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| Year : 2013 | Volume
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| Issue : 1 | Page : 80 |
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| Mindfulness, an integrated approach for cessation of smoking in workplace |
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Mahendra P Sharma, Manoj Kumar Sharma
Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 12-Jan-2013 |
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How to cite this article:
Sharma MP, Sharma MK. Mindfulness, an integrated approach for cessation of smoking in workplace. Int J Yoga 2013;6:80 |
Sir,
Smoke-free workplaces not only protect non-smokers, but also create an environment that encourages smokers to cut back or quit smoking. It can reduce the quantity as well as frequency of smoking during day time. Smoke-free policy at workplace led 4% staff to quit smoking. [1] Majority do persist with smoking due to one or other reasons: to manage stress, reduce anxiety and their inability to overcome the indecisiveness, that is, to smoke or not. There is wide acceptance for yoga-based approaches to manage day-to-day stress, which is a major cause for smoking. One of the 8 components of Patanjali Yoga is Dhyana (meditation). In recent years, mindfulness or Vipassana meditation has received considerable attention among health professionals. It provides the potential for transforming the ways in which we respond to life events and for relapse prevention. In practice of mindfulness, person notice and accept his thoughts as passing mental events occurring in the mind rather than as a truth that defines the self. Thus, mindfulness can alter one's attitude or relation to thoughts such that they are less likely to influence subsequent feelings and behaviors. [2] Cognitive-behavioral mechanisms involve in mindfulness are acceptance, exposure, minimization of experiential avoidance, self-regulation and relaxation. It is also described as a metacognitive state of detached awareness. [3] Metacognitive-based approach for management of craving includes description of particular craving statements, identification of perceived consequences of such cravings and elucidation of perceived effects of psychoactive substance on such cognitive events. Studies have also shown that mindfulness-based interventions are effective in reducing distress related to negative mood states by enhancing metacognitive awareness. [4] Mindfulness is negatively associated with level of nicotine dependence, withdrawal severity, and positively associated with a sense of urgency regarding cessation. [5] It will contribute to enhancement of feeling of well being among smokers. Practicing mindfulness will help them in reducing craving for smoking and enhance their desire to quit smoking. There is a need to use alternative approaches like mindfulness-integrated smoking cessation program to make workplace a smoke-free place.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Glanz F. Effects of smoke free places on smoking behaviour-Sytsematic review. Br Med J 2002;325:188-91. 
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| 2. | Wells A. GAD, metacognition and mindfulness: An information processing analysis. Clinical Psychology: SciPract 2002;9:95-100.
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| 3. | Teasdale JD, Segal Z, Williams JG. How does cognitive therapy prevent depressive relapse and why should control (mindfulness) training help? Behav Res Ther 1995;33:25-39.
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| 4. | Allen NB, Chambers R, Knight W. Mindfulness-based psychotherapies: A review of conceptual foundations, empirical evidence and practical considerations. Audt New Zeal J Psychiatr 2006;40:285-94
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| 5. | VidrineJI, Businelle MS, Cinciripini P, Li Y, Marcus MT, Waters AJ, et al. Association of mindfulness with nicotine dependence, withdrawal and agency. Subst Abuse 2009;30:318-27.
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Correspondence Address:
Manoj Kumar Sharma
Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bangalore
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0973-6131.105953
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| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Mindfulness for smoking cessation |
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| Sarah Jackson, Jamie Brown, Emma Norris, Jonathan Livingstone-Banks, Emily Hayes, Nicola Lindson | | Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022; 2022(4) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
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