Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can and do include just about every physical and psychological discomfort that you can think of. How successful you are in managing this intense, though thankfully short-lived phase of smoking cessation depends in great part on your level of preparation. Use the tips below to educate yourself on what to expect when you quit smoking, and how to cope with the irritations that nicotine withdrawal often brings.
What Happens When You Quit Smoking
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The addictive qualities of nicotine are explained in this video from Blausen Medical as we watch what happens when cigarette smoke is inhaled and travels through the body to the brain.
Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
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From headaches to intestinal discomforts, symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can leave you feeling out-of-sorts. Thankfully, this phase of smoking cessation is relatively short-lived.
10 Tips for Coping with Nicotine Withdrawal
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Let's take a look at some of the most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and ways that you can cope with them successfully.
Managing Stress Smoke-Free
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What triggers the urge to smoke the most for you? Anger? Boredom? Fatigue? Joy? If you're like most people, you associate all of these feelings with smoking, but stress and anger probably stands out as your number one smoking trigger. When we're stressed, the urge to smoke can be intense. As smokers, we think we need cigarettes to calm us. But in fact, smoking creates more stress than it dispels.
Insomnia When You Quit Smoking
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Sleep disturbances are a common side effect of nicotine withdrawal. Some people sleep more than usual, while others have difficulty getting any sleep at all. If you find yourself suffering from insomnia during the first few weeks of smoking cessation, try a few natural remedies to ease your discomforts.
Minimizing Quit-Related Weight Gain
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Most people who quit smoking worry about gaining weight. It seems to go with the territory. While a small gain is normal, excessive weight gain when you quit smoking can create new health problems and erode your determination to stay smoke-free. Learn what you can do to control your weight as you endure the process of recovery from nicotine addiction.
5 Minute Craving Busters
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When you first quit smoking, it may feel like your day is one long, continual urge for a cigarette. If you pay close attention though, you'll notice that most cravings to smoke last only three to five minutes. They tend to come off the blocks strong, and decrease gradually until they're gone.
Fostering the Mindset for Success
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You can abstain from smoking for years. But if you don't change the relationship you have with cigarettes, the chains of nicotine addiction will continue to hold you tight. Change the way you think and you can free yourself instantly.
Remember Your Reasons for Quitting
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What are the reasons behind your desire to quit smoking? Grab some paper and a pen, and list them. Every single thing you can think of, from the largest, most obvious, to the smallest. Carry your list with you, and add to it when something else comes to mind.
