Side Effects of Quitting Smoking

When you are trying to quit smoking, you have to have the final result in mind, a smoke free life for you and your loved ones, better health, better looking teeth, and no more smoke smell on your clothes, skin and hair, but another thing you have to keep in mind are the obstacles you must pass in order to get there, and while some of these obstacles come from the outside, the great majority come from inside your body, taking the form of side effects of quitting smoking.

If you are trying to quit smoking, it’s very important to know what to expect, because there’s no other way to defend yourself against the side effects of quitting smoking, and being unprepared in dealing with the situations that might arise can set back your plan of quitting. What you must also keep in mind is the fact that while what happens when you quit smoking is not very pleasant, it’s just temporary and there are many things that can help you deal with the withdrawal symptoms.

The side effects of quitting smoking are divided into two categories, the physical and the psychological. While the first two weeks are said to be the most difficult (with the biggest exacerbation of symptoms 48-72 hours after quitting), it can take up to 12 weeks for the symptoms to fully subside and for you to feel fully comfortable with yourself. The first psychological side effects of quitting smoking you will be experiencing will be anxiety and irritability, and of course, an impending need for a smoke to help you relax. These initial effects can be accompanied as time passes by a tremor and tingling of the hands and feet and sweating, and a bit further down the road you might be experiencing some initial withdrawal depression. Initial depression usually takes the form of grief as if at the loss of something dear to you. The best way to handle these feelings is to allow yourself to feel this sadness, considering it normal and a part of the healing process. After all, every healing process begins with coming to terms with a loss, and considering the part smoking plays in an avid smoker’s life, it should make no exception. Insomnia and confusion might also occur, along with feelings of helplessness, neediness and vulnerability and mood swings.

Other physical side effects of quitting smoking you might experience are gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, intestinal cramps and constipation along with headaches and signs of respiratory irritation or colds, which appear because the lungs are beginning to clear. Aside from the initial depression, long term depression has also been experienced by persons trying to quit smoking, but generally in cases where a certain predisposition already existed. In the long term, most smokers have been known to gain some weight after quitting smoking, but it’s not a general rule. If you are worried about your figure, you can always try to compensate with a bit of extra exercise.

Knowing what happens when you quit smoking can help you deal with the symptoms as they emerge, and it’s always best to be prepared for a situation than being taken by surprise. Keep in mind that the side effects of quitting smoking will pass within a few weeks from quitting, except the most important one, that being the improvement of your health.

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