Whole & Healthy

When you stop smoking you are withdrawing from an addictive product. It can be physically painful. Here are some stop smoking withdrawal symptoms and facts.

The first thing you want to remember as you kick off your efforts to stop smoking is that there will be physical symptoms of withdrawal but that they will be temporary. You can be quite uncomfortable while they occur, however. They’re nowhere near the horror stories that you hear about alcoholic DT’s (delirium tremens) when they try to stop drinking. The stop smoking physical withdrawal symptoms are referred to as “quitter’s flu” because that’s what you feel like as you start to stop smoking. You feel like you have a cold or a mild flue.

If you know and understand what to expect as you stop smoking you’ll have a far easier time trying to cope with it. If you’ve been a fairly heavy smoker you may want to see your family doctor before you try to stop smoking. It may be that the symptoms could cause you excessive discomfort due to any current medical conditions you have.

The most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal that smokers experience when they stop smoking are cravings to start smoking; irritability; fatigue; insomnia; difficulty concentrating; sore throat; headache; cough; gas; stomachache; constipation; sore gums or tongue; post nasal drip; and a feeling of tightness in their chest.

Here are some tips on coping with these stop smoking withdrawal symptoms. The first tactic is to acknowledge the craving for the cigarette but tell yourself you’re just going to put it off for a little bit – just a few minutes. The cigarette craving usually stops after five or fewer minutes. You might also keep yourself on the stop smoking track by distracting yourself by a conversation with a friend or a brisk walk. Drinking plenty of water helps fight the craving to smoke, as does deep breathing. It may help you as you stop smoking to join a support group for those who are trying to quit.

Exercise is a wonderful smoking deterrent, especially in the great outdoors, as you begin again to gain back a normal sense of touch and smell. Get plenty of rest and if you have insomnia try taking an extended walk or even run or job a few hours before you go to bed. Don’t do it right before bedtime, as this will actually inhibit your ability to get to sleep.

Try to relax. Maybe you could read a book, or take a nice long bubble bath. Pamper yourself and you’ll help your stop smoking efforts. One of the best ways to stay on your stop smoking track is to give yourself a reward every single day you don’t have a cigarette. Do this early on in your stop smoking campaign to keep yourself duly motivated. It works. And just remember as you’re going through smoking withdrawal – the symptoms are very temporary. And the reward is good health and a longer higher quality life.