Once you have successfully completed rehabilitation and have successfully separated yourself from cigarettes, you will probably be asking yourself another question: “Will I always be attracted to cigarettes, even though I have successfully recovered?” As with any other case, addiction is an ongoing battle that you must always be ready to face, but your situation might not be as grim as you think. Although you might be distracted by those nagging thoughts about whether or not smoking will dominate your brain, you will eventually have the strength to face those thoughts so effectively that cigarettes will be pushed to the backburner. Still, how long does this process take? Let’s have a closer look and find out.
Healing over Time
Remember that every single day you avoid a cigarette marks another triumph. With each passing moment, you are reprogramming your brain to adjust to a life without nicotine and tobacco chemicals, and are challenging your instinctive urges to consume these substances. Eventually, after a year without smoking, you will have regained your strength.
Seasonal Urges to Smoke
Strangely, some smoking triggers are seasonal and will force you to crave cigarettes more during a specific time of year. For example, you may have quit smoking during the fall and are an avid surfer. Eventually, once the summer comes around, you may crave that cigarette as you hang ten. Remember, your cravings are not signals of an imminent downfall but are, instead, signals of growth.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Let’s just say the phrase “practice makes perfect” will always be valuable. You cannot avoid your addiction to nicotine, but you will eventually learn how to deal with it in the same manner that you might deal with hyperactivity or anxiety. The more you practice, the stronger you will become.
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.
