Do you have tobacco chewing or smoking habit? IF yes then this blog is important for you…As per W.H.O one million people are abusing tobacco. In India itself 3 crore people are having smoking habits.
Products like bidi, mishri of old times has been replaced with new forms of cigarettes, tobacco, pan masala and many more. Along with modernization this products are added with chemicals that are addictive in nature. Nowadays this tobacco addiction has also affected in school going children due to peer pressure or thrill to try out new things or as a learned response.
Physical effects of long term tobacco abuse or smoking includes cancer (specifically mouth/tongue cancer), heart illness as it thickens blood, lung diseases and redness in eyes. If it is abused by pregnant woman it can lead to miscarriage, weight loss in infant, mental and physical damage to the new born child.
Nicotine withdrawal includes physical and mental symptoms that make quitting difficult. The withdrawal symptoms depends on how long you have started smoking. This withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from few days to few weeks. The physical symptoms includes insomnia, headaches ,cough, constipation, increase in appetite, dizziness and craving for more nicotine. Mental symptoms includes feeling anxious, feeling blue or irritable.
Tips on quitting smoking or tobacco eating habit:
Identify your pattern: DO you feel urge to have smoke or tobacco when busy or under stress or under pressure of deadline or being anxious.. There is always a reason behind starting such unhelpful habits and sustaining as a way of coping.
- Try to gradually decrease the frequency instead of stopping it all at once. Tapering gradually helps to avoid early relapse.
- Work on self control and try to find purpose as to what is more important for you if you remain as an healthy individual rather than having ailments in long run.
- Build your support system, talk about it to your close ones and seek help ,brain storming helps.
- Seek help of mental health professionals who are trained to help you quit unhealthy habits without judging you or shaming you.
- Develop a hobby or some time for oneself. That way new activity will help you give pleasure and new healthy habits can replace the old ones. It can be anything like jogging or gardening and many more.
- Keep a small diary or mark out days on calendar when you successfully avoid /decrease tobacco or cigarettes intake. By writing and going through it will make you more confident to quit.
- Not to be harsh on oneself if in case you fail once .Its always better to have bad attempt rather than not trying.
Talkitout 