Why Quit Smoking?

When you quit smoking, you go through nicotine withdrawal. Since nicotine is highly addictive, cutting the source results in a variety of side effects. Your conscious mind is telling you: “Hurrah! You finally quit.” Your body is saying: “What are you doing? I need my nicotine.”  When you abruptly stop using a drug you are addicted to, it’s not surprising that the body rebels a bit.

Withdrawal symptoms
When they quit many people experience one or more of the follow withdrawal symptoms. They are likely to:

1. Become irritable: Many smokers feel horrible after they quit smoking and they let the world know it. They can be short tempered, grumpy, angry, listless, or morose.
2. Eat more: Some people who quit smoking turn to food to help them deal with their withdrawal. Many smokers end up gaining weight because they are using food, especially junk food, to replace their nicotine addiction.
3. Be easily distracted: It can be hard to concentrate when you stop taking nicotine. Your body is going through withdrawal, so your brain cannot focus on what it needs to because all that it is thinking about is where’s my nicotine.
4. Experience insomnia: People who quit smoking can have trouble sleeping.
5. Suffer anxiety: People who quit smoking can feel anxious about their situation. Many people feel like if they do not get nicotine then they will not be able to do what they normally do on a daily basis.
   It is important to remember that any time you are addicted to something for a while and then suddenly stop taking it that your body will respond to the change. The withdrawal symptoms that were listed last six weeks or less; your body needs to get used to being without nicotine and then you will feel much better.

Positive Changes
When you stop taking in nicotine, you will notice some positive changes:

• Your breath will not smell as bad, and you find out how bad smokers smell.
• You may cough a bit more at first to get rid of the muck in your lungs, but eventually you will cough less.
• Your clothes will not smell like cigarette smoke, and even your hair will smell better
• Your nails will not be yellow.
• Your teeth will not get yellower.
• Your home will smell better, but you may have to so some extra cleaning to get the smoke out of the furniture, rug, and walls.
• You will have more energy and feel better about yourself. You have succeeded at a very difficult task.

Socially, when you smoke some people may want to be around you, because they do not want to absorb second hand smoke. When you quit smoking, your social life may improve. You will be welcomed into the ranks of former smokers.

It is hard to stop smoking, but it is well worth toughing-out the withdrawal symptoms. Smoking is hazardous to your health and can destroy your life down the road. If you need help to stop smoking then you should talk to your doctor or contact support groups and stop smoking organizations in your community.