Giving up tobacco may mean that you will experience withdrawal symptoms. The way we withdraw from tobacco is different for everyone; some people experience lots of symptoms, while others have none at all. Some withdrawal will last a couple of days whilst others may last for 4 or 5 weeks.
However, knowing and understanding possible withdrawal symptoms can make it easier for you to anticipate possible problems and prepare for them and can help you make quitting tobacco a success.
Cravings
You will experience an urge to smoke. Don’t panic, the craving will go away after a few minutes and they will become less intense and frequent as you progress through your quitting journey. Do something different or drink a glass of water and see how you feel afterwards.
Irritability and aggression
There is a chance that you may have a short temper in the first few weeks that you are quitting, so it might be a good idea to give your family, friends and co-workers a heads up.
Depression
You may find that you have mood swings at this time and you may feel low. Doing some exercise or something that you enjoy can help you cope with these.
Trouble sleeping
Sometimes people can find it harder to get to sleep once they have kicked tobacco. Having a bath and a warm milky drink before bed or doing relaxation exercises can help.
Light – headedness and difficulty concentrating
One of the bonuses of giving up smoking is that more oxygen will reach your brain. This may cause a little light – headedness or difficulty concentrating while your brain adjusts.
Increased appetite and weight gain
You may find that your appetite increases, don’t panic and try not to diet, your body is trying to restore all the vitamins that its lost while you’ve been smoking.
Restlessness and fidgeting
Giving up smoking can mean that you have nothing to do with your hands anymore. You may find that you feel fidgety or restless. Try to find something to do with your hands, for example you could download a game for your phone or take up knitting or crosswords.