Smoking Cessation
Introduction
Smoking cigarettes helps to ease mood fluctuations and deal with daily stressors. Many people are reluctant when they consider smoking cessation and often assume that they won't be able to handle the stress associated with it. Although it takes persistence and self-discipline it is an easier transition when you can get help from a therapist who will teach you how to cope permanently.
There are a lot of self-defeating thoughts that take place when people consider cutting down on cigarette use. The most difficult part about quitting is learning how to deal with reoccurring stress. By turning to cognitive behavior therapy you can learn how to develop new activities that change your habits and your need for relief. There are a couple of different approaches that you can take. Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in helping you heal suppressed feelings if they are also associated with the habit of smoking.
Challenges Faced by Smoking Cessation
Smoking cigarettes is a physical and psychological addiction. The nicotine provides your body with a temporary and addictive high that creates difficult withdrawal symptoms in an attempt to quit. Nicotine makes you feel better and can relieve tension due to the effect that it has on your brain. If you are used to relying on this activity as a way to deal with stress or anxiety it can be a challenging process if you choose to cut it out altogether. Smoking might be a part of your daily ritual and a response to your routine (coffee breaks, driving home from work etc.) In order to ease the challenge associated with smoking it is necessary that you acknowledge both the habit and how it helps you cope throughout the day. There are some people who can eliminate the activity immediately and there are others who have a difficult time doing it by themselves. By working with a therapist you can address a plan that prevents relapses. The treatment can be customized to your individual needs and this increases your chances of quitting sooner than you may have expected.
How Smoking Cessation Affects Other Relationships
Smoking cessation can have an impact on relationships being that it tends to initiate unpleasant feelings such as anxiety and fear. It can cause mood swings that make it difficult for other people to assist you during this time. It may be a challenge to control your behavior. When you decide to stop smoking it changes the way that you feel emotionally and physically. As you are making this important change toward your health it's essential to be open toward people about what you're going through. When others are aware of your attempt to quit they may be more willing to support you and help you during this time instead of assuming that you are taking your stress out on them. By choosing to work with a therapist you can benefit from learning sensory relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that calm your body and mind when you have an impulse to smoke.
The most important element of quitting is being able to find alternative ways to cope with feelings and anxieties. Having a support system to help you during this time can help you face feelings that you may have been suppressing for years. It is common to deal with unpleasant emotions that are present when you are tempted to smoke and find emotional relief. With therapy and support from others you can learn how to focus on other things as you are dealing with bothersome feelings. You can work with a counselor and find ways to deal with these stressful situations appropriately. The techniques that you learn can help you resist the temptation and help you find a strong coping mechanism.
How Therapy Can Help
An addiction to nicotine is often related to daily rituals or habits. There are many people who try to quit smoking a few times before they can be rid of it completely. By turning the relapse into a rebound you can learn from a mistake and identify strong triggers. It's important for you to know the difference between slipping up and going through a relapse period. If you 'slip up' and smoke one cigarette it doesn't mean that you have failed in quitting. You can get back on track and push harder to not have a cigarette the next time that you're tempted. As you turn to behavioral therapy the counselor will teach you how to use coping skills and help to break old habits that affect your health. The counselor is likely to suggest natural techniques such as acupuncture which can relieve the body by releasing endorphins. Alternative activities can assist you in managing withdrawal symptoms and improve the physical pain associated with quitting. There are different therapy types that are successful in helping people with smoking cessation. What plan works for you will depend on what you're most comfortable with. Whether it's systematically cutting down on cigarettes, reducing nicotine or turning to counseling, you can find a treatment plan that is most effective for you.
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