- With Mayo Clinic behavioral counselor
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
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Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer Kern is a tobacco treatment specialist, certified through the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center.
Her counseling work addresses various aspects of tobacco addiction, including the love-hate relationship many tobacco users have with their smoking or chewing, education about nicotine addiction, and effective strategies to help with quitting.
In addition, she explores the importance of getting emotional and social support when stopping tobacco use, and offers ideas and suggestions about how to ask for and give this support.
Being bilingual, she enjoys counseling in both Spanish and English. She holds a master's degree in psychology, with interests including spirituality, psychosomatic illness, depression and anxiety, maladaptive coping behaviors, and overall health behavior change.
"As a former smoker, I am personally familiar with the complexity of dealing with the 'tobacco shackles,' " she said. "I am committed to helping others conquer this addiction so they may regain their freedom and possibly even save their own lives."
Latest entries
- Focus on gratitude, not craving a cigarette
Nov. 24, 2009
- Join the Great American Smokeout
Nov. 17, 2009
- Preparation key to quitting smoking
Nov. 5, 2009
- Learning to be a non-smoker
Oct. 23, 2009
- Build confidence in effort to go smoke-free
Oct. 16, 2009
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Quit smoking blog
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Sept. 15, 2009
Blog: Temptation — Plan for it when trying to quit
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Temptation is an invitation to awareness. It allows you to get in touch with your vulnerabilities and learn to deal with them.
When going through the process of quitting smoking, it's natural to feel the temptation to smoke. Part of this is purely biochemical, caused by the physical addiction to nicotine. This is where tobacco cessation medications can help. By minimizing physical withdrawal symptoms you reduce the level of temptation.
Temptation to smoke may also be triggered by habitual cues, such as having a cup of coffee, getting into the car or being around other smokers. Over time, you built up associations between various aspects of your routine and having a cigarette.
Another aspect of tobacco addiction that can ignite temptation is emotional attachment to smoking. When you feel stressed, depressed, angry, lonely or bored, you may be tempted to smoke as a form of comfort or self-soothing.
So, as a smoker, how do you get through temptation to the place where you can finally call yourself as a non-smoker? You do it choice by choice. Temptation gives you the opportunity to recognize where you are still vulnerable. With that awareness you can start to make new and different choices.
Each time you're faced with the desire to smoke and choose not to, you reinforce your resolve and build your confidence. Each time you choose a healthy alternative to smoking you strengthen your personal commitment and gain power.
By taking it choice by choice and embracing the successes along the way, you lessen temptation until, like smoke, it gradually fades away.
When you are quitting smoking, how do you handle temptation so you can stay smoke-free?
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