How To Stop Nicotine Addiction

Can You Use Cbd Oil To Quit Smoking Cigarettes

Understanding how nicotine addiction works is paramount if you want to find an effective solution. Aside from the obvious physical addiction, smoking cigarettes is habit-forming and thus can trigger behavioral addiction.

With a physical addiction, all you need to do is endure the time your body needs to flush nicotine out of your system and bring your body back to normal functioning.

Behavioral addictions are more complex because the brain of an addicted person is wired to certain processes that often lead to the pleasurable sensation associated with inhaling cigarette smoke.

Thats why nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine gums or patches demonstrate low cessation success rates.

Imagine engaging in a particular activity 20 to 40 times a day for 10 to 20 years wont it be hard to quit that habit regardless of the activity?

The surge of dopamine combined with an effortless way to experience it as is the case with smoking cigarettes further reinforces the habit, making it more difficult to go cold turkey.

Below we explain how CBD may help you curb cigarette cravings, dampen withdrawal symptoms, and rewire your brain so that it no longer associates smoking cigarettes with a priority.

Common Withdrawal Symptoms After Quitting Cigarettes

The withdrawal symptoms of quitting cigarettes vary depending on the severity of your addiction and your bodys dependence on nicotine. Some of the more common withdrawals include:

• Irritation

• Poor response to stress
• Mood swings

Managing these withdrawal symptoms is one of the most important elements of quitting smoking cigarettes and CBD seems to fit here like a glove.

Unfortunately, using CBD oil to quit smoking cigarettes isnt the first-choice treatment among doctors.

Home Remedies For Nicotine Addiction

Smoking is one of the leading causes of death as a result of the many health issues it increases the risk of. Thankfully, just because youve smoked in the past doesnt mean its too late to kick the habit. In fact, your lungs will start to heal and repair any damage caused by smoking almost as soon as you quit. The hardest part of quitting any smoking or tobacco habit is kicking the nicotine addiction.

Unfortunately, many people believe that a nicotine addiction is one of the hardest to overcome. But there are a number of natural ways you can combat your nicotine addiction and quit smoking. Here are a few examples of the things you could try to tackle your nicotine addiction.

You May Like: Am I An Addict Test

Nicotine Withdrawal And Your Mood

As your body adjusts to life without nicotine, you may have mood swings or feel increased anxiety or sadness. If you become depressed or are having extreme sadness, do not ignore these feelings or keep them to yourself. Let someone who cares about you know how you are feeling, and talk to a doctor or another trusted healthcare professional.

Combining Zyban And Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Combining Zyban and nicotine replacement therapy, is usually more effective than either treatment alone. Both medications work in different ways. Zyban reduces cravings by working on brain chemistry, and nicotine replacement therapy works by gradually weaning your body off nicotine.

Zyban combined with nicotine replacement therapy can slightly increase your blood pressure. Therefore monitoring of blood pressure is recommended in these cases.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take To Get Addicted To Heroin

Dangers Of Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine addiction is very dangerous, as it causes you to use tobacco products more. Tobacco contains more than 19 chemicals that are known to cause cancer, which are called tar. There are more than 4,000 other chemicals in tobacco, and the potential effects of these are not entirely known. The effects of these chemicals on your body vary depending on the method of entry smoking or chewing. In both cases, they affect the face and mouth as well as the internal organs the most. Nicotine addiction is very prevalent in the world.Tobacco addiction kills one person prematurely every six seconds.

Here are some of the effects of nicotine

Does Nicotine Gum Cause Addiction

As mentioned, a fast-acting smoking reliever is nicotine gum or polacrilex nicotine. In it, nicotine is absorbed through the oral glands. At the end of the 12th week of your nicotine reduction regimen, you are told to avoid using these gums.

Nevertheless, many studies claim that daily nicotine gum use can be addictive. So, how to make full use of this strategy without compromising the wellbeing of the user?

