Everyone would like to have good health and live happily. But there are people who, for certain reasons, cause harm to their body. One gets the impression that they do not want to be healthy and live long. According to psychotherapists, addictions, such as alcohol, tobacco and drug addiction, arise in those who want to avoid some failures and unpleasant situations, hiding from them. Causing harm to himself, such a person, as it were, challenges both his personality and other people. Such behavior may be due to a variety of prerequisites, but, of course, its negative results always affect the health and quality of life of the individual.
Psychological effect of addictions
People in the grip of bad habits feel that they are in a vicious circle from which it is extremely difficult to get out. And indeed it is. A person experiences the effect of euphoria, and at the same time it seems to him that he is successfully coping with problems and negative emotions. However, he does not think about what caused his troubles and failures. And it seems to him that this does not need to be done: after all, you can create positive emotions in an artificial way. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, sweet food and fast food - all this drowns out loneliness, anger, boredom and longing, unpleasant experiences. But at the same time, the stressful and depressive state does not disappear anywhere, the problems are not solved by themselves, and the person does not make any efforts for self-education and self-improvement.
According to many experts, for the most part people with an unstable psyche are susceptible to addiction, as well as those who do not have developed strong-willed qualities, and people who feel loneliness, emptiness and do not fully realize themselves. Often bad habits appear in adolescence, because of the desire not to differ from peers, to prove their masculinity and involvement in the company or (for closed individuals) to cope with longing and internal conflicts.
A major role in the prevention of addiction is played by the school. Teachers have a huge responsibility for the life and health of future generations. The promotion of a healthy lifestyle, the rejection of addictions due to their destructive effects on the body and psyche - these topics must be present at extracurricular activities, especially in high school. Then the youth will be aware of the various negative consequences and will not be so prone to curiosity and a strong desire to try new things, to experience the thrill.
The mechanism of formation and development of dependence
Many experts believe that the psychology of bad habits is based on a tendency to flee from reality. This is most often a property of weak natures. For example, a person does not like his work. Instead of understanding himself and, if necessary, starting to look for new employment opportunities, he often takes breaks for smoking, wanting to cope with stress. Or someone feels an acute shortage of close relationships and joy, but instead of finding ways to feel less alone, he uses a lot of desserts and fast food, trying to forget about negative emotions.
Also, the formation of addictions, according to psychologists, is associated with a lack of self-love. After all, a person who knows his own worth, respects his body, is so irreplaceable and unique, will never be poisoned by products and substances that are far from healthy, gain weight or stay inactive.
However, such people can sometimes be understood. Indeed, in childhood, not everyone felt loved and needed. For some reason, someone lacked warmth.
The problem of psychological dependence can be solved, for example, by studying special literature. For this purpose, Richard O'Connor's book Psychology of Bad Habits is perfect.
Tobacco addiction
The article is devoted to the above problem, and it examines the effect of smoking on the human body. It also describes what happens when you quit smoking every day.
So, addiction such as tobacco dependence can occur already in adolescence. Get used to nicotine very quickly. However, the one who smoked cigarettes for the first time claims to have encountered disgusting sensations. But over time, the body adapts and not so much rejects toxic substances.
It is rarely possible to meet a person who has never tried tobacco in his life. A pleasant excitement caused by exposure to tobacco smoke leads to the fact that smokers often reach for a cigarette in case of fear or failure. Gradually, psychological dependence is becoming more pronounced.
It must be remembered that this habit causes damage to absolutely all organs and systems, leading to premature aging and shortened life expectancy.
Although cigarette manufacturers this does not stop. There are more and more types of tobacco products.
Types of cigarettes
Tobacco products are very popular. Speaking of their varieties, several types can be distinguished:
- Strong (usually used by men and long-time smokers).
- Increased strength (available in red and black packaging).
- Lungs (cigarettes in light packs; they are mostly preferred by boys and girls).
- Ultralight (in demand by novice smokers and those who quit smoking).
- Extra light (cigarettes in white packs).
There are thin and standard tobacco products, as well as products containing flavors.
Types of cigarettes also include cigars, cigarillos, and the recently made popular and fashionable vapor-based vape tobacco product. But this species is no less dangerous than the rest, although some consider it almost harmless. Vapes are widespread in adolescent environments and cause a strong psychological dependence in young people with an unstable organism and a fragile nervous system. Craving for smoking is not the only negative effect. Vapors and flavors have an extremely negative effect on the physical well-being of young people.
Studies conducted among groups of adolescents have shown that dependence on vapes most often occurs in boys and girls with pronounced conformism, mentally unstable and having a low level of intelligence and erudition. Some parents turn a blind eye to this habit of their son or daughter, considering vapor-based cigarettes to be practically safe. Unfortunately, there are many adults who have not yet learned enough about the negative consequences of using these tobacco products.
What is a part of a cigarette?
In addition to tobacco extract, smoke contains many compounds that cause significant damage to human health. They suppress immunity, worsen the activity of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and provoke oncological diseases.
Those who smoke are classified as toxicomaniacs, because by inhaling smoke, they poison the body with harmful substances. Nicotine, which is part of cigarettes, is a poison that affects the nervous system and provokes addiction. He does not kill the smoker just because it enters his body gradually. How much nicotine leaves the body? For at least ten to fifteen hours after smoking a cigarette. Some of the poison is stored for a long time in the kidneys, liver and body cells.
In addition to nicotine, the composition of cigarettes includes the following components:
- Carbon monoxide (provokes hypoxia, reduces physical and mental capabilities).
- Tar (causes cancer of the lungs and digestive organs).
- Heavy metals.
- Resins
If all smokers thought about what terrible consequences tobacco use entails, they would immediately ask themselves how to get rid of nicotine addiction. Indeed, even passive inhalation of smoke causes a deterioration in well-being. And what about those who touch these dangerous components with their fingers, lips, lets them into the cells of their body ?!
Health Effects of Bad Habits
Smoking, first of all, disrupts the nervous system, provoking a state of anxiety and increased irritability, headaches and sleep disturbances.
Inhaling tobacco smoke, a person increases the risk of pulmonary and respiratory diseases, throat diseases. Common consequences of tobacco use are cough with discharge of dark sputum, respiratory failure, hoarseness of voice.
Smoking increases the risk of pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, such as hemorrhage, heart attacks, and coronary heart disease. Tobacco use destroys gums and teeth. It negatively affects the digestive organs, contributes to the appearance of symptoms such as decreased appetite, salivation, gastrointestinal ulcers. The habit also affects the emotional-volitional sphere. People dependent on tobacco are inactive, irritable and aggressive, get tired quickly. Due to shortness of breath, heart problems, and increased fatigue, they cannot play sports. They lack perseverance in the process of intense mental activity.
Getting used to smoking is easy. Throwing and getting rid of the terrible consequences is much more difficult. And, given how much nicotine leaves the body, it will take a lot of time to eliminate all damage to the body.
It is much worse when abandoning addiction requires a serious problem, such as the presence of a cancer, a heart attack, stroke or an acute attack of hypertension.
Cigarettes and women
Tobacco addiction has an extremely negative effect on reproductive organs. Women who smoke have difficulties conceiving and having a pregnancy much more often than those who do not use tobacco products.
Children of such women are often born prematurely (due to the effects of nicotine on their fragile body), and are also characterized by poor health and poor immunity. If one of the parents smokes at home, the child constantly inhales toxic smoke. This harmful effect leads to poor school performance, poor memory, distracted attention, nervousness and insomnia. And sometimes, despite the fact that teachers carry out an active anti-propaganda of tobacco dependence, children of smoking mothers copy their behavior model.
The fair sex women who use cigarettes have problems with their teeth, gums, their bones become brittle, hair falls out, the skin dries and turns yellow, wrinkles appear on the face early, and cellulite appears on the body. A smoking woman quickly gets tired, she often does not have enough strength for household chores, she is often nervous and sleeps poorly.
The effects of nicotine on the male body
Smoking causes significant damage to the reproductive organ of men.
Often smokers suffer from diseases such as prostate cancer and adenoma.
They have reduced sexual function, and due to the low activity of sperm, it is difficult for them to give birth to offspring. Children born to male smokers are often exposed to various physical pathologies. Since many begin to smoke in their teens, copying the behavior of peers or adults, many youths with tobacco addiction adopt the addiction of their fathers. This is highly undesirable. I would like the dads to set a positive example: play sports, play chess or get involved in creativity, rather than passively sitting with a cigarette in the kitchen or on the couch. Then the child will imitate the model of a healthy lifestyle.
Many people really want to quit this habit and seriously think about it. But they don’t imagine how they will live even a day without smoking. However, the faster a person takes measures to get rid of addiction, the easier it will be for him to cope with difficulties, both physical and psychological.
Giving up the habit
The effects of smoking are inextricably linked to the length of time a person has used cigarettes. Sometimes it takes at least ten years to eliminate the effects of prolonged tobacco dependence. Some believe that you can’t stop smoking abruptly, it is better to gradually reduce the amount of cigarettes consumed. Of course, everyone chooses the way to get rid of the habit that is convenient specifically for him. However, many believe that it is better to refuse completely, once and for all.
Next, it will be told what happens when you quit smoking, by day.
In general terms, ex-smokers have a gradual restoration and purification of organs and systems: lungs, heart, teeth and gums, nervous system and sexual function. A person sleeps better. He feels the taste of food, a good appetite appears. The skin becomes more rosy and fresher. Irritability, depression disappears, and a surge of strength is felt. And, of course, do not forget that people who said goodbye to addiction, protected themselves from many oncological, cardiovascular, pulmonary and dental diseases, as well as, of course, from early aging and a high risk of death at a young age.
One of the problems that worries former smokers (especially women) is weight gain. In order not to recover, during the refusal of a bad habit, you must carefully monitor the diet.
The beginning of life without cigarettes
During the first day, the body functions perfectly after quitting. The person is in high spirits, he has a lot of energy, he is satisfied with himself.
Then excitability increases, there is a decrease in appetite and poor sleep. On the second day, a person can become aggressive, his mental state is changeable, he suffers from respiratory disorders and stomach pains. On the third day, he can see nightmares, suffer greatly from the lack of cigarettes. If on the fourth day these signs do not disappear, you can take a mild sedative. The fifth day is one of the most dangerous for those who smoked cigarettes and decided to abandon this habit. It is during this period that the probability of a return to it is high. Also, on the 5th day, a cough with dark sputum is observed, and on the 6th, strong thirst, trembling hands and nausea are added to this symptom. One week after quitting smoking, there is an increased appetite. If you consider what happens when you quit smoking, by the day, you can conclude that only after a week the body partially recovers, although not without difficulty.
It must be taken into account that the regeneration of the bronchi, blood vessels and skin will take a little longer - about 14 days. And the cells of internal organs will be restored in no less than a month.
Stop smoking and not get better for women: is this possible?
In the modern world, many women use tobacco products. It is more difficult for women to remain calm in tense situations, and in order to relax and collect their thoughts, they often resort to cigarettes. Their health and appearance suffer from this: teeth deteriorate, hair grows dull and falls out, the face acquires an earthy tint, and an “orange peel” appears on the body. When planning to quit smoking, women worry about a problem such as weight gain after quitting cigarettes. Certain metabolic processes, changes in the brain, as well as a lack of the hormone of joy - all these factors associated with giving up tobacco provoke the appearance of extra pounds. Do not quit smoking before and during menstruation. In the period of premenstrual syndrome, weight gain is almost inevitable, and in addition, the woman in this case exposes herself to additional psychological stress.
In order not to get better during smoking cessation, you need to carefully plan your diet. Sweets, candies, pastries and fast food, as well as sausage, smoked meats, fried foods, chips and crackers, are recommended to be excluded. Sweet fruits such as bananas and grapes are best limited. You should eat more cereals, vegetables, stew lean meat, drink plenty of water.
You can steam cook, you also need to reduce the use of butter and vegetable oil to fifteen grams per day. , , , .
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And it's important to remember that junk food is not an alternative to cigarettes. It is better to find other activities that can distract from craving for tobacco (creativity, going to the cinema or theater, a trip to nature, sports). Of course, giving up a bad habit is not an easy task. But, having learned about what happens when you quit smoking, by the day, perhaps many will reconsider their attitude to themselves and their health and will engage in physical and psychological self-improvement.