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Dealing With Cravings After Quitting For Good! |
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1) Intense cravings to smoke-Perhaps the most
irritating symptom of nicotine withdrawal is the intense desire to reach
for the lighter. There are several things you can do to resist these
intense cravings. First, try to alter your daily routine to avoid
boredom and prolonged periods of inactivity. When you are bored, you are
more likely to want to smoke. Whenever you feel the desire to smoke,
consider the practice of deep breathing, and other relaxation
techniques. You should also strive to keep your hands busy. Knit, play
checkers, do a jigsaw puzzle—keeping your hands busy will compensate for
your smoking habit. Finally, speak to your medical professional about
using smoking cessation aids such as gum, the patch, or a nicotine
inhaler. These can be valuable tools for toughing out those strong
cravings.
2) Fatigue and insomnia-
Most smokers experience an overall feeling of sluggishness during the first
two weeks after stopping. Before you quit smoking, give yourself
permission to take it easy for at least two periods after you quit.
Don't take on any extra assignment at works, and avoid making too many
commitments during your time off. Avoid stress, especially at night
before going to bed. Take long hot baths, watch only light comedies, and
avoid excessive use of caffeine and sugar.
Even though you may be
feeling especially sluggish, it's also important that you get your body
moving. Find an outdoor activity that you enjoy, such as biking or
gardening. Doing some sort of regular physical activity will help
counter your fatigue, and will help keep you distracted from the urge to
smoke.
3) Irritability and depression-
Many a smoker has been
accused of being cranky during the period of nicotine withdrawal. It
makes perfect sense that you're feeling irritable or a bit depressed
during this period. Nicotine is a powerful chemical that stimulates the
pleasure centers in your brain. When the nicotine suddenly stops, you
are bound to feel a little unglued. The best way to counter feelings of
irritability and depression is to be prepared for them. Give yourself
permission to feel a little upset. Cheer yourself up by watching
comedies, reading light fare, and eating healthy foods. Make an effort
to treat yourself to fresh flowers, a good meal, music, or whatever you
think will cheer you up. Use food as a reward sparingly, since this may
lead to unwanted weight gain.
4) Headaches-
It is not unusual
for smokers to experience mild to severe headaches during the process of
quitting. Treat mild headaches by avoiding stress, taking over the
counter Ibuprofen or Tylenol, and getting plenty of sleep. If your
headaches are persistent and severe, visit your physician
5)
Hunger and increased caloric intake-
Many smokers experience hunger
pangs and an overall increase in appetite. This is not unusual since
many smokers are accustomed to using cigarettes as meal replacements. To
avoid stressing your body and gaining weight, surround yourself with
healthy, whole foods that you can munch on, instead of reaching for the
cigarettes. Have veggies chopped and ready to eat in your refrigerator.
Buy fresh fruit and drink lots of water. Carry granola bars, apples, and
trail mix with you in case hunger should strike outside your home.
6)
Dry mouth and sore gums-
As you may imagine, your mouth needs to
readjust to not smoking, too. Used to sucking on cigarettes, the mouth
may experience dryness or soreness shortly after quitting. Counter these
unpleasant effects by keeping your mouth hydrated. Drink plenty of fresh
water and avoid overly salty or sweet foods.
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