YOUR BRAIN & NICOTINE
This brain chemical is involved in pleasure, motivation, and reward.
What is dopamine?
This word describes what happens when the body adjusts after nicotine is reduced or stopped.
What is withdrawal?
Smoking feels calming because it briefly fixes this uncomfortable state.
What is nicotine withdrawal?
This is anything that makes the brain think about smoking.
What is a trigger?
This helps recovery even when motivation is low.
What is routine?
This part of the brain learns habits and keeps asking for nicotine once it gets used to it.
What is the reward system?
Withdrawal is a sign of this, not a sign of damage.
What is healing?
This cycle makes stress feel worse over time even though smoking feels helpful at first.
What is the stress–nicotine cycle?
Triggers can come from places, feelings, or this part of the body.
What is the body?
This matters more than willpower while the brain heals.
What is repetition?
This happens when the brain gets used to nicotine and needs more to feel the same effect.
What is tolerance?
This is why withdrawal symptoms change over time instead of staying the same.
What is brain adjustment?
This is what nicotine actually does to stress in the long run.
What is increase stress?
This is a strong urge that rises and falls over time.
What is a craving?
This kind of participation still helps recovery, even without talking.
What is listening?
This brain process explains why quitting feels hard even when someone wants to stop.
What is addiction?
This is why withdrawal can affect mood, sleep, and focus.
What is brain chemistry changing?
This explains why stress feels stronger after the nicotine wears off.
What is withdrawal returning?
This describes what happens to a craving if you don’t act on it.
What is it passes?
This helps people keep going even when confidence is low.
What is consistency?
This is what the brain is trying to do when it keeps sending urges for nicotine.
What is maintain balance?
This is the most important thing to remember when withdrawal feels uncomfortable.
What is that it will pass?
This is the biggest misunderstanding people have about smoking and stress.
What is that smoking relieves stress?
This skill involves noticing a craving without immediately reacting.
What is riding the craving wave?
This reminder reduces shame and fear during recovery.
What is “nothing is wrong with my brain”?