| The stresses of everyday life can be a powerful | | | | as smoking. It is universal and easily accessible, |
| trigger for the smoker trying to quit. Situations that | | | | allowing people the ability to develop intelligent and |
| used to precipitate the lighting of a cigarette must | | | | thoughtful reactions to events and circumstances as |
| now be dealt with another way, and unless they are, | | | | they are happening, and to construct unique, healthy |
| the threat of regressing becomes very likely. So how | | | | reactions in response. |
| can people cope with these stresses that produce | | | | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy |
| the craving to smoke? Many experts believe that | | | | • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is |
| that a mindfulness based approach to stress | | | | similar to MBSR, in that it combines present-moment |
| reduction can be the key to handling those cravings. | | | | meditative practices with conventional cognitive |
| Techniques such as Mindfulness-Based Stress | | | | therapy techniques. The therapy, developed by Zindel |
| Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy | | | | Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale, and based on |
| have been used with much success as a way to | | | | Zinn's MBSR model, allows participants to cultivate a |
| manage stress and to break habitual patterns. | | | | right-now awareness of what is happening within |
| Instead of turning to smoking at the first sign of | | | | them. MBCT uses Eastern meditative techniques and |
| stress, these mindfulness techniques offer the | | | | cognitive therapies to help patients become |
| smoker an accessible and healthy alternative for | | | | acquainted with the different modes of the mind that |
| managing these triggers without lighting up. | | | | can often characterize addictions such as smoking. |
| Below is a brief description of each technique: | | | | Through this technique, the ex-smoker begins to |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction | | | | develop healthy responses to the stressful stimuli |
| • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction was | | | | that were previously managed through smoking. By |
| developed by Jon-Kabat Zinn, a PhD at the University | | | | focusing on what "is" rather than all the potential |
| of Massachusetts, in 1979. MBSR uses intentional, | | | | negatives that "could be," MBCT helps people break |
| present-moment awareness to help people tap into | | | | harmful, repetitive responses and patterns that can |
| whatever is happening in their life as it unfolds, | | | | lead to addiction and health problems. |
| without judgment or curiosity. The process, based on | | | | An unhealthy amount of stress can be disastrous to |
| Eastern meditation, helps people to become more | | | | the smoker trying to quit. Learning to manage these |
| skillful and creative in their responses to real world | | | | stresses effectively and in a timely manner can be |
| stimuli, eliminating destructive habitual patterns such | | | | the key to successful cessation. |