Natural Quit Smoking Products
Most people know that tobacco use damages the body. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, causing more than 7 million deaths per year. However, many people are unaware that tobacco use also adversely affects mental health.
If you’re a smoker, there is a lot of support available to help you shake the addiction. It’s never too late to quit, and many people find that smoking cessation reduces levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. Hemp cigarettes are ideal for those searching for a natural, non-addictive alternative to tobacco and nicotine replacement products. Since there is no tobacco, nicotine, or chemical additives in hemp cigarettes, you won’t be stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction.
Can Nicotine Cause Anxiety?
Researchers know that nicotine in tobacco directly affects the brain, including mood. Nicotine is the addictive, naturally occurring chemical found in tobacco that is responsible for these mind and mood-altering effects. Hundreds of chemicals are added to tobacco to enhance its flavor and the absorption of nicotine, making cigarettes even more addictive. When a person smokes, nicotine reaches the brain and stimulates the release of dopamine within about ten seconds after each drag. Dopamine is involved in triggering positive feelings and is often low in people with anxiety or depression, who may use tobacco to temporarily increase their dopamine supply. In fact, smoking rates for people with anxiety disorders are higher than those for the general population.
At first, nicotine improves the smoker’s mood and concentration. It also leaves the smoker feeling relaxed. Because nicotine causes this immediate sense of relaxation, many people smoke because they believe cigarettes help them cope with stress and anxiety. However, while nicotine can create a sense of calm, it’s only temporary and does not address the underlying cause of anxiety. This is because nicotine addiction encourages the brain to switch off its own mechanism for making dopamine. So, the dopamine supply decreases in the long term, prompting people to smoke more.
Shortly after putting out a cigarette, feelings of intense worry return. Without addressing the root cause of anxiety, these feelings can worsen over time. This can create a vicious cycle where people smoke to alleviate anxiety and then feel the need to light up again as soon as the anxiousness returns.
What Smoking Cessation Products Help With Anxiety?
Remember, every attempt at quitting is a chance to figure out what works best for you. Using natural remedies and smoking cessation products can significantly increase your chances of quitting. Certain products can help reduce feelings of anxiety and help you regain balance on your quit smoking journey.
Cannabidiol (CBD)
Research shows that the naturally-occurring compound in hemp flower, cannabidiol (CBD), is a promising treatment for conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). CBD has been proven to have potent anti-anxiety properties. CBD has also been found to reduce nicotine cravings and smoking cues in dependent cigarette smokers.
While nicotine aggravates the brain, CBD naturally helps to restore the production of neurotransmitters, giving consumers the same familiar feeling of relaxation––without needing nicotine to do it for them. Smoking CBD flower, or hemp flower, can be one of the top ways to experience CBD’s benefits. Each of our individual hemp cigarettes contains 50+ mg of CBD to ensure immediate and extended balance and relief.
Raspberry Leaf
Leaves of the raspberry plant have been used for centuries to remedy many ailments, including healing wounds, stopping bleeding, promoting healthy skin, regulating diabetes, and even reducing anxiety. Raspberry leaves can be eaten as part of a meal, brewed as tea, or smoked.
Smoking raspberry leaves can improve mental clarity and focus and promote feelings of calm and relaxation. This versatile leaf can also help consumers better manage nicotine withdrawal when smoked with other herbs.
Lavender
More than just a beautiful, aromatic herb, lavender has many health benefits, including potent anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender flowers are associated with ancient healing arts, which integrate the body, mind, and spirit. When lavender is mixed with other herbs, the flower becomes more effective than consuming it on its own.
Our Floral Blend combines lavender with other traditional Native smoking herbs such as organically-grown raspberry leaf, echinacea, and regeneratively grown hemp. This calming, good smoke allows tobacco users to take cessation into their own hands. If you do not wish to smoke, but seek the benefits of SOJE, break apart our Floral Blend in hot water and strain for restorative and soothing herbal tea.
Finding Cessation Help and Support
Talking to someone about quitting can be the support you might need to see it through. Remember, you are not alone. Getting help from the people in your life can make a difference. It can also be helpful to talk to an expert about smoking cessation treatments.
Chat with an Information Specialist
Chat with a National Cancer Institute LiveHelp information specialist for immediate information about quitting smoking, cancer information, and clinical trials. LiveHelp is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM EST. LiveHelp also is available in Spanish.
Call the National Quitline
1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
All U.S. states have quitlines with counselors trained specifically to help smokers quit tobacco. Call this number to connect directly to your state’s quitline. Hours of operation and services vary from state to state. Depending on the state, some quitlines may be able to assist with free quit smoking medications such as nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges by mail.
Free Quit Smoking App
QuitGuide is a free smartphone app that helps you understand your smoking patterns and build the skills needed to become and stay tobacco-free. Check it out here.
Anxiety and Tobacco
According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults, or over 18% of the population every year. And while many anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only 36% of those suffering receive treatment. Many people think of cigarette smoking as a way to calm their nerves, relieve stress, and quell their anxiety. In reality, though, cigarettes can actually increase the risk of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders.
Smoking and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by constant worrying and anxiety, with difficulty for the individual to control those intense feelings of worry. GAD affects nearly 7 million adults or about 3% of the U.S. population. Early research shows that there may be a link between adolescent smoking and the development of GAD in adulthood, with one study finding that 67.8% of individuals diagnosed with GAD reported smoking tobacco regularly prior to the age at which they developed the disorder. Another recent study found a clear link between anxiety disorders and nicotine addiction.
Smoking and Depression
Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects more than 16 million adults or nearly 7% of the U.S. population. Adults suffering from depression are twice as likely to smoke as adults without depression. Most smokers pick up the habit before showing signs or symptoms of depression, and more research is needed to determine whether smoking leads to depression or if depression leads people to start smoking. Likely, there is a complex relationship between the two. People with depression can have a more challenging time quitting smoking and may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
NOTE: If you take antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, neuroleptics, or any other prescription medication, talk to your healthcare provider before you quit smoking. This is because smoking tobacco can reduce the levels of some medications in the blood, and therefore your medication dosage may need to be adjusted after you quit.
Ways to Help You Quit
If one phrase could accurately describe a tobacco addiction, it would have to be “ball and chain.” Starting from the moment the smoker wakes up, their addiction weighs them down. They may juggle irresistible cravings and frequent desires to smoke throughout the day. However, stopping smoking “cold turkey” through willpower alone is the least effective way to quit. If you plan ahead, have the right tools and support, and choose the right time to kick the habit, you’re more likely to succeed in tossing tobacco.
Here are a few tips to help you quit smoking:
- Prepare for the Journey
Before stepping on the path to smoking cessation, set your intentions, and take some time to think deeply about your relationship with tobacco. Write down what you’ll gain from quitting, for example, better overall health and well-being, improved concentration, and freedom from the cycle of chemical dependency and addiction.
- Get Support from Family and Friends
Stopping smoking can be easier with the support of loved ones. If you have household members who use tobacco, consider suggesting that you quit together or ask them not to smoke cigarettes around you while you’re quitting.
- Try Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs)
Most people who try to quit tobacco on their own go back to smoking within the first month of quitting, often because of withdrawal symptoms and cravings. NRTs can be a helpful tool for smoking cessation. Talk with your healthcare provider about using medication or over-the-counter (OTC) cessation products such as nicotine gum, patches, or lozenges. Other drugs, like nicotine inhalers and nasal sprays, require a prescription. If you suffer from anxiety and you’re considering nicotine replacement products, keep in mind that nicotine can trigger anxiety symptoms or make them worse.
For those looking for a more natural approach to smoking cessation, SOJE is an excellent option. Our Native hemp cigarettes do not contain tobacco, nicotine, or any other additives. Many users have reported hemp cigarettes as a natural and effective alternative to typical tobacco cigarettes and nicotine replacement products.
CBD, which is naturally contained in our premium hemp flower, has been shown to alleviate symptoms such as insomnia, chronic pain, inflammation, and anxiety. Plus, smokable hemp allows you to enjoy the act of smoking––without the addiction. Our non-addictive hemp cigarettes can help with smoking cessation. They provide a means to ease anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and the intense urge to smoke without using addictive nicotine products. Order SOJE hemp smokes now and have them delivered right to your door, or find them in a store near you.
- Don’t Give Up If You Relapse
Many people who quit smoking will fall back on old habits at some point. Don’t be discouraged. Instead, use it as an opportunity to reflect. Learn about yourself, spend some time in nature, and plan your next cessation attempt.
Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health, wellness, and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog and website are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. SOJE strongly advises all people to seek the care of a physician if and when they decide to quit smoking and follow their advice.