When consuming nicotine gum, it is important to obey the guidelines to minimize the amount of nicotine you need fairly. You will find that the cravings will decline as the body gets used to less nicotine, and that’s how you sever your reliance on it.

Nicotine gum, however, will only induce the user’s addiction at a relatively low rate. Within ten weeks, physicians often suggest that you should stop taking nicotine gum.

Several people have avoided smoking cigarettes yet switched to nicotine gum for a long time. Since, overall, this gum also contains enough nicotine to make certain individuals addicted to the point of “feeling necessary.”

Does nicotine gum give you a buzz?

Though gum and cigarettes both contain nicotine, the whole point of nicotine replacement therapy is that it can help you avoid nicotine abuse. Take the steps as instructed, and you should be able to say farewell to nicotine and cigarettes.

Don’t Miss: How To Stop Addictive Behavior

Some Smokers Are Genetically Predisposed To Addiction

This is one reason you cant just will or purely pray your way to quit.

Even if you avoid smoking for a little while, you might find yourself drawn back in before you know it because of this genetic element. Having a predisposition to addiction means youre even more likely to develop a chemical dependence on nicotine.

Because you were born with this genetic link, you may be at higher risk of developing other types of unhealthy habits or addictions as well. Some examples are gambling, alcohol abuse, or compulsive shopping.

If youve tried to quit smoking in the past and relapsed repeatedly, then you may be genetically predisposed to addiction. You can confirm this by consulting a professional doctor.

Combine all of these elements, and it becomes clear why kicking the habit can feel so insurmountable.

However, keep this in mind:

Quitting smoking is 100% possible.

Through prayer and other proven methods for smoking cessation, you can break the cycle for good.

Set Up Your Environment For Success

Hays recommends creating a temptation-free home, such as throwing out anything that reminds you of vaping. Make sure your room, backpacks, purses and pockets are free of any e-cigarettes and things you need to vape. Then, let your friends know youre trying to quit so they dont bring vaping items around you that could trigger a craving.

Read Also: How To Talk To An Addict In Denial

Do You Smoke To Relieve Unpleasant Feelings

Many of us smoke to manage unpleasant feelings such as stress, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. When you have a bad day, it can seem like cigarettes are your only friend. As much comfort as cigarettes provide, though, its important to remember that there are healthier and more effective ways to keep unpleasant feelings in check. These may include exercising, meditating, relaxation strategies, or simple breathing exercises.

For many people, an important aspect of giving up smoking is to find alternate ways to handle these difficult feelings without turning to cigarettes. Even when cigarettes are no longer a part of your life, the painful and unpleasant feelings that may have prompted you to smoke in the past will still remain. So its worth spending some time thinking about the different ways you intend to deal with stressful situations and the daily irritations that would normally have you lighting up.

Facing Addiction In America: The Surgeon General’s Report On Alcohol Drugs And Health

This executive summary of the Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health addresses alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drug misuse in the United States. Chapters of the report cover neurobiology, prevention, treatment, recovery, health systems integration, and recommendations for the future.

Read Also: Is My Son Addicted To Video Games

Think Of Momentum As A Tool

You start your quit program on day one. You have to endure hell and heck weeks and the discomforts beyond them. Every smoke-free day makes you stronger and more able to succeed. The gains are imperceptible at first, but they’re happening all the same.

Every day, you’re building momentum that will propel you forward with greater ease as time goes by. That momentum will carry over into other areas of your life. You’ll use it to achieve other goals you once thought of as unattainable. You can always do more than you think you can.

Choosing And Using The Right Nicotine Replacement Therapy For You

No one type of nicotine replacement therapy – by itself or in combination – is necessarily any better than another. When choosing the type of NRT you will use, think about which method will best fit your lifestyle and pattern of smoking or using smokeless tobacco. For example, do you want/need something in your mouth or something to keep your hands busy? Are you looking for once-a-day convenience? How urgent are your cravings for nicotine?

