
Three steps to get from fear to courage:
The most important element in this process is to remain benevolent with yourself, to not underestimate your capacities to go through this and to develop a fighting spirit. For the smokers going through the cessation process, this liberation will increase their self-esteem and self-confidence regarding their abilities to overcome all sorts of problems. Nothing but positive results!