Side Effects of Quitting Smoking

Getting on top of the
side effects of quitting smoking is easier than you think.

You can control the physical and emotional smoker in you and discover how you can quickly change your
habits and beliefs to minimize side effects when you stop smoking.

They say it takes a minute to find
a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.

Same for cigarettes? Like unrequited love, never leaving you in peace?

Stay with me here, and we'll show you how you can break this attachment, what to expect, and how banish this two-faced friend that's forever leading you up the garden path.

But first, as they say, "come sit with me here and tell me your story... "

It's important to go back to the start of your smoking to know what your side effects of quitting smoking will be and how to deal with them.

What made you try your first cigarette? What made you desire something that's totally unnecessary to life – downright dangerous in fact?

The risk aspect of it? Or maybe it was the sophistication of someone you knew, who smoked and seemed to be so with-it? The truth is probably somewhere in between

Nobody takes up smoking because they're addicted to nicotine – it starts in the mind. You made a choice.

So after dealing with the physical side effects of quitting smoking, see Nicotine withdrawal symptoms ...then the emotional smoker in you needs attention.

I'm 16, but hey, it's cool to look 21

From the many surveys done over the years, the generalizations are that young people are predictable, and they hanker after one or all of the following... fitting in, recognition, sophistication, being cool, relieving anxieties, flouting restraints, having fun, testing, testing... and so on. (Don't we all – especially having fun.)

Some people push their limit with sport, a hobby, weird behavior or attachment. Others break out with alcohol, flirt with drugs etc.

If you need to beat a drug addiction, choose a top of the line drug treatment facility with treatment programs including drug detox and rehab.

And research shows most smokers took up their habit through being influenced by somebody in their life or a peer group whom they admired, or craved to be like.

This then was an emotion... a psychological need.

Some smokers want to emulate famous stars who smoked - charismatic people who push boundaries and flaunt society's rules. You may have this sort of personality, and may also like to lead others and thumb your nose at authority.

Or more often than not, you could be, or at least were when you started smoking, just a bit unsure of yourself, and looked up to one or more influential people that came into your life.

Maybe at that time, you had a need to fill and had no other healthier activities to distract you, and perhaps didn't have the checks and balances of guidance and discipline to heed.

Emotions, moods, boredom... enough to drive you to... well, smoking in this case.

Plus of course, drinking is usually another negative right of passage that goes hand in hand with smoking.

And as sure as elephants can't jump, like all young people, the thought of payback or side effects of quitting smoking down the track was not of remote concern to you.

I mean 50, who cares! 50 is so-o-o old, you've got a lotta livin' to do!

What pushed you over?

Now the tricky part comes in... what made you carry on to become addicted?

Here's a quick questionnaire:

1. Did you enjoy your first smoke?
2. Do you smoke everyday?
3. Do you smoke 15 or more a day?
4. Do you get a real buzz from nicotine, enough to change your mood?
5. Do you grab a smoke first thing in the morning?

And so they got their kicks and having fun other ways... and thus didn't become addicted.

Your personal prop

But if your genes make you more susceptible to nicotine, and/or emotionally you enjoy the culture of smoking, then of course by now the chemical buzz, however small, has got to you.

If so, both the physical and mental side effects of quitting smoking have to be fixed pronto.

And if you're using your smoking habit to deal with negative emotions, such as sadness, depression or anxiety, then most certainly you'll find yourself with emotional side effects from quitting smoking.

With smoking and emotions, there's little point in quitting, when you still have unpleasant emotions lurking.

If you're angry, you're angry - smoker, drinker or not.

Smoking is a symptom of your anger, boredom, loneliness, or set-back in life, as the case may be, and it's so easy to let it settle into a bad habit. You become addicted to the nicotine and addicted to the experience of smoking to cope.

Extra, extra, read all about it!