subject: How To Cope With Nicotine Withdrawal [print this page] Nicotine is found in all products made with tobacco and is a chemical compound. It is responsible for making said products some of the hardest things you can quit. The compound's behavior reinforcing and mood altering capabilities will be more familiar to cigarette smokers. The road to kicking the habit is long and hard, with most attempting to overcome the nicotine withdrawal relapsing over and over.
Renouncing cigarettes is very hard. Nicotine is severely addictive, most scientists even conclude that it's as difficult or maybe even more so to quit than most narcotics. Most people that do try and give up the act find themselves backsliding over and over again or failing completely by giving up.
Keep a bottle of water handy after the decision to quit smoking has been made. The cravings, especially in the first few days, will be very difficult to ignore but it will help to stay hydrated. Drinking water will flush some of the nicotine out of your body and help control your oral fixation as well.
To make more of a significant impact, you should also begin exercising regularly. Quitting smoking often leads to some weight gain due to nicotine's stimulation of your body's metabolism and many people use this as an excuse not to quit. To deter this from happening, make an effort to exercise every day. Exercising will also help keep some of the withdrawal symptoms at bay since it also releases stimulating effects on the brain.
Another vital action is to stay relaxed. Being overly stressed can both heighten one's desire to smoke and worsen the nicotine withdrawal effects. Reserve just a few hours each day to do something for yourself. Turn off the lights while listening to music, read a cherished book, or simply relax in the sun outside. Almost anything that relaxes you will do.
Taking up a new hobby is yet another helpful idea. Sometimes, a world of difference is made just by keeping busy instead of focusing on your cravings. Things that require the use of your hands will be especially beneficial. Things like gardening, model building, and coin collecting will all help distract you of your constant cravings.
Above all, you should stay away from other smokers at all times. For those attempting to give up smoking, just the smell of cigarettes can be difficult to ignore. When people around you at work take their smoke breaks, take a candy bar break instead. Try to keep yourself with your smoke free family members and friends at gatherings and affairs. In time, the smoke will stop bothering you as much, you might simply require a little assistance getting to that stage.
If you find yourself relapsing over and over or need extra help, there are always quit smoking aids available to you. Whether it be pills, gum, or patches, you're sure to find the perfect product for you. Although some will have to be obtained from a doctor, most are readily available at the drug store. Nicotine's addictive qualities have been linked to heroine, so just remember there is no shame whatsoever in seeking out a little extra assistance when the decision to quit has been made.
