Imagine that you have been a smoker for over 20 years—two packs of cigarettes a day. You are developing recurring symptoms including shortness of breath, a persistent cough, congestion, and general feelings of apathy. You know that smoking is at the root of many of these symptoms.
It is time to take stock of the situation. You decide to sit down, ask yourself about your smoking habit, and put your answers on paper.
Complete this discussion by responding to the following questions from the perspective of a long-term smoker and provide at least two references to support your answers.
- What are the pros and cons of smoking?
- Why do I smoke?
- What are the benefits of quitting smoking?
- What is keeping me from quitting?
- What resources can I turn to for help?
Once you do this, you will see that your answers partly reflect being in the precontemplation and contemplation stages of the TTM.
