Quitting smoking can be a very hard and difficult thing for some people. Especially for chain smokers, this can cause great physical and psychological trauma. But you should never give up and must quit this bad habit. Once you stop smoking then you may experience some problems. We can experience some discomfort after quitting smoking because our body and mind get used to the effects of smoking and start to react in the absence of smoking.
After quitting, your body may take some time to get used to of the absence of the effects of cigarettes. This is because of a compound called Nicotine in the cigarettes. This is an addictive substance found in tobacco. If consumed for long period, our body gets used to its effects and starts demanding it if not given. Nicotine makes our body dependent on it to function properly, that makes it necessary for the body to maintain a certain level of nicotine in the system. Our body and mind start giving us signal that we need to smoke. This is what makes it difficult for the smokers to quit smoking in the first place.
Lack of nicotine in the body may make you feel nausea, anxious and you may experience headache. You may also experienced extreme cravings for cigarettes. These symptoms are worst in the first forty eight hour of quitting smoking. This is a crucial time and you tell yourself that you will get past it without giving up. You may feel highly stressful during this period but remember that it is only temporary. The best way to get through this period is by reminding yourself that you are doing this for your own and your family’s good. Also, these symptoms will hurt for a few days only but if you don’t quit then the side-effects of smoking will be much worse.
The withdrawal symptoms may start as early as fours after your last cigarette and may last for up to two to four weeks. The first fourteen days after you quit are the most critical. This is the period that will determine your success or failure in your attempt.
In order to recover from these withdrawal symptoms quickly, you must treat them as a sickness and treat them accordingly. The common withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking can be excessive sweating, headache, sensation in palms and feet, stomach cramps and nausea. Some people may also experience cold symptoms like sore throat, respiratory problems and coughing. This is because due to the absence of smoke in the lungs, they start to clear up and may cause some problems for a brief period.
Apart from these physical symptoms, most people also experience a lot of mental and emotional issues after they have quit smoking. The patient may become tense as it is a major change from his or her normal life. He or she can experience acute bouts of cravings for cigarette which may be extremely hard to control.
Many people even start throwing tantrums like children when denied to smoke. The patient may feel almost paralyzed by the lack of smoking as most people associate smoking with releasing the tension of work and family. Without smoking, they are left without a window where they can calm themselves down.
Many patients also suffer from insomnia, anxiety, irritability and vagueness. All these signs are of a confused brain that is used to of the effects of tobacco and nicotine and is demanding them from the body. That is why, the efficiency of people trying to quit smoking decreases during the first initial weeks. It is also common for many patients to start feeling depressed. This depression should subside in few weeks after they have quit.
You should be back on track within eight to twelve weeks after quitting smoking. The dependence on nicotine will be over and you will feel much more energetic and healthy than you ever did. Smoking will not only help you live a long and healthy life but it will also remove the dangers of second hand smoking from your loved ones. All you have to do is to bear the withdrawal symptoms and let that time pass through. It is a small price to pay for a lifetime of happiness.