Find the tools you’ll need to succeed at Spring Gardens’ Florida detox center
Before giving up cigarettes, a young woman with a two-pack-a-day habit sat down and made a list of all the things she could do when the urge to smoke came over her. She knew from past experience and a couple of failed attempts at quitting that when the craving hits, she wouldn’t be able to think clearly.
There was no use pretending that those cravings wouldn’t hit her, so she sat down with a pen and paper and made a list of things she could do to get through those cravings. The list had simple things on it – take the dog for a walk, do yoga, organize photos on the computer, do the ironing, sew a missing button on a shirt, go to a movie, do some yard work, attack the junk drawer in the kitchen.
It didn’t matter what she did, the important thing was what she didn’t do – smoke a cigarette. When the cravings hit, she didn’t have to try to think of something that would distract her, she just looked at her list and picked something.
Like drugs and alcohol, nicotine affects the way your brain works. And if you’re thinking that quitting smoking and going through nicotine withdrawal isn’t a valid comparison to what treatment at a drug and alcohol detox center in Florida might entail, you may be surprised to learn that, according to the National Council on Chemical Abuse, “Research has shown that nicotine is just as addictive as heroin. The progression of addiction is the same for nicotine as it would be for heroin, or cocaine, or alcohol. The user starts with maybe just one cigarette a day, then it goes to two, then three, before they know it they are smoking a half pack a day, or more. The user’s tolerance rises, requiring more nicotine to get the same ‘feel good’ effect, and also more nicotine to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.”
Giving up cigarettes also comes with a challenging set of symptoms – especially for heavy smokers. “Withdrawal from nicotine dependence can cause symptoms similar to withdrawal from other drugs, including irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, restlessness, and increased appetite. These symptoms may begin within a few hours after the last cigarette, quickly driving people back to tobacco use. Symptoms peak within the first few days of smoking cessation and usually subside within a few weeks. For some people, however, symptoms may persist for months.”
The point isn’t to compare how hard it is to give up an addiction to one chemical over another. Whether you or your loved one is addicted to prescription pain pills, alcohol or nicotine, the process of beating that addiction and allowing the body to begin healing is different for every individual. Each person going through opiatedetox will have a different experience, no two people undergoing a Florida alcohol detox will have the same experience and quitting smoking challenges individual smokers in different ways.
The professionals at Spring Gardens’ Tampa detox center understand the physical, mental and emotional symptoms that addicts may suffer as the toxins leave their system. We have the tools and the medical expertise to help you or your loved one through the withdrawal process. As one of the most progressive detox centers in Florida, we can also help you prepare for your ongoing journey of recovery. Our luxury detox center in Florida offers a range of therapies that can help you develop the tools that will make your journey more successful – from individual, group and family counseling to music therapy, yoga and meditation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Fitzgerald is a sober writer based in Southwest Florida who is best known for her personal blog The Adventures of a Sober Señorita. Her work has been published across the web including sites like The Huffington Post, Thought Catalog, Ravishly, SheKnows, Elite Daily, The Fix, Brit + Co, Addiction Unscripted and AfterPartyMagazine. She is currently writing a memoir.
