This post answers: Can nicotine gum cause anxiety? What is nicotine gum? What are the benefits of nicotine gum? What are the other nicotine replacement therapy products? What is Anxiety? What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? What are the causes of anxiety? What are some ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Can nicotine gum cause anxiety?

Excessive use of nicotine can cause anxiety in individuals as a result of withdrawal symptoms. Apart from this, it might also lead to other negative effects such as headaches, irritability, and severe nicotine cravings.

The overdose of a nicotine replacement can lead to symptoms such as:

Extreme fatigue
Hearing loss or impairment
Blurry vision
Nausea
Stomach upset mental fog or confusion
Drooling

What is nicotine gum?

Nicotine gum acts as an aid to decrease the dependence on nicotine by slowly cutting down the amount of nicotine that individuals take in by chewing gum over some time. If nicotine gums are used appropriately it helps to reduce an individual’s nicotine dependency and help them quit smoking.

It is a nicotine replacement therapy as it helps to replace the amount of nicotine an individual accumulated from smoking. There are other nicotine replacement therapy products also such as nicotine patches or lozenges that work on similar principles

What are the benefits of nicotine gum?

Some benefits of nicotine gum are:

Improves success rate

Researchers believe that nicotine gum makes an individual more likely to succeed in giving up on smoking. Nicotine gum works more prominently when it is used in combination with behavior therapy.

Easily accessible

Nicotine gum is easily portable and can be carried by individuals everywhere they go making it the best nicotine replacement option. For instance, when individuals crave a cigarette they can pop a nicotine gum and chew on it to get some nicotine.

Easily trackable

Using nicotine gum helps to keep a track of the amount of nicotine that individuals take daily. When taken in the right amounts it helps to manage individuals craving for cigarettes and helps them to quit it over a period.

Keeps you distracted

Nicotine gum also helps individuals stay distracted from the thought of using cigarettes it also helps to reduce the cravings that individuals might experience time and again throughout the day.

What are the other nicotine replacement therapy products?

The other nicotine replacement therapy products are:

Nicotine lozenges

Nicotine lozenges are tablets that come in various flavors and can dissolve once kept in their mouth within half an hour. Nicorette and Commit are the primary brand names that offer nicotine lozenges in 2 milligrams (mg) and 4 mg dosages. These are available as over the counter medicines at various drugstores

Individuals must avoid eating food 15 minutes before its use and take it one at a time. People must also avoid using any kinds of acidic drinks before the use of these nicotine replacement therapy products as it might interrupt nicotine absorption.

Nicotine patches

Nicotine patches are another type of nicotine replacement therapy product that helps individuals reduce their cravings and withdrawal symptoms of nicotine usage. These are best used with other nicotine replacement therapy products such as nicotine gums and nicotine lozenges.

These are patches that are supposed to be applied to hairless areas on the skin for about 30 seconds. It is important to apply this patch in different areas of the skin Sunday today which helps to prevent skin irritation and other skin problems. These can be removed based on the instructions given on the pack.

What is Anxiety?

Problems and resulting stress are usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called Anxiety.

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety.

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as:

Sweating
Difficulty in breathing
Shortness of breath
Sense of choking
Complaints of chest pain
Shaking or trembling
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness or Lightheadedness
Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
Fear of impending doom
Hot or cold flashes
Tingling or numbness
Increased heart rate

These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.

What are the causes of anxiety?

Anxiety often results from accumulated stress or overwhelming feelings. Some common causes of anxiety include.

Increased and challenging situations and demands in day-to-day life.
Major changes in family dynamics such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one.
Strain interpersonal relationships
Intrapersonal conflicts
Ineffective coping mechanisms
Comorbid conditions both physical and mental
Chronic health conditions
Genetic factors
Changes in the brain region
Overdose of caffeine
Prolonged use of medications
Significant traumatic experiences in the past or recent times
Comorbid mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder or any other phobias.

What are some ways to manage anxiety?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle change

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Medication

Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.

Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief.

Online therapy

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium.

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation.

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusion

Excessive smoking can cause significant impairment in various domains of an individual life. nicotine replacement therapy products such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and nicotine lozenges can help individuals manage their nicotine addiction in combination with behavior and emotional therapy.

Frequently asked questions: Can nicotine gum cause anxiety?

Is nicotine gum good for depression?

Researchers have indicated that in certain cases nicotine can help improve the symptoms of depression amongst people who do not smoke indicating that nicotine gums can be beneficial for those experiencing anxiety.

Does nicotine affect anxiety?

Nicotine can indeed cause symptoms of anxiety or make anxiety even worse in individuals with a history.

How many cigarettes are 2mg of nicotine gum?

2mg of nicotine gum is prescribed for individuals who smoke less than 25 cigarettes a day whereas 4mg of nicotine gum is prescribed for individuals who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day.

Can nicotine help with obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Reports indicate that nicotine can help to improve obsessive-compulsive symptoms in severe patience.

Citation

https://www.nicorette.com/nicotine%20gum%20anxietysupport-hub/what-is-nicotine-gum.html#:~:text=Nicotine%20gum%20is%20a%20handy,help%20you%20quit%20for%20good.

https://www.quit.org.au/articles/nicotine-patches/

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Can nicotine gum cause anxiety?