What Happens When You Stop Smoking? Surviving the First 3 Days
One of the things many smokers fear is going through smoking withdrawal symptoms. Because nicotine is such a strong addictive substance, quitting this habit means that many smokers are going to feel uncomfortable at first. What happens when you stop smoking is that your body is getting used to going without a nicotine fix.
There is no way of knowing exactly which symptoms you will experience, because everyone is different. Some people don't have any symptoms. Factors like your biological makeup, overall health, the amount of cigarettes you smoke and how long you have smoked all come into play.
Common withdrawal symptoms are:
Okay, so none of these symptoms are a picnic. However, the good news is that these withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking are temporary. They will be most intense during the first 3-5 days after you stop providing nicotine to your body.
After that, they will become increasingly weaker (as long as you have successfully put into action a way to deal with each symptom). This means that coping strategies are really important when going through smoking withdrawal.
Having some sort of support network that includes family members, friends, co-workers or an online group, will be very helpful to you in those first few days. When you feel like your withdrawal symptoms are getting the best of you, this is the best time to pick up the phone and call a friend, go online and chat with a stop smoking support group, or distract yourself by doing another activity.
The one thing you shouldn't do, is allow the fear of these temporary withdrawal symptoms to come between you and your desire to not smoke anymore. When you compare the symptoms listed above to imagining yourself dealing with a cancer related illness, going through chemotherapy, losing your hair, wondering how long you will survive – which one do you think is more tolerable?
There is no way of knowing exactly which symptoms you will experience, because everyone is different. Some people don't have any symptoms. Factors like your biological makeup, overall health, the amount of cigarettes you smoke and how long you have smoked all come into play.
Common withdrawal symptoms are:
- Boredom
- Constipation
- Coughing
- Cold and flu symptoms (colds, sore throat, chest infections, runny nose)
- Cravings for a cigarette
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Increase in appetite
- Insomnia
- Intestinal problems (cramps, nausea)
- Irritability (anger, frustration, cranky, grumpy, tense)
- Loneliness
- Mental confusion (foggy thinking)
- Sweating
- Tingling in the hands and feet
Okay, so none of these symptoms are a picnic. However, the good news is that these withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking are temporary. They will be most intense during the first 3-5 days after you stop providing nicotine to your body.
After that, they will become increasingly weaker (as long as you have successfully put into action a way to deal with each symptom). This means that coping strategies are really important when going through smoking withdrawal.
Having some sort of support network that includes family members, friends, co-workers or an online group, will be very helpful to you in those first few days. When you feel like your withdrawal symptoms are getting the best of you, this is the best time to pick up the phone and call a friend, go online and chat with a stop smoking support group, or distract yourself by doing another activity.
The one thing you shouldn't do, is allow the fear of these temporary withdrawal symptoms to come between you and your desire to not smoke anymore. When you compare the symptoms listed above to imagining yourself dealing with a cancer related illness, going through chemotherapy, losing your hair, wondering how long you will survive – which one do you think is more tolerable?
