Sunday, December 21, 2008

Dealing With Withdrawal Symptoms While Quitting Smoking

Nowadays, there are a lot of stop smoking aids available to the smoking population. One of the most commonly used product is the prescription medication Zyban. Zyban was derived from an antidepressant medication which has been proven to reduce a person's craving to smoke. But because it doesn't make use of nicotine, smokers are likely to still experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms until the drug fully takes effect.

Smokers may experience common withdrawal symptoms such as headaches or nausea, or manifest cold-like symptoms while trying to ditch the habit. The problem with withdrawal symptoms is that they can be so discomforting that it can discourage a smoker from continuing to quit smoking. It is often because of this that they light up again to relieve themselves of the discomfort. Learning to deal with the withdrawal symptoms while in the process of quitting the habit may help smokers fulfill their goals of becoming smoke-free.

Coping techniques need not be so complicated, here are some examples of simple ways to deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms:

  • If you feel the need to smoke, delay the urge. Cravings are only said to last for around three to five minutes and then they pass.
  • Drinking water when you feel a nicotine craving come on is said to help stave off the urge.
  • Look for a way to distract yourself from the craving. Ask a friend to accompany you to a walk in the park, anything to take your mind out of the strong urge to smoke.
  • Take a breather. Take a moment to close your eyes and take ten slow, deep breaths. Not only will you be able to pass off the craving, you'll also be feeling relaxed afterwards.
  • Talk it off. You don't have to avail of the service of a psychotherapist to let your feelings out. Call a friend or a loved one and tell them how you feel about what you're doing and what you're going through.

Understand that the withdrawal symptoms you're going through and the nicotine cravings you feel are all part of the quitting process. This is your body asking for the harmful substance in cigarettes that it has gotten used to. By knowing simple and easy ways to endure the withdrawal symptoms and the cravings, you strengthen your resolve in quitting your smoking habit and take one step closer to being completely smoke-free.

No comments: