- 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
- 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
- Goal-setting helps smooth way to smoke-free future
Oct. 1, 2009
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Quit smoking blog
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July 7, 2009
Blog: Is sneaking a smoke cheating?
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
The language of smokers who are en route to becoming smoke-free is always intriguing to me. I often hear people say "I cheated the other night" to describe smoking a cigarette while they're actively trying to quit.
It's interesting that the word choice is "cheating." This is the same term that identifies infidelity, the immoral duplication of exam answers or even tax fraud. Why is this same word then used to describe smoking during the quit process?
Cheating refers to intentional dishonesty or deception. Does breaking a promise also imply a type of cheating? Permissive thoughts such as "I can have just one" may be a way of negotiating with oneself to the point of breaking the self-commitment to be smoke-free. But is this self-deception? Is it dishonest?
Alternatively, in the case of quitting smoking, could the word cheating be used because of its association with the negative emotions, such as shame, that accompany breaking the vow to be a non-smoker?
To me, when someone smokes during the quit process a better term for that is a "slip" or a "lapse." These words do not have the same negative connotation as the emotionally laden term "cheating." It's important to avoid judgment or self-reproach when making a significant life change, as with stopping tobacco use.
What are your thoughts on why "cheating" is used in this context?
14 comments posted
November 17, 2009 7:02 p.m.
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/206243/r2zgt
- Casey
October 28, 2009 12:38 a.m.
not exactly in the same league as being promiscious, however it also involves mental weakness and shows a fragility, to Quit Smoking one must be mentally strong, phil
- phil
September 30, 2009 4:24 p.m.
If you have been smoke free for a while and then one day you do decide to take that one puff all the hard work that you have put in is down the drain or atleast thats how it feels like. Some might take it as cheating yourself. I am using a program called quit smoking at http://www.habitchanger.com/quitsmoking/ It has helped me a lot to stay on the right track....
- Tom
September 30, 2009 4:17 p.m.
It you have been smoke free for a while and then one day you do decide to take that one puff all the hard work that you have put in is down the drain or atleast thats how it feels like. Some might take it as cheating yourself. Quit Smoking Tips
- Tom
August 28, 2009 12:27 p.m.
Cheating may be a negative word for having a smoke while you're quitting, but cheating is what it feels like. A slip or a lapse just doesn't do justice to the feeling one gets when trying to stop smoking! That said, I hope I don't have any "relapses". Good luck all!
- CW
August 2, 2009 10:19 p.m.
Very Good...
- Ali
July 10, 2009 10:12 a.m.
To me, being an ex-smoker, the word cheating is very relavent if I were to have a lapse. The main reason for this is my Fiance would be devestated; almost as devastated if I had cheated on him. I feel like when a smoker quits, it's normally for more reasons than for themselves. Whether it be kids, a job, or a husband/wife, lapsing feels like cheating.
- Sara
July 10, 2009 8:54 a.m.
Pat, Don't give up! See your doctor, they have medicine to help with the depression, etc. Buy a treadmill and walk 30 minutes every day. Believe me, the cigarette was not your best friend; make an apple a day your best friend. Good job....you have been smoke free 5 years today - congratulations! I will be glad when I can say that, but one day I will.
- Andi
July 8, 2009 4:13 p.m.
there is so much pressure from others to quit and they make it like a felony, of course you will feel like your cheating if you take a puff
- paul h
July 8, 2009 10:34 a.m.
words smerds...you are decorating a package that needs to be opened and delt with. The longer you pussyfoot around that is the lless time you have to gain on the problem. You are not a child taking meds. I smoked for 35+ years and tryed many times. "I" let it get the better of me til "I" put my big ass foot down!!
- Rena Trahan
July 7, 2009 9:34 p.m.
Most quitters, if they're like me, have lied so many times to our children and spouses about quitting and we finally make the move, We feel like we have cheated or lied (which really is thr same) if we slip up and smoke one.
- Bill Turbeville
July 7, 2009 8:59 p.m.
I have been trying to quit smoking ever since last December. Quite honestly, your pettiness and thought police metality is irritating and has got me "this close" to lighting up again and would if the stores were open in my small town in Northern Maine. Stop worrying about the semantics and start helping those that are trying. Perhaps, give them an entire boyd massage would be helpful, but this mundane rhetoric wherein you feebly attempt to use cerebeal thoughts is not only meaningless, but moot. So, be mute! Thanks for understanding my irritablility with all of the comments that bear no semblance to anything at all. Eric P.S.: Hurry up and give me that massage with heat! Shhheeeeeeeesssshhhhhhhh
- Eric
July 7, 2009 3:55 p.m.
You should never reproach someone who is trying to kick a habit. I quit smoking July 10, 2004, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do of that nature anyway. I had horrific dreams, I was depressed, I woke up with panic attacks, I felt like I had lost my best friend it was awful. Then after that I have gained forty pounds which I cannot take off and my health is in worse shape than it was so I have to wonder why I quit nothing has improved only gotten worse
- Pat
July 7, 2009 2:55 p.m.
"sneaking a smoke" is cheating. I agree that it's psychologically counter-productive for a smoker to think of themselves as as cheating - is very negative. And calling it a lapse or slip or something along those lines is easier on the ear...but it's still cheating....I can say this becasue I'm an ex-smoker.
- janet
14 comments posted