Coping with cigarette cravings after you quit smoking!

The World Health Organization acknowledges that more people are killed by cigarettes and other tobacco-related products than any disease anywhere in the world. Do people continue to smoke cigarettes because they are unable to stop, or is there another reason why? When people know the tremendous risks they are taking with the health of their bodies, why do they continue to smoke cigarettes? It has been estimated that, out of all the people who give up smoking cigarettes, up to 70% will restart sooner or later. Part of the problem is the cravings experienced as the nicotine is withdrawn from the body and part is the difficulty in sleeping and the other withdrawal effects experienced. Smokers enjoy smoking.

If you do want to know how to quit smoking there is a lot of help available and it is up to you to take advantage of all the help on offer. Cravings are intense and, while willpower is uppermost, during the first few weeks, a quit smoking campaign goes quite well. During this phase, if nicotine replacement therapy is used, there is a far higher chance of your quit smoking campaign being successful. The symptoms of Nicotine withdrawal are most likely to happen within 48 hours right after you stop smoking. This is the period of time when the addictive nicotine gets rid of your body system. The effect of this is surely not good for you because you will experience strange feelings. Do not worry too much because these symptoms will not last long.

Nicotine withdrawal is one of the most difficult challenges smokers face when they quit. Symptoms may include feelings of irritability, dizziness, mild chest pains, fatigue and difficulty concentrating; as well as nausea and abdominal upset, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and more.

Some of these symptoms are due to the emotional and psychological separation from smoking, but more often than not the body's dependence on nicotine sets the newly reformed smoker up for serious discomfort that can last for weeks. Smokers tend to breathe very shallowly, so expanding your lungs each day can help you feel better and reduce stress and anxiety - not to mention the benefits of fully oxygenating your body. Meditation is most often considered to be a spiritual pursuit, but it has amazing benefits for anyone - especially people who are dealing with the stress of quitting smoking! If you used to use smoking as a way to avoid dealing with uncomfortable feelings like anger or stress, you may suddenly find yourself feeling overwhelmed when you try to quit smoking. Suddenly you've got all these feelings coming up - and no idea how to handle them! One simple method is to begin working through your feelings as they arise. This may not always be easy to do (especially if you are used to avoiding them), but over time it will prove to be a much more effective coping technique than smoking.

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms cause you to be cranky to everyone around you, you crave junk food, you get depressed, you get upset faster, just want one more puff to calm you down. Then you just ask a friend for one and the vicious cycle starts all over again. We've all been through it.

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