DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been struggling with nicotine addiction for a long time. I recently moved back in with my family and thought that now would be an excellent opportunity to quit, as I know they would not approve of my habit anyway. However, I am really struggling with my withdrawal symptoms, and they have begun to question me on some of my behaviors that they don't understand. I’m scared to tell them what’s really going on with me. What should I do? -- Recovering
DEAR RECOVERING: The best thing you can do is admit to your family what you are dealing with and ask them for help. Nicotine addiction is real and, as you are experiencing, extremely difficult to break. Making your parents allies in your struggle can be beneficial to you. It is too hard to try to hide it from them as you are experiencing withdrawal. Sit down and talk to them. Let them know exactly what’s happening. Ask for their support.
Meanwhile, get medical help, too. Visit a doctor who may be able to help you create a plan to wean you off of nicotine. Find out if there is any medication recommended to make it easier for you to get to the other side.
A ton of research has been conducted to help people who are suffering from nicotine addiction. Many people use psychotherapy to help them work through this challenge. There are also medications that have proven effective. For some of the research from the National Institutes of Health go to: bit.ly/3lfeHCW.