Knowing What Happens When You Quit SmokingSurprisingly, many people make their first efforts to quit smoking without knowing what happens when you quit smoking. Anyone trying to overcome such a powerful addiction as nicotine needs to know what to expect emotionally and physically when the nicotine stops coming into the bloodstream. Without preparation, it is extremely hard to face each struggle and overcome it, not knowing what lies beyond that struggle and where it all ends. Quitting smoking is not usually without its immediate downside. Of course, after all of the withdrawal symptoms pass by you have the prospect of improved health facing you. What happens when you quit smoking is to a great deal dependent on how much and the duration you have smoked and the nicotine content of it. For example, cigars and pipes tend to give you a much higher dose of nicotine so they may be a much harder habit to overcome. The longer timespan you have been smoking, the more odd you may feel when you aren't smoking. The same is true if you're used to smoking eight hours of the day. It will be much harder to not be smoking than if you only smoked ten minutes. However, when discussing what happens when you quit smoking it must be emphasized that the physical aspect of nicotine withdrawal far exceeds the psychological aspect for most people. As hard as the habit is to overcome, the body's desire for nicotine will affect the way it functions. Your body will be telling you that things are very wrong. You may experience extreme anxiousness and irritability. Your hands or legs may tremor some. You may find yourself unable to concentrate or make good decisions. Thankfully what happens when you quit smoking is that the withdrawal from the nicotine reaches a peak very soon. That is why smokers can only go a short time without a smoke. What happens when you quit smoking is that your physical withdrawal symptoms hit their peak within two to three days. After that your symptoms gradually will go away. As long as you resist the psychological urge to smoke, you'll never again have to face the severe physical withdrawal symptoms again. One reason it is important to know what happens when you quit smoking is so that you'll realize when the symptoms start fading that you have won the physical part of the battle and you do not have to fear another wave of severe physical symptoms. Psychologically speaking, what happens when you quit smoking is that you'll face a slightly longer duration of withdrawal symptoms, but not nearly as severe. The withdrawal will be more from a sudden change in your routine and coping mechanisms than it will be from the lack of the smoking itself. All of those habits you've formed, such as smoking at each break, smoking after meals, smoking on your way to and from work, and smoking before bed, now have to be replaced by new habits if you wish to avoid psychological angst. |