Understanding Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

In this reading will see stages of severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms after one quits smoking.

The first two weeks after giving up smoking are very taxing and demanding but it is the most crucial period in smoking cessation.

First Five Days

Quitters are known and expected to be extremely irritable, frustrated and experience a lot of mood swings at this stage. This is caused by tension brought from the inability to maintain the body's nicotine levels. Smokers may also undergo a series of anxiety and depression attacks, restlessness, insomnia, lack of concentration and boredom since the body is still adjusting to the lack of constant stimulation that nicotine brings. It is also a difficult time for those around us who may have had their head bitten off a time or two! Being crabby with others has been enough of an excuse for me to buy another pack of cigs in the past, but once I accepted that it was an excuse to satisfy the cravings and resisted temptation I knew that I was on my way to being a non smoker for good.

Second Week

Quitters may suffer from headaches, fatigue, nausea, coughs, dry throats and colds. It isn't so much that health is declining but that the body is in the process of adjusting to sudden changes while it restores the normal functions of the various organs and systems. Given that oxygen levels increase, tension builds up, and that there's a boost in the once-halted mucous production due to damaged cilia, it doesn't come as a surprise that adjustment is overwhelming. Eating healthily and increasing your intake of vitamin C can help. I kept orange slices in my fridge and they also served as non fattening nibbles when I got the munchies. Even so I developed a throat infection and then a chest infection during the months afterwards. It was almost as if my body realized that after 40 years I really was stopping and was fighting back, but that's just me being fanciful. It takes a lot of effort, inspiration and motivation to get over these withdrawal symptoms.

You will only be successful if you start with the right frame of mind and enough will power, restraint and self-control are put into practice, check wakelet, folkd and scoop it. Stopping smoking is a highly challenging and difficult task for a lot of people though some say that it was easy for them. It really isn't a surprise as to how many people have given up on quitting smoking almost before they have even started. Besides being an extremely hard habit to break, smoking addiction also has a scientific basis. Nicotine found in tobacco creates a chemical dependency where levels have to be maintained at all times. That, in effect, nurtures the constant urge to light up a cigarette. Not being able to do so generates a fair share of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. However, this should not be reason enough to dissuade you from ending your addiction. Gaining weight is one of the reasons many give for not stopping or going back to the addiction. This symptom is common especially since one's appetite is re-established and nicotine cravings may be easily confused for hunger pangs.

Food soon replaces cigarettes because the mouth has gotten used to continually having something in it. Gas and constipation may also follow as the digestive system tries to stabilize itself.

Exercise is Important

Urges and cravings for cigarettes will be incessant at first, but it is important to avoid giving in and finding a distraction for it. I decided that I would rather put on a bit of weight than continue damaging my health with a horrible habit. You can lose weight much more easily than get your health back once smoking has caused irreparable damage.

Exercise not only helps keep your weight down but it also occupies your mind for a while helping you to forget those demanding cravings. I've even been known to get a bath to relax myself or go to bed very early to get through yet another day. Anything rather than start again!

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Created on Sep 18th 2023 01:19. Viewed 70 times.

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