They say it’s one of the hardest things you could ever do in your life. It’s one of the greatest battles you’ll ever have to fight—a battle with addiction, a sense of loss, and the struggle of withdrawal itself. However, those who decide to make their lives healthier and give up this harmful habit will need both a strong mind and a strong will. In case you haven’t guessed it already, I’m talking about… (drum roll)… quitting SMOKING!
Too often, young kids and teenagers fall under the pressure of their peers, are swayed by the allure of advertising, or simply mimic the actions of adults in their lives by picking up a cigarette and inhaling its poisonous smoke. They often regret this decision years later and try to change their lives by attempting to “put out” this bad habit for the last time.
Why Quitting Smoking Is So Difficult
The reason quitting smoking is so difficult is because it’s addictive. The main culprit behind this addiction is the chemical nicotine. Your body becomes accustomed to a constant “fix” of nicotine from the cigarettes you smoke. When you quit smoking, this “fix” is gone, and your body reacts to nicotine withdrawal much like it would if you quit a more serious drug, such as heroin.
The crazy thing about nicotine (a colorless, odorless, organic alkaloid from the same family as cocaine and morphine) is that it’s more deadly, drop for drop, than arsenic. It’s also more powerful at creating chemical dependency than both heroin and cocaine. This is one of the reasons why, when you attempt to quit smoking, your body goes through nicotine withdrawal.
So now you’ve taken the big step—you’ve started your first day without smoking. One thing you need to be aware of is that almost everyone who quits smoking goes through some form of nicotine withdrawal. The intensity of withdrawal will depend on how long and how much you’ve smoked. While physical withdrawal from nicotine is temporary, it can cause a lot of discomfort. To help you through this phase, it’s important to be aware of the common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal you may experience as you begin your journey to cigarette freedom.
Here is a list of symptoms that people have reported experiencing during nicotine withdrawal. You can expect to experience some of these, but not all of them. These annoyances are usually short-lived. However, if you’re concerned about anything your body is going through, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.
Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Craving to smoke
- Irritability or crankiness
- Insomnia
- Inability to concentrate
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Coughing and sore throat
- Constipation, gas, and stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Sore tongue/gums
- Tightness in the chest
These are some of the more common symptoms, but there are others.
When it comes to quitting smoking, take comfort in knowing that millions of people have accomplished this goal or are going through the same battle you’re facing right now. To combat nicotine withdrawal, here are a few tips you can follow when cravings hit:
- Distract yourself: Keep your mind busy with other tasks to prevent it from telling you to “SMOKE!”
- Drink water: This can help fight off cravings.
- Be patient: Cravings will pass after a few minutes.
- Relax: Take deep, slow breaths to calm your body.
- Talk to someone: Discussing your feelings and struggles can help prevent you from feeling isolated and make you less likely to give in to cravings.
Additionally, by exercising more, getting enough rest, relaxing, and rewarding yourself, you’ll be closer to overcoming nicotine withdrawal and achieving your ultimate goal of quitting smoking.