After you have successfully stopped smoking, one of the first things you will notice is an overwhelmingly strong feeling of relief and satisfaction. After all, you have just battled your attachment to poisons that were slowly killing you and stripping you of any shred of decency or happiness. Now, you are proud to return to the human race and out of the dumpster fire of despair you suffered through. Unfortunately, though, we are not happy to tell you that your fight as just begun. You might be physically and mentally healthier, but you will still suffer through stress and related issues, particularly if you have gained an affinity for finger-food as a replacement for cigarettes. For today, let’s take a closer look at how to manage stress and weight problems after you quit smoking.
The Stressful Time of Healing
If you have ever known a smoker or once indulged in this pastime, you will definitely understand that these men and women love to “alleviate” stress by lighting up, despite the fact that nicotine only agitates stress. After years of hiding behind a smokescreen of denial, smokers will eventually open up to the real world and immediately slam into a painful, stressful wall of reality. For most of these people, coping with stress during rehabilitation is one of the most difficult processes they will endure.
However, you must remember that all of this will be worth it in the end. To cope with stress, we recommend distracting your brain with exercise, meditation, or learning, or perhaps you should take on a new hobby; anything to keep that brain busy.
Keep Off the Fat
Although people can experience this during withdrawal and rehab, weight gain doesn’t always affect nonsmokers (at least, not the dramatic variety). As expected, people who have successfully stopped smoking will experience metabolic shifts that result in a five to eight-pound weight gain. However, if you maintain the same healthy diet you maintained during smoking, you should shed this extra fat soon enough. All you have to remember is to stay away from bad, fattening food and eat healthily. You’ll be gracing those swim trunks or that itsy-bitsy bikini soon enough.
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Remember that addiction can be triggered by one shot of alcohol or a single puff of a cigarette, but the true danger of this sickness is that you cannot fully determine how much you have to consume before your mind forms an attachment. Social smoking is just as dangerous as chronic smoking, on many levels, but you do not have to smoke to have a good time. Remember, drugs cannot determine if you have fun and do not have control over your life.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