Here are some important points to think about as you decide:

• Nicotine gums, lozenges, and inhalers are substitutes you can put into your mouth that let you control your dosage to help keep cravings under better control.
• Nicotine gums and lozenges are generally sugar-free, but if you are diabetic and have any doubts, check with the manufacturer.
• Nicotine nasal spray works very quickly when you need it.
• Nicotine inhalers allow you to mimic the use of cigarettes by puffing and holding the inhaler. It also works very quickly.
• Nicotine patches are convenient and only have to be put on once a day.
• Both inhalers and nasal sprays require a doctors prescription.
• Some people may not be able to use patches, inhalers, or nasal sprays because of allergies or other conditions.
• Nicotine gum may stick to dentures or dental work making it hard to chew before parking.

Read Also: How To Deal With An Addictive Personality

Questions To Ask Yourself

Take the time to think of what kind of smoker you are, which moments of your life call for a cigarette, and why. This will help you to identify which tips, techniques, or therapies may be most beneficial for you.

Are you a very heavy smoker ? Or are you more of a social smoker? Would a simple nicotine patch do the job?

Are there certain activities, places, or people you associate with smoking? Do you feel the need to smoke after every meal or whenever you break for coffee?

Do you reach for cigarettes when youre feeling stressed or down? Or is your cigarette smoking linked to other addictions, such as alcohol or gambling?

Start your stop smoking plan with START

S = Set a quit date.

Choose a date within the next two weeks, so you have enough time to prepare without losing your motivation to quit. If you mainly smoke at work, quit on the weekend, so you have a few days to adjust to the change.

T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit.

Let your friends and family in on your plan to quit smoking and tell them you need their support and encouragement to stop. Look for a quit buddy who wants to stop smoking as well. You can help each other get through the rough times.

A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges youll face while quitting.

Most people who begin smoking again do so within the first three months. You can help yourself make it through by preparing ahead for common challenges, such as nicotine withdrawal and cigarette cravings.

Quit Smoking: 7 Products To Strike Out Nicotine

Taming your cravings for nicotine is a huge part of quitting smoking.There are many products, both over-the-counter and prescription, thatcan help. Learn more about the patches, lozenges, gum, pills, inhalersand nasal sprays, that can ease your transition to a smoke-free life.

If you’re a smoker, craving a cigarette with your morning coffee isnt all in your mind. Smoking causes a real physical addiction that can be tough to shake.

Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in tobacco. Nicotine replacement therapy may help you curb cravings and wean you off tobacco. And thats definitely something you want to do.

Tobacco use accounts for about one-third of all cancers. And 90% of lung cancer cases. It also contributes to heart disease, stroke and lung disease.

Nicotine replacement therapy is a great place to start when youre ready to stop using tobacco, says Paul Cinciripini, Ph.D., director of MD Andersons Tobacco Treatment Program and professor in Behavioral Science. Its easy to use, has few side effects, and research shows it works for many people.

If youre a heavy smoker, medications also are available. Pills prescribed by your doctor are very effective quitting tools, says Maher Karam-Hage, M.D., associate medical director of MD Andersons Tobacco Treatment Program and associate professor in Behavioral Science.

So, to quit smoking once and for all, find out which product is right for you.

Medications to help you quit smoking

Potential side effects:

• Nausea
• Hiccups

Also Check: How To Cure Marijuana Addiction

What Does Nicotine Addiction Look Like

Nicotine addiction can look different from person to person. Even if you only use tobacco once in a while, you can be addicted and can have a hard time quitting.

Some signs of nicotine addiction include:

• Cravings, or feeling like you really need to use tobacco.
• Going out of your way to get tobacco.
• Feeling anxious or irritable if you want to use tobacco but cant.
• Continuing to use tobacco because you find it hard to stop.

When youre addicted to nicotine, you may experience symptoms of nicotine withdrawal after you stop using tobacco. Craving cigarettes, feeling sad or irritable, or having trouble sleeping are some common symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms are usually strongest in the first week after quitting, but they are only temporary.

Surgeon Generals Report On Smoking Cessation

The Surgeon Generals Report on Smoking Cessation, released in January 2020, offers evidence that smoking cessation is beneficial at any age, improves health status and enhances quality of life. It also reduces the risk of premature death and can add as much as a decade to life expectancy.

The prevalence of tobacco use and dependence among adolescentsas well as the neurobiological impact and medical consequences of nicotine exposuresuggest that pediatric primary care settings should deliver tobacco cessation treatments to both youth and parents who use tobacco.169 Current clinical guidance does not recommend medications for adolescent tobacco cessation because of a lack of high-quality studies 170 however, a combination of behavioral treatmentssuch as motivational enhancement and CBThas shown promise for helping adolescents quit tobacco.171 More well-designed smoking cessation studies need to be conducted with adolescent smokers, particularly in the area of pharmacologic treatments for nicotine dependence.170

Read Also: What Makes People Addicted To Drugs

What Can I Do About Nicotine Cravings

As a smoker, you get used to having a certain level of nicotine in your body. You control that level by how much you smoke, how deeply you inhale the smoke, and the kind of tobacco you use. When you quit, cravings develop when your body wants nicotine. It takes time to break free from nicotine addiction. Also, when you see people smoking or are around other triggers, you may get nicotine cravings. Cravings are real. They are not just in your imagination. At the same time, your mood may change, and your heart rate and blood pressure may go up.

The urge to smoke will come and go. Cravings usually last only a very brief period of time. Cravings usually begin within an hour or two after you have your last cigarette, peak for several days, and may last several weeks. As the days pass, the cravings will get farther apart. Occasional mild cravings may last for 6 months.

Here are some tips for managing cravings:

• Remind yourself that they will pass.
• Avoid situations and activities that you used to associate with smoking.
• As a substitute for smoking, try chewing on carrots, pickles, apples, celery, sugarless gum, or hard candy. Keeping your mouth busy may stop the psychological need to smoke.
• Try this exercise: Take a deep breath through your nose and blow out slowly through your mouth. Repeat 10 times.
• Ask your doctor about nicotine replacement products or other medications.

Second Hand Smoke Facts

Second hand smoke causes the same kinds of deaths as smoking. There is no safe level of second hand smoke. Here are just two of the consequences of living with a smoker or working in a smoking environment.

Nonsmokers exposed to second hand smoke at home or at work are at higher risk of the following:

• 25 30 percent more likely to develop heart disease and stroke
• 20 30 percent more likely to develop lung cancer

Recommended Reading: Why Is Smoking Weed So Addictive

Smoking & Nicotine Withdrawal Timeline / How Long Does Nicotine Withdrawal Last

Nicotine is a drug and whatever method you use to take it whether smoking or vaping you will experience withdrawal.

Many believe that smoking, tobacco or nicotine withdrawal is difficult and unpleasant stage of quitting smoking, that there will be nicotine headaches and clear signs of nicotine withdrawal such as mood swings, difficulty concentrating and anxiety. This belief would create a tremendous fear of quitting smoking and vaping for anyone, but withdrawal is not as bad as people fear.

You may be surprised that nicotine addiction is 1% physical and 99% mental.

The reality is that smokers go into withdrawal whenever they put out a cigarette. Smokers sleep through physical nicotine withdrawal every night when they go to sleep but its so mild that it doesnt even wake them up!

It is the mental addiction that causes the physical feelings and these are caused by the process a smoker has gone through whilst becoming addicted. These may include that smoking helps the smoker/vaper to relax, cope with stress, socialise, concentrate and focus, enjoy drinking or enjoying a meal, and even after sex. It is this belief that has a smoker who is using willpower to quit experience awful panic, anxiety, upset, and irritability.

As a smoker goes through the various stages of quitting smoking using willpower the symptoms get worse and worse and include all of the above, as well as sleeplessness, and a feeling of doom and gloom.