Smoking and Mental Health: A Guide to Quitting
Quitting smoking is hard for anyone. If you're also dealing with a mental health diagnosis, it can feel even tougher. But here's the good news: quitting is possible!
Most people with a mental health diagnosis who smoke want to quit, and many succeed.
A big discovery for quitting while managing a mental health condition is that special treatments and nicotine replacement products (like gum or patches) are safe and effective. They won't make your mental health symptoms worse. In fact, when you work on quitting smoking and get help for your mental health at the same time, you're more likely to succeed.
Tips for quitting
There's no single "best" way to quit, and most people need to try a few times before they quit for good. Start with small, easy steps:
· Pick a quit date. This gives you a goal to work towards.
Get rid of smoking reminders. Throw away ashtrays and lighters. Clean your car to get rid of the smoke smell.
Figure out your triggers. When do you feel the urge to smoke? Is it after meals? With coffee? When you're stressed? Knowing these times helps you prepare.
Find healthy ways to distract yourself. Chew gum, go for a walk, listen to music – anything that keeps your mind and hands busy when you feel a craving.
Tell someone you're quitting. Share your goal with a trusted friend or family member. They can help keep you on track.
What works?
When you're planning how you'll quit, think about these common options:
Cold Turkey: This means stopping all tobacco and nicotine at once. Some people succeed this way, but most need extra help.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): These are products like gum, patches, lozenges, or special nasal sprays or inhalers that give you small, controlled amounts of nicotine. This helps lower withdrawal symptoms. NRT can increase your chances of quitting by about 50%. It's safe to use for as long as you need to prevent you from going back to smoking. Using more than one type of NRT at the same time can even boost your chances of success.
Prescription Medications: There are two FDA-approved medications, varenicline (Chantix®) and bupropion (Zyban® and Wellbutrin®), that can really help you quit. They are safe for people with a mental health diagnosis.
Varenicline makes smoking less enjoyable and helps with withdrawal. People who use it are three times more likely to quit successfully.
Bupropion lessens nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. People who use it are twice as likely to quit successfully.
Always talk to your doctor. They can help you make a personal quit plan. They can also discuss any possible problems with your mental health medications. Your doctor can also send you to local services that help people quit smoking. Talking to a counselor can also be very helpful.
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