Relapse is a very common factor when it comes to smoking. Most smokers who finally stop smoking have tried to stop smoking six or seven times before they finally can become absent from smoking over the long term.
It is very sad to know for ex-smokers that the rates of relapse are quite high. But there is also good news which is proved in a new study that it is much easier to stay away from cigarettes after the passage of two years of abstinence.
It is proved that more than 80 % of ex-smokers achieved long term success after that period. It has also been estimated that in the first year, the relapse rate is relatively high and ranges from 60 % to 90 %.
According to a study of Boston University School Dental Medicine (Author Elizabeth A. Krall, Ph. D.), there is a risk of 2 % to 4 % each year for ex-cigarette smokers who remain abstinent for around two years. The same risk decreases to <1 % annually after ten years of abstinence.
Initial withdrawal symptoms
The time record right after a person is not smoking is critical. In the first couple of three weeks, their withdrawal symptoms include irritability, anxiety, frustration, loss of concentration, change in habits and change in appetite. Those are classic withdrawal symptoms. They usually go away within the first fourteen to twenty-one days.
Cravings
The craving means very intense but they're relatively short. They only last for a few minutes and in the immediate time after a person stopped smoking, the cravings can be very frequent. They can come so frequently that the person may think that they’re there all the time.
As a person is absent from smoking, the interval between the cravings gets longer and the intensity goes down so that a person can manage them much better. However, the cravings can remain and come back to any environmental cue. These circumstances may include while:-
Ø talking on the telephone
Ø having a beer
Ø a glass of wine under stress
Ø having a cup of coffee
Above mentioned circumstances are triggers. The environment is filled with those triggers. They remind the brain what used to be happening when they would smoke. A cigarette would be the spike of nicotine that they would have which causes pleasure.
So these urges can be very powerful but they’re relatively short. The longer person is absent from smoking is better because the intensity goes down and the interval between them is much longer.
What happened to George?
It was a very tough job for George to quit smoking. He tried many times but without any success. Every time he started to quit smoking, something happened and he relapsed.
Finally, he found a way to get back on track. He threw away cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays and other related items. George talked with his ash quit coach, friends and family. He analyzed and prepared to build a new plan for quitting. You know what? He was successful in quitting cigarettes.
If you also need help kicking the habit like George you can visit here:
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You can also read the following books to learn the skill of getting rid of addiction:-
In the end, let’s see this amazing video to save us from Alcohol use disorder.
