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Addiction to Drugs/smoking withdrawal rage

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Expert: Caroline West - 1/14/2009


Question
can you tell me why i crack up months after giving up cigarettes plz?

Answer
Hi Shaun,what I'm going to say next may be of some help so bear with me.

Its been 6 months since I quit smoking and not a day/several times a day goes by when I don't crave a cigarette.

To stop myself going back to smoking I bought Nicotine Lozenges (they work better for me than gum) and have been using them 3 weeks and I will carry on until the cravings get less.

I don't know how long you smoked for but to give an example a person who smoked heavily for 20years suddenly quits. Their body for a number of years been addicted to something as powerful as nicotine and the body got used to it-thats 20 years! Do you honestly think his body will get back to normal after a few months?? No. It takes a long while to settle and its different from one person to the next.

Do things to occupy yourself,get Nicotine gum,remember all the reasons you stopped for initially. Your body would have been over the worst of the withdrawals and clean of nicotine after 3 weeks-what your experiencing is the psychological side of it. Your body isn't craving its you. So as a remedy you need to do things to take your mind off smoking. If your 'rage' is that serious you may well have an underlying health problem so I will tell you to get to the doctors and tell him/her what your feeling just so they can check you out properly.

Cant say more than this,try the gum just don't go back to smoking!

All the best, Caroline

Addiction to Drugs

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Caroline West

Expertise

My expertise in this area is in illicit/street drugs as well as some over the counter and prescription drugs/meds. I can answer questions about most illicit drugs and prescription drugs. I can offer advice on Opiate maintenance drugs like Methadone, Subutex and Suboxone,and the process of going through a Detox and/or Rehab. I understand the problems Drug use can cause regarding convictions and debt problems. There is a difference between recreational drug use and drug addiction and can answer questions on both. Relationship advice if you or your partner is using and can offer help there too. Drug addiction is no joke and it can shatter the lives of the family as well as the user so I can also offer help and advice to friends and family. Drug dependency creates a great deal of issues both mentally and physically and left untreated can lead to poor Mental Health, Psychological and Physical harm and worse. Life can become unmanageable in many ways including work and schooling alongside breakdowns in relationships,risk of convictions and a reduction in personal care. I can offer advice and support in all these areas having been in them and now out of them.

Experience

I have had multiple drug addictions in the past that have included Cannabis,Heroin,Crack,Benzo's,Codeine and over the counter tablets as well as prescription medicines and taken near enough everything. It caused a great deal of problems in my family and I also had suffered breakdowns,Hospitalizations,suicide attempts,convictions the lot. I had been in a 7 year drug using relationship which was tough. I've come out the other end now and haven't used illicit drugs for 5 years. I really do understand what it is like for the user and those around them.

Organizations
I am in 4 other categories here at All Experts: Abusive Relationships; Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT which can simultaneously help those with BPD and with Drug/Alcohol Problems; and Teenage Problems. I also belong to Care2.com which helps various causes all over the world.

Education/Credentials
I have schooling up to A-Level standard,College Diplomas and what I offer here is valuable 'life experience'.

Past/Present Clients
I have done this voluntary job here at All Experts for about 3 years now.

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