Did you decide to quit? Yes? Congratulations!
You have already taken the first step towards a healthier and smoke-free life.
Having said that, we understand that it is not an easy thing to do. Especially if you have been smoking for a while, you will need all the help. But that can only happen when you know what to expect when you decide to quit smoking. In this blog, we will give you a quick overview of the things you can expect after quitting smoking. We will also offer you some advise that will help you stay on track and achieve your goal of quitting smoking.
Nicotone withrawal symptoms
As all of you are aware that cigarettes contain nicotine – a highly addictive substance that is responsible for making you feel instant relief or calmness. When inhaled, it triggers the brain to release dopamine, a feel good hormone that makes you feel happy and releases stress. When you quit smoking, meaning that you stop providing you body nicotine, you experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms, that include:
- Craving to light that bud up – these may be strong at first, but they usually only last a few minutes. If you resist each one they will get less powerful in time. But you will need to be mentally strong to be able to fight them.
- Restlessness and trouble concentrating or sleeping – Lack of nicotine affects your mood. You will not get your ‘stress buster’ hence, these things will take over. But know that these will pass as your body gets used to not smoking.
- Irritability, anger, anxiety, depressed mood – It is absolutley normal to experience these. Smoking is not just a physical habit, it impacts your mental health as well. Just accept that you will be emotional for a while and that it will pass.
- Increase in appetite and weight gain – This happens because you try to compensate for nicotine via food. YOu end up consuming way more than usual that leads to weight gain.
- cold symptoms such as coughing and sneezing
- constipation
- dizziness or light-headedness
- Mouth ulcer
Please note that some people might not feel the withdrawal symptoms that agressively while other do. It depends on multiple factors. But if you prepare ahead, you can easily manage these symptoms.
Managing withdarwal symptoms
NRT Products
One way to take care of nicotine withdrawal symptoms is getting nicotine gums. They are an easy and safe way to provide your body with a controlled amount of nicotine. You can Buy Nicotine Tablets Online as they do not require prescription. They are available in various doses and flavors. You can get the one that suits your needs and eventually decrease their intake as your body starts getting used to not smoking.
Change your routine
One of the biggest challenge that people face when they are trying to quit is fighting the cravings. While some cravings are rooted in your body’s need for nicotine, some are just out of habit or routine.
Hence, making changes to your daily routine will help you fight these cravings effectively. Some ideas that you can adopt to fight the routinely cravings are:
- If smoking is the first thing that you do in the morning – replace it with having a shower.
- If you smoke while having coffee or tea – change to a different drink, a different cup, or change where you drink it
- If you smoke while watching television – move the furniture around, hold a stress ball, do some easy stretches
- If you enjoy smoking while drinking alcohol – change to a different type of drink or hold your drink in your smoking hand
Remember, each time you resist that urge and do something else instead it’s a victory in your quest to quit. You’re helping your brain break that link between the activity and the cigarette.
Handle stress effectively
Stress can be a great motivator for you to smoke. But remember that the relief you get from smoking is only temporary. It will go away, setting you back on your journey. Hence, indulge in some calming or mindful activities that will help you manage stress in a healthy manner. As we cannot avoid all types of stress, we can definitely identify some activities that can help us stay away from cigarettes.
Indulge in some ‘me’ time, read a book, do some meditation or yoga – all of these things will keep your mind healthy.
Remember why you decided to quit
No matter how bad the temptation is, remember the reason why you decided to quit. This will help you stay on track. Trust us, you will a lot of motivation and willpower to stay committed to your goal.
Help is around!
Lastly, don’t feel that you are alone and unsupported. In the moment of weakness, reach out to your loved ones. They will help you fight the urges or inspire you to stay focused. You can also join online support groups.
If you need, you can also consult a physician who can help you chart out a personalised quitting plan.
At last, do not get discouraged if you fail a couple of times. You can always begin again. It is going to be a long journey, but definitely a rewarding one. So, as long as you do not give up and remain persistent, you will definitely succeed.
