Here at Matthews Internal Medicine, we don’t just fix health problems as they come up. We do our best to help our patients avoid some medical issues in the first place. This is all through our focus on preventative medicine. One crucial part of that is our help with smoking cessation.
Quitting smoking is one of the best things that you can do for your health in the long term. Quitting reduces your risk of developing certain deadly diseases and provides a number of health benefits. It can also affect your psychology, in more ways than one. Smoking cessation is a big change for your body and brain, so here’s some of what you can expect when you finally quit.
What You May Feel Right After Quitting
Quitting smoking is a great idea in the long run, but you may experience some big changes in the short term that aren’t so nice. The withdrawal from cigarettes could cause more anxiety, irritability, and even depression. You may be restless or have problems concentrating.
This is the stage where it can be hard to keep going. Your cigarettes were a huge part of your life and daily routine, so dropping them naturally leads to some effects that are hard to ignore. It’s important to stick with a smoking cessation effort though, because the psychological effects of finally quitting are mostly positive. Getting through these initial stages requires you to keep your eye on the ball and remember why you were trying to quit in the first place.
What Happens After You Quit For Good
A variety of studies show that a smoking cessation effort can be great for your mental health. Here’s a look at how you’ll feel better after you drop the nicotine for good.
Reduced Anxiety
Some people think that smoking is a good stress reliever, but the opposite is actually true. Smoking can increases your tension levels and makes you more anxious. When you quit you’ll be more relaxed and adept at dealing with difficult situations, whether it’s personal or work-related. Quitting smoking and becoming less stressed out will just make you a better, more well-rounded person.
Less Risk of Depression
Smokers can easily sink into depression. That’s just another good reason to quit. According to some studies, quitting smoking can actually be just as effective as some antidepressants. If life’s got you down, quitting can make a huge difference. As your anxiety and stress levels drop, your risk of serious depression drops as well.
More Motivation
It’s obvious by now that you’ll generally start to feel better after you quit smoking. That can improve your motivation and make you more likely to take parts in activities like exercise. Exercising has the added benefit of making you feel better in turn, so your increased motivation really ends up paying off and could trigger even more life changes and healthy behaviors.
Overall, a successful smoking cessation program can improve all aspects of your mental health. If you’re ready to quit, contact our office at (704) 750-2329 and get started today. You’ll begin to feel better in no time.