Addressing Tobacco/Cigarette Addiction During Rehab in San Diego
When you stop the use of tobacco, you’ll find that withdrawal symptoms come on fast, and are usually the worst about two days after you quit. These withdrawal symptoms can include the following:
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Frustration
- An increase in appetite or weight gain
Getting Past the Reasons to Smoke
If you don't address an addiction to tobacco by doing some personal inventory work, certain psychological triggers can also spur cravings. Some of these triggers include activities that invite people to smoke such as driving, work deadlines, dieting, or engaging in activities where others are smoking.
The Health Risks Associated with the Use of Tobacco
Did you know that people die from the use of tobacco more often than they do from illicit drug use, alcoholism, vehicle accidents, and murders combined? Even when cigarette smokers understand the health risks, they find it extremely difficult to quit without some type of intervention.
Reasons Why You Should Not Smoke
Some of the risks associated with tobacco use included the following:
- Heart disease
- Lung cancer
- Esophageal or mouth cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Stroke
Unfortunately, smoking is one of the world’s most common addictions. On a positive note, you can find the support you need through Present Moments in San Diego.
Getting the Help You Need at Present Moments in San Diego
Not only do we focus on overcoming the addiction to nicotine, we also can help anyone who has an associated addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Although most tobacco users will start to feel better after they’ve stopped the nicotine habit for about a week, it may take three months or more to fully recover. That is why many doctors recommend that patients wean off of nicotine slowly by using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Doing so can help users increase their chances for long-term success.
NRT comes in the form of gum, lozenges, patches, sprays, and inhalers, and is available both over-the-counter and with a prescription. The purpose of NRT is to reduce the amount of nicotine in your body, which ultimately helps you reduce your cravings and quit smoking.
This type of therapy can take anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks, depending on the severity of your nicotine addiction. NRT may not be the best method for everyone, but it is a tried-and-true way to quit smoking
Get a Medical Assessment and Recommendation First: Contact Present Moments in San Diego
If you are interested in using NRT to aid you in quitting smoking, make sure to speak with your doctor first. Your doctor will be able to tell you if NRT is right for you. You can also schedule a consultation with a clinical professional at Present Moments in San Diego. If you have another addiction problem, you can go over a treatment plan to manage both addictions.
Avoiding the Triggers
When you first decide to quit smoking or stop using tobacco, you’ll need to learn how to avoid the triggers. For instance, if you smoke every morning with your coffee, try switching to an herbal tea or a warm liquid that does not invite you to smoke.
Maybe you frequently smoke during or after a stressful day at work. If this is your weakness, you need to find alternative methods to relax. If possible, you may want to avoid being around people who smoke. This will reduce the likelihood of your cravings for cigarettes and increase your chances of quitting.
There are also online forums and apps that can help you avoid triggers. Despite what many people say, there will come a time when you won’t crave cigarettes anymore. When that day finally arrives, you’ll be able to ignore the cravings and focus on living more positively and healthily.
Meditation and Breathing Exercises
Many people who quit smoking turn to meditation to deal with the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Studies show that meditation is effective in reducing nicotine cravings and improving the mood.
If you struggle with anxiety and mood-related cravings, meditation may be a helpful method for you. Meditation helps people relax as well as clears the mind. Therefore, meditation is a great strategy for those who want to quit smoking, but don’t want to rely on medication. It is a method that can be practiced by almost anyone just about any time.
Counseling and Psychotherapy at Present Moments in San Diego
Quitting smoking is often a long process. If you find that it’s hard to quit smoking, Present Moments in San Diego can help. We offer counseling and psychotherapy sessions that support people who are committed to quit the nicotine habit.
These programs can help you deal with the underlying issues or emotions that may be contributing to your addiction and offer solutions that will help you heal.
Counseling and psychotherapy are not one-time events: they are long-term processes that last for months or years. This means that quitting smoking is not simple - but can be accomplished if you’re serious about overcoming the addiction and improving your overall health.
If you are interested in quitting smoking, but you don’t know where to start, you can gain the incentive you need by contacting Present Moment in San Diego about quitting your nicotine habit through counseling and group therapy.
Combining Therapies at Present Moments in San Diego
Maybe you’d like to try multiple methods to quit smoking. If so, there is nothing to stop you from doing so. Many people use more than one method when they decide to quit tobacco. At Present Moments in San Diego, we can find just the right methods for you - plans that will personally work for you.
You just need to remember that quitting smoking is a process, and that it is okay if you even happen to relapse. The important thing is to learn from each attempt and keep trying. Eventually, you will stop smoking permanently.
Conclusion
By quitting smoking through a program at Present Moments in San Diego, you’ll reduce your risk of getting cancer or heart disease by as much as 90%. You’ll also save a great deal of money and increase your life expectancy.
Get the support and care you need through Present Moments in San Diego. Contact us today to find the methods that work the best for you.