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Giving Up Smoking
Giving Up Smoking - Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
Most people who attempt to give up smoking will experience both psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms. The psychological symptoms are related to the habit of smoking and the things that are usually associated with smoking like drinking coffee, chatting with friends, drinking alcohol, or that favorite after-dinner smoke. Like any bad habit, the smoking habit can be replaced with healthier behaviours, but the physical withdrawal from nicotine may be more difficult to handle.
Nicotine is a powerful drug related to cocaine and morphine. There is evidence that nicotine may be even more addictive than these drugs. Really - statistics have shown that the one-year success rate for heroin withdrawal is more than double that of nicotine withdrawal!
Nicotine affects the neurotransmitters of the brain. The brain becomes accustomed to receiving this kind of stimulation and sends out strong signals of craving when deprived of nicotine. A person attempting to quit smoking will experience withdrawal symptoms, as is the case with any addictive drug. Quitting smoking will commonly result in withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, inability to concentrate, insomnia and fatigue. Symptoms are often stronger in people who have been smoking longer, and people will often have a greater urge to smoke in places and situations where they are accustomed to smoking. This is partially the psychological addiction and partically the physical addiction at work.
The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can be alleviated with nicotine substitutes such as nicotine gum or nicotine patches. These can help overcome the physical cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking and it may be easier to cut down on these kinds of secondary nicotine sources than it is by quitting smoking cold turkey.
Some types of drugs (particularly antidepressants) can also be used to help lessen the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms will change as the withdrawal process proceeds. The symptoms will begin as a strong craving for cigarettes. As you continue to deny your body nicotine, you may become irritable and have difficulty concentrating. The brain has become accustomed to working under the influence of this nicotine and may not function up to par when denied this stimulation.
Because the brain is not receiving stimulation from nicotine, you may also feel tired and lack energy. Ironically you may also have difficulty sleeping - insomnia is a common complaint among people who are trying to quit smoking, and this will then add to your daytime fatigue, causing something of a cycle of sleepiness and sleeplessness causing more sleepiness, and so on.
Constipation can also be a problem related to nicotine withdrawal. The digestive system is sensitive to nicotine in the bloodstream. Many smokers are familiar with the sensation of needing to use the bathroom after having a cigarette. The digestive system can become dependent on the stimulation, and when it is removed, the result can be constipation.
Other symptoms related to the mouth, throat, and lungs are also quite common. You may develop a dry mouth and a sore throat and cough, and the tongue and gums may become tender and sore.
Not all people trying to quit smoking experience all of these symptoms, and some may experience certain symptoms more strongly than others. It is important to remember that all the symptoms will eventually pass, as long as you refrain from smoking.
The urge to smoke will come in waves, and if you can resist each wave in turn, the urges become less frequent and less severe. Each time that you feel a desire to smoke, try to find some kind of distraction. Doing some exercise when the urge to smoke strikes has two benefits - your mind is distracted and your overall fitness is enhanced.
Even after you have overcome all of the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, the psychological urge to smoke may remain for months, or even years. Cravings may be stronger in situations where you have been accustomed to smoke like parties or pubs. This is due more to behavioural conditioning than actual physical dependence on nicotine.
There will come a day, however, when you will not feel the need to smoke. With time these days will become more frequent until finally the desire to smoke has been completely overcome.
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