Quitting cigarette smoking can be difficult.Nicotine in tobacco is an addictive drug.As such,you may go through withdrawal symptoms when you quit.The first few days after quitting can be the hardest.

Few regular smokers can quit without feeling the cravings.Cravings may be hard to ignore and you will have to learn to live with them until they no longer happen.

The following symptoms may develop when you stop using nicotine;
-increased irritability
-increased nervousness and tension
-stomach and bowel disturbances
-loss of concentration
-muscle spasms
-changes to taste
-headaches
-coughing
-increase in appetite
-and craving for cigarettes

The above symptoms may become difficult to cope with initially,however,these symptoms only last from a few days to a few weeks.As your body cleans itself off nicotine and readjusts,the symptoms will gradually disappear.

It will be worth it in the end.Think of the health benefits and money saved from not smoking and this will help you deal with the withdrawal symptoms.

Remember the four D's of quitting;

-Delay acting on your urges to smoke.Don't open a packet or light up a cgarette.After five minutes,the urge to smoke weakens and your decision to quit returns.
-Drink water.Sip it slowly,holding it in your mouth a little longer to savour the taste.
-Deep breath.Take a long slow breath in,and breathe out slowly.Repeat this two times.
-Do something else.Take your mind off smoking by taking action-put on some music,go for a walk or talk to a friend.

Having just one is the way that most people go back to regular smoking.Quitting means resiting the urge to smoke even one cigarette,despite the cravings,the habit,the pressure and your emotional reasons.

Focus on getting through each day without smoking.Remember your first cigarette? It probably made you feel sick and dizzy.Be kind to your body as it adjusts to living without the nicotine it had gotten used to.

Congratulate yourself every time you beat the urge to smoke.You might want to put in a money box an amount of money such as twenty five cents for anytime you beat the urge.Buy yourself something nice or go out with the money you saved.

Remind yourself.Take out your list of reasons for quitting and the things you want to do as a non-smoker.

The problem of empty hands.If you need to keep your hands busy try keys,beads,play with a pen or keep active.

Refuse offers of cigarettes.You have the right to refuse a cigarette and can do so without upsetting others.

Join non-smokers club.Choose non-smoking seats on the train or plane.When you go out to the restaurant choose the non-smoking tables.

Research shows that many ex-smokers find it difficult to resit smoking when drinking alcohol.Alcohol and drugs may weaken your decision to give up smoking,so it might be best to avoid these for a few weeks.Alternatively,drink something different-it can help to avoid your usual trigger to smoke or make every second drink non-alcoholic.

Learn more about this author, Joy Solomon.
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