Quitting smoking can be challenging, but it is the best thing you can do for your health. Withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person, but here are some common symptoms you may experience:
- Cravings for cigarettes
- Restlessness
- Trouble concentrating or sleeping
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Increase in appetite and weight gain
Many people find that withdrawal symptoms disappear completely after two to four weeks. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking:
- Look at the symptoms as signs that your body is recovering from the damage smoking has caused.
- Change your routine to avoid triggers that tell your brain it’s time for a smoke.
- Use stop smoking medications such as nicotine gum, patches, nasal spray, inhaler, lozenges, buproprion (Zyban®), and varenicline (Chantix®) to help relieve physical symptoms.
- Learn how to relax and control weight.
- Plan how to deal with urges to smoke.
- Build social support.
- Reward yourself.
- Talk with a healthcare provider if you don’t feel better in a couple of weeks or your symptoms persist.
Its important to note that former smokers sometimes get urges to smoke months or even years after they quit, but these urges will occur less often over time and eventually stop completely. Remember that quitting smoking is a journey, not a single event, and setbacks and occasional lapses are normal. The first week of quitting smoking can be hard for some people because it’s often when cravings and withdrawal symptoms are the most frequent and intense. However, most smokers who return to smoking do so within the first three months, so its important to stay committed to quitting.
