With Mayo Clinic behavioral counselor Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.

First of all, I want to thank those who commented on the first blog posting. I appreciate your taking the time to read and your willingness to share your personal stories. I am excited to see the discourse and feel the sense of camaraderie among you. No one is in this alone.

There are a couple things that jumped out at me as I read about the various experiences people have with their tobacco addiction. One of them is the importance of readiness to quit and another is preparedness to quit.

Readiness to quit is an essential part of success. I think many people become tired of tobacco, of being a slave to the next cigarette or the next dip. They find there are a number of things they don't like about it, such as the smell, the inconvenience, the expense, and the health effects. But there is also a flip side. Often times, people like what tobacco does for them, whether it helps them relax, concentrate or stay awake, alleviate boredom, or whether it is simply a reliable friend to turn to during tough times.

So it is important to be in touch with how you feel about your tobacco. When you begin to recognize that the things you don't like about your tobacco have become much more important to you than the things you do like about it, that is one sign that you are ready to try to stop.

Once you are ready there are things you can do to get prepared in order to maximize your success at quitting. Most people will want to do this on their own, but if you've already tried and found that it hasn't worked it may be time to seek out a professional who can help you formulate a plan that is right for you.

Studies show that working with a professional can quadruple the likelihood of stopping tobacco use over trying again on your own. Talk to your doctor or other health professional about the many medications available to help stop tobacco use; it is important to find the right medication or combination of medications that work for you (that's right, sometimes it takes a combination of medications to achieve the right effect — just like when treating high blood pressure or diabetes or asthma). It is also important to stay in touch with your physician throughout the process to address any side effects or unexpected health changes that may result from quitting.

I see there are a lot of people writing in who have had success with stopping tobacco use. For those who are in the process or have not quit yet, there may be some ideas here that you hadn't tried up to this point. Make a list of the things you've read that other people have used to quit successfully. When evaluating new approaches ask yourself, "Is this something that is doable for me? Is this something I could follow through on consistently?"

Pick out some new coping strategies, such as using a straw as a substitute or incorporating prayer if it is meaningful to you. Look for positive, affirming messages in what you read, and if you can identify with a certain person take their encouraging words and reflect on them as you navigate your own quit process.

There is a lot of trial and error in quitting tobacco use. Most people have to try quitting a number of times before they find the most effective strategies for them. Again, don't be discouraged. Like with any disease or disorder, it is crucial to get the proper treatment from the start in order to manage the condition and have the long term health and success you want. Examine how ready you really are to make the changes essential to becoming tobacco free, and then take the steps necessary to reach your goal.

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