Quit Smoking Side Effects
By quit smoking side effects we generally refer to the withdrawal symptoms that accompany the deprivation of nicotine. Experts point out to the most important aspect that often passes unnoticed when you first take up smoking, yet which remains the one that gives you the hardest time when trying to quit: your MIND. Nobody takes up smoking because one is addicted to nicotine: you make a choice, and it’s mental.
Quit smoking side effects on the mind
Mild depression and sadness because you can no longer use cigarettes as a quick fix or a stress relief.
Anxiety is often associated with the perspective of staying completely nicotine-free for a lifetime.
Anger and short-temper usually appear because of the changes that the body goes through, when it gradually becomes nicotine free. Your reactions are not explained solely by the deprivation of nicotine, but also because of the stress on the system.
Boredom is the most common of quit smoking side effects because you are forced to break the habit, and there remain gaps to be filled up throughout the day.
People who use smoking as an aid to deal with negative emotions such as sadness, loneliness, depression and so on, will experience more intense psychological quit smoking side effects, because cigarettes won’t be there for ‘support’ any more.
Physical Symptoms and Quit Smoking Side Effects
The following list of physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms is not exhaustive, but it includes the most common physical side effects associated with quitting smoking.
- Sweating, shaking and feeling very cold.
- Headaches appear because the sinuses clear out.
- Flu-like symptoms due to the detoxification that the body is going through;
- Insomnia affects a large number of people who quit smoking. The stressful situation can lead to sleep problems.
- The digestion sometimes changes completely for a while. It is possible to even experience stomach pains and sour stomach.
- Tiredness.
The healing crisis is pretty serious particularly for heavy smokers. Not only that you have to break the addiction, but the body system needs to detoxify and clear out all the waste. This is why you may experience all sorts of other pains and problems that are not mentioned on the above list.
How to deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Behavioral cognitive therapy is the most successful way of fighting the smoking habit and breaking the psychological addiction. This is your chance to find out why you smoke, why you think you need cigarettes and what strategies to use to put your life in order. As part of the quit smoking process, you’ll find out how to deal with negative emotions and the challenging situations in your life without falling into an addiction.
For the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, it is recommended to use some quit smoking products: pills, gum, lozenges, trans-dermal patches, herbal supplements or electronic cigarettes. The various aids available reduce the urge to smoke or help you gradually lower the amount of nicotine in the body.
Combine various psychological and physiological methods in order to successfully counteract the unpleasant quit smoking side effects.