The Side Effects of Quitting Smoking
If you are one of the many people who take that all important first step towards stopping smoking each year, it is only fair that you are supported in this decision by being given all the information that is available. This is to help you know what to expect and to support you in ensuring that once you stop, you will be able to remain of the cigarettes for the rest of your life.
Health Side Effects
The health benefits of quitting smoking are tremendous and you will feel noticeable differences within 72 hours (taste, smell, breath). However, the real effects start after just one hour of not smoking (this is why most smokers will need a cigarette around once an hour, your receptors are not used to the health benefits of a drop in nicotine levels!).
Withdrawal Symptoms
Although this sounds daunting and frightening and conjures up images of sweat, shakes and vomiting, there is no reason for the withdrawal symptoms to be as bad as that if you are given the proper support when you quit smoking.
There are clear symptoms that will affect your mood:
- Feeling down and depressed
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
These symptoms will be heightened in situations where you are reminded of smoking and it is best if you are able to identify these situations and avoid them for the time being (for example socialising in a pub or being on the telephone).
Some symptoms will also affect your sleep:
- Difficulty going to sleep
- Poor sleep quality once asleep
Then there are some physical symptoms as well:
- Chest pains
- Coughs
- Colds
- Headaches
- Fevers
- Sweats
- Shakes
Although these symptoms all sound pretty horrendous, it is important to remember that they are caused by your body trying to heal itself from the harmful effects of smoking. Usually, after around ten days, the withdrawal symptoms will start to ease very rapidly and will eventually disappear altogether. And, of course, the positive side effects in your health and in your pocket (the costs of cigarettes is incredibly high!) should not be ignored. In fact, they can be used as a positive stimulant for you to be able to get through the initial uncomfortable stages of quitting smoking.
It is important to always try and remember why you are feeling what you are feeling and to keep in mind your end goal of being smoke free. Those who are trying to stop smoking are advised to use some form of nicotine replacement therapy (patches, inhalers, gum, etc…) to help ease the withdrawal symptoms. One other recommendation that is always given is to find something to distract you. If you feel the urge to smoke, go do something to keep your mind of it. A craving for a cigarette lasts no more than ten minutes, so if you can keep yourself occupied doing something else during that time, you are far more likely to be able to quit and stay quit in the long run.
If you are thinking I need someone to help me stop smoking I suggest contacting the National Smoking Cessation Institute, they are a UK organisation and have centres all around the UK who specialise in hypnotherapy to stop smoking or acupuncture to quit both approaches are achieving high success rates, so they are certainly worth a call.