What to Expect when you Quit Smoking

Let's face it, quitting smoking is not pleasant. If it was, everyone would doing it. That's because nicotine addiction is aggressive and nicotine works in a devious manner, making you feel as though you need it, then giving you a physical and mental sense of relief when you smoke.

When you become addicted to smoking, you keep smoking cigarettes in order to achieve the physiological (physical) and psychological (mental) satisfaction that smoking provides.

Unfortunately, the satisfaction that you receive from smoking is very brief and you begin to crave another cigarette in a short period of time. Once you quit you will begin the withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine addiction.

The Mental Effects of Quitting Smoking

Mentally, you will experience anxiety, anger, irritability, impatience and restlessness. These are common and, most importantly, temporary effects of the withdraw from nicotine that you may experience.

The Physical Effects of Quitting Smoking

Physically, you may experience what is known as the "quitters flu" as the body withdraws and detoxifies from the harmful effects of cigarettes. As the lungs begin to clear themselves of mucus, you will cough and may experience tightness in the chest. Other physical symptoms can include nausea and/or vomiting, headache, fatigue, post nasal drip, sore throat, tongue and gums.

These are temporary symptoms. One way you can alleviate the physical symptoms is by taking herbal stop smoking products that treat both the physical and mental symptoms of quitting smoking.

Combating the Effects of Quitting Smoking

Other ways to relive these symptoms it to take your mind off them. Take a walk, garden, work around the house, play a sport, take a shower, talk with your spouse, make a phone call to a friend or family member, play with your pet - anything that you can think of because there really is no easy way to stop smoking.

Also, it helps to have a plan in place before you quit smoking cigarettes. This plan should include a quit date, the help of your family and friends, the understanding of the challenges that you will face on that date and beyond, and the purging of all tobacco related items from your home, car, and work place.

You can enlist the help of many smoking cessation medications including Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and also some natural treatments for smoking cessation. Look around your community to see if your local churches or civic groups offer free quit smoking programs.

Remember, the more that you educate yourself on smoking cessation, the better equipped you will be for what to expect when you quit smoking.