Dealing With Withdrawal Symptoms

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms, are one of the most difficult problems experienced by those who stop smoking. Symptoms may include dizziness, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, mild chest pains, feelings of irritability, as well as headaches, anxiety, nausea and abdominal upset, and sleeping problems amongst others. This serves to illustrate the scale of the problem.

Some symptoms are due to the psychological and emotional separation from smoking. However, the body's reliance on nicotine, is the main cause of withdrawal symptoms, in the newly reformed smoker, but rest assured they will soon diminish.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms so they become more tolerable.

Start To Breathe Deeply

Smokers are inclined to breathe shallowly, so take the opportunity to fully expand your lungs. You should then feel better and reduce anxiety and stress, in addition to oxygenating your body in a way that has been denied.

So, whenever you begin to experience a craving, and feel ready to explode because of emotional tension, just close your eyes for a while and start inhaling slowly through your nose. Then, allow your abdomen to expand as your lungs fill with air, and you will be aware of your chest expanding as well. Pause for a second or two, before exhaling slowly through your mouth. Take your time, and repeat this exercise several times to avoid hyperventilation.

Consider Meditation

Meditation can bring wonderful benefits to anyone, but especially to people who are dealing with the stress of stopping smoking.

Meditation is not difficult and can be as easy as closing your eyes, sitting quietly and comfortably and drifting into restful alertness. Practice for a short while and let go of any stressful thoughts disturbing your mind. Think about a happy past experience, such as walking in a wood full of bluebells, or bathing in the sea on a sunlit beach. You will float past obstructive thought with relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Try to focus on your scene of tranquillity, so that when withdrawal symptoms attempt to intrude, you can gently push them aside and continue to relax. Meditation may take some time to master, but there are various techniques and excellent explanatory books available at reasonable prices.

Stress and Anger

When smoking has been a way of dealing with disturbing feelings, such as stress or anger, you may unexpectedly find yourself becoming overwhelmed when you endeavour to stop smoking. Try to calmly examine these feelings as they arise, and you may find that they are not as serious as you previously thought. It may be easier said than done, particularly if you are used to avoiding them, but after a while you will find that you can cope better, without kidding yourself into another smoke.

The trick is to deal with thoughts that provoke problems in a calm and rational way. You will soon begin to realize that smoking didn't help but was literally adding fire to the problem. Don't ever think that you are on your own, because so many people have stopped smoking and overcome the withdrawal symptoms. There are lots of them who would like to help you to achieve what they already have, so don't be afraid to seek their advice.

There are various other techniques you can use to alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and we will be returning to the subject in this web site. In the meantime rest assured that these symptoms should diminish after a few days, and start to give way to a newfound confidence.