As we all know, the effects of smoking tobacco are rather detrimental to our health, smoking can easily cause cancer, heart disease, stroke and lung disease, etc. So many people make up their minds to quit smoking. However, smoking is addictive for the nicotine component inside the cigarette. Every time you stop using nicotine, the nicotine withdrawal symptoms will say hi to you.
To succeed in quitting smoking, there is a long and uneven road for you to crawl. It is tough but you will be delighted when you make it. To help you achieve this goal, this essay is written to show you the nicotine withdrawal timeline after you finish your last cigarette and how to handle the seven common nicotine withdrawal symptoms properly.
Quick Look
- What causes nicotine withdrawal symptoms?
- Nicotine withdrawal timeline
- Seven common withdrawal symptoms and advisable solutions
What causes nicotine withdrawal symptoms?
You may be wondering why you would suffer nicotine withdrawal symptoms after quitting. Generally speaking, heavier smokers are likely to get nicotine withdrawal symptoms quicker and severer. Because their brains are accustomed to frequently absorbing a large dose of nicotine to release more extra chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which is served to enhance cognitive brain functions.
Once lack of nicotine, the original balance will be broken. To strike a new balance, your system will automatically adjust itself. That is the reason why nicotine withdrawal symptoms come along with you.
The symptoms may make you uncomfortable but won’t hurt you. Therefore, do not be afraid of these symptoms and just overcome them.
Nicotine withdrawal timeline
A new beginning: At this moment, it is the end of smoking but also the beginning of your new life without harmful cigarettes.
30 minutes-4 hours: The influences from the nicotine will fade out and your cravings for nicotine start to roar.
10 hours: You'll feel the truly bored and pretty itch for igniting a cigarette, and be at a loss on how to kill the time. You can be depressed and hopeless.
24 hours: A bad temper raised and can’t stand to eat more food to fill in the blank.
2 days: You may get headaches from the leaving of nicotine.
3 days: Now the nicotine ought to be away. Your desires diminish but your anxiety will increase as well.
1 week: You should be proud of yourself because you do a good job for a week. That is the hardest time to get through. So cherish this moment, and insist on not touching cigarettes.
2 to 4 weeks: Although you won't get more energy, the mental mist will be dissipating and your appetite will decrease. Additionally, your cough, melancholy, and anxiety will become better.
5 weeks on: now the road ahead becomes much rosier and you make a big accomplishment. The challenge at present is to keep an unwavering mind to live without smoking.
Seven common withdrawal symptoms and advisable solutions
1. Crave for smoking
All smokers will urge to use cigarettes once they quit. Some people will feel overwhelmed while others may be mild, depending on the frequency of smoking in their daily life.
Solutions:
- Using quit-smoking medicines
- Stay in the right place where there are no people or things that you are used to smoking with.
- Distract yourself by doing something you like
- Find safe substitutes for cigarettes like toothpicks, straws, cinnamon sticks, etc
- Talk back to your cravings
- The eagerness for nicotine will go soon, just let it be and let it go.
2. Being annoyed, grumpy, or unhappy
Like getting rid of a habit, when you try to change it, there are a lot of hardships for you to override. So you are prone to be frustrated and upset.
Solutions:
Tell yourself that it is a normal symptom and your body is becoming accustomed to being nicotine-free. Remind yourself of your motivations for quitting by taking a few deep breaths.
3. Jittery and restless
It's typical to feel jittery or restless in the first few days or weeks after giving up. The rest of your body can become agitated without nicotine in the same way that your head does at first.
Solutions:
- Engaging in some physical activity can help you calm down.
- If you feel restless, stand up and take a short stroll.
- Reduce your consumption of coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages. Because caffeine will stay in your body for a longer time when no nicotine participates.
4. Cannot concentrate on something for some time
Without the effects of nicotine, your brain may need some time to turn cognitive function to normal. Don’t be afraid.
Solutions:
Decrease the activities which require you to be attentive in this period.
5. Bad Sleep
It's normal to experience some sleep issues when you start to quit. But this will get better as time went by. If necessary, you can ask your doctor for help. Poor sleep may make you lose heart on the road to quitting, but do not give in.
Solutions:
- Don’t drink coffee, tea, or other caffeinated drinksin the late afternoon or evening
- If you use the nicotine patch, consider removing it an hour before bed.It may matter your sleep.
- Avoid using electronics in bed, including phones, computers, and e-books.
- Ensure that your bedroom is peaceful, dark, comfy, and silent.
- Avoid heavy meals or alcohol consumption right before bed.
- Increase your daily physical activity (but not right before bed).
- Even on weekends, go to bed and get up at roughly the same hour every day.
6. Getting more hungry or putting on weight
When you stop, it's usual for your appetite to grow a little. The rate at which your body burns calories may also be slower. Additionally, you might eat more as a result of the stress of quitting or to occupy your hands and mouth. Your senses of taste and smell will not be dimmed by all that smoke, making food even more pleasant!
Solutions:
- Find some healthy, low-calorie foods to eat
- Be active and do some sports to keep healthy, you can take walk, jogging or go to the gym.
- Focus on eating when you eat, keep away from distractions, and try to enjoy your food slowly
7. Feeling anxious, sad, or depressed
Smokers are more prone than non-smokers to experience anxiety or despair. Shortly after quitting smoking, some people experience emotional swings. Keep an eye out for this, particularly if you've ever experienced anxiety or despair.
Solutions:
- Do some physical activities to wind down and lift your mood
- Try to be busy, you can go out and interact with others or keep in touch with your friends who support you and cease smoking.
- Reward yourself and keep in mind that you are doing a meaningful thing in your life.
- Speak to a medical professional. It's crucial to speak with a healthcare provider if you haven't felt better after a few weeks or if your symptoms seem out of control.
- If your depression gets worse, you should get further help from a healthcare center.
Bottom Line
Sincerely this post can offer assistance for your quitting. If you cannot withstand the direct withdrawal of nicotine, vaping would be your great alternative for smoking.
We recommend disposable vapes and starter kits for the best selection, which replicate the action of smoking and available for 0mg nicotine and other nicotine levels of vape juice. If you have any problems about stop smoking, please feel free to contact us at New Vaping.