 |
|
However, as we said above, negative emotions and stress are not to be confused as stress is something else altogether. Let us now talk about stress.
Smokers consider smoking an effective method of stress management. The truth of the matter is that this is absolutely ludicrous.
Research clearly indicates that smoking is indeed good stress management for smokers, but this is only because addiction to nicotine increases stress and the act of smoking relieves it for a short while.
But once you have stopped smoking, your stress level will drop rather than rise.
This is a fact - one that has been derived from neuro-scienctific studies - so please don't worry too much about how to manage this type of addiction-borne stress. Your body will do the work of neuro-adaptation and you will notice a change no later than two weeks after your last cigarette.
Neuro-adaptation in this instance means your brain learns that the removal of nicotine from your body is not accidental but permanent. Hence, there's no use for the excess acetylcholine production that occurs when you are smoking. Levels of the hormone are lowered, and the irritability and other disturbing phenomena gradually disappear. This is a natural process - your body is smart, it knows what to do. Just be tough on addiction for the next few days and this type of stress, which you have known for your entire smoking career, will simply disappear.
You will feel wonderful! Everything is going to be better from now on. Stress, however, will still come and sometimes you'll get it in big doses. Remember Shakespeare's words: 'When sorrows come they come not single spies, but in battalions'.
In this session we will deal with the other kind of stress - real stress, or life stress, that is not smoking-related.
Stress is said to be one of the major reasons why smokers smoke. Moreover, times of great stress are when a relapse is most likely. We believe that you can maintain a nicotine-free lifestyle, but we are well aware that stressful days and circumstances will occur in your life.
Stress is part of life. If smoking is your strategy to deal with stress, it is just a matter of time before you will be smoking again.
Stress is part of modern life and, in fact, we believe that it was also part of 'ancient' life. So let's study it and understand its source, learn how to deal with it, and not stress because of it.
For example, if you think of stress as being a positive thing, you won't have to stress too much about it. | |
| |
