If you’re looking for an opportunity to break free of your nicotine habit, today is the perfect occasion to begin. While a nicotine habit can be one of the most challenging substance use disorders to overcome, with the right strategies and mindset, you can make it through. Having good reasons to quit nicotine and knowing the benefits it will have on your life can be all the motivation you need to start your quitting journey today.
When you want to start the process of eliminating nicotine from your life, you have to plan it beforehand to prevent any relapses during the process. Here are a few things you should keep in mind when you are beginning to quit nicotine.
Know About Withdrawal Symptoms
Knowing how nicotine withdrawal will affect you and what you should expect is necessary for your peace of mind. Quitting nicotine may not be a sudden decision that you can implement the next day, but it might be a gradual process with a pre-determined quitting date. If you haven’t quit nicotine just yet, National Detox Day can be the perfect day to quit and help you start afresh. Some nicotine withdrawal symptoms you need to be aware of, according to the CDC, are:
- Feeling irritated, upset, or on edge
- Having trouble with concentration
- Feeling restless
- Sleeping issues
- Getting hungry more often or gaining weight
- Craving nicotine often
- Getting anxious, depressed or stressed
Depending on how long you’ve been using nicotine, the withdrawal stage can either be short or extended. It’s important to remember that while this time can seem challenging, it will pass. Persevering through this period can determine whether you break free or not from your nicotine habit.
Practice Mindfulness and Stress Management
Paying attention to, and being mindful when you’re getting the urge to consume nicotine can be significant for your nicotine detoxification journey. Learning mindfulness and meditation can help people become more aware of their negative thought patterns, and learn what triggers their nicotine cravings. Research also shows that mindfulness can allow people to move past their negative patterns instead of resorting to nicotine as a coping mechanism.
Stress management is also an essential part of breaking free from your nicotine habit, as most people only look for nicotine in moments of extreme stress or anxiety. You have to understand what is causing your stress and what you can do to manage it to prevent yourself from going back to nicotine.
Find Coping Methods
When you’re having a hard time letting go of nicotine or want it out of your system as quickly as possible, looking into possible detoxification methods can be ideal. Nicotine replacement therapy is ideal when you want to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. You can consult a medical professional about which nicotine replacement therapy is right for you and how to get started with it.
Quitting smoking is tough, especially when you feel like you’re alone and no one is there to help you out. Having a strong support network can ensure that you don’t feel like backing out of your decision to quit smoking. It can provide solace and comfort knowing that you have someone to rely on and who will support you no matter what.
Deal with Nicotine Cravings
Nicotine cravings can come out of nowhere, especially when you least expect it. Leaving yourself vulnerable against these cravings can end up with relapse. When you want to minimize the possibility of relapsing into using nicotine again, you need to learn how to deal with the cravings. Some helpful methods to try are:
- Planning ahead: Remove all nicotine products from your immediate vicinity. It can include frequently-used areas like your car, home, and workplace. Find healthy snacks or gum to eat when you start craving nicotine.
- Try exercise: Moving your body can help distract your mind from craving nicotine, and it can promote better health too. Find an exercise or type of movement that you like, and it can be anything from walking to hitting the gym.
- Indulge in self-care: Sometimes, taking care of yourself holistically can be the best way to deal with nicotine cravings. Pamper your skin with a lengthy skincare routine or practice meditation every time you feel the urge to go back to nicotine.
Getting nicotine completely out of your life can be one of the hardest things to do mentally, but it will have long-term physical benefits for your health. Your body immediately starts healing the minute you quit nicotine, with your blood pressure and heart rate decreasing. Within 12 hours, the carbon-monoxide level in your blood will return to normal. Quitting nicotine can also reduce the chances of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and blood pressure-related disorders.
If you’re looking for a push to encourage you to quit nicotine, embrace this National Detox Day as your opportunity to say goodbye to nicotine for good.
