Let’s say one of your New Year’s resolutions was to quit smoking. Although you know this decision is the best thing for your health, your brain doesn’t seem to agree. You find yourself more irritable, struggle to sleep and can’t concentrate at work.
These are all common withdrawal symptoms of tobacco, which can result in you craving the familiar “relief” that comes from smoking. You resist, but as you watch your friend head out to grab a smoke at a social event, you’re tