Stop smoking advice; Social anxiety and smoking? -
Stop smoking advice; Social anxiety and smoking? -
I-m 18, I-ve been smoking since I was 14. So I haven-t been smoking all that long.I smoke around a pack of b-h gold a day, more if I-m out -/or drinking. I also smoke very strong arabian tobacco (Dokha) through a pipe, which inevitably makes my cravings much much worse, since it has at least triple the nicotine than a cigerette does.
I know I can quit smoking, I know I have the willpower to, I have stopped for 6 months previously. The only barrier preventing me is social anxiety; which is why I picked up a cigerette again.
I-m usually quite a quiet person. I-m not completely socially ept. Have you ever felt extremely awkward in a situation, and everyone could feel how out of place you are?
Like, in a room full of intimidating people, and they-re all taking the piss out of each other and your just sitting quietly in the corner?
Or ever been at a party full of loud people you don-t know, possibly speaking another language, and you just wished you had a drink in your hand or a cigerette just so you look less awkward doing nothing/with nothing to say?
The best way I can relate this, is when someone is standing on their own on a street waiting to be picked up, near a pub thats closing and exiling rowdy drunks. Or just waiting on their own in general. Quite often you see them picking up their mobile phones and pretending to be busy texting, or picking up a paper and reading it, or doing anything to look busy. It is EXACTLY that feeling, except instead of pretending to text, picking up a cigerette and smoking it.
When I feel socially awkward or anxious, its not particularly the hit of nicotine that helps, although that too. And its not specifically the ritual, although that definetly helps. It-s just something to do with your hands that help. Doing something with my hands, like rolling, and then smoking, makes it all the less awkward.
I know if I can tackle this one barrier, I can definetly quit. I have the willpower to stop, its just that this will be the number one thing that will tempt me to pick up a cigerette again; even if all cravings are gone.
Any thoughts?Nicotine is an effective anxiolytic agent, as you have pointed out.
There are alternatives available. You should speak to a mental health specialist and ask whether your condition warrants prescription benzodiazepines.
These, in combination with therapy, will help you overcome your social anxiety.
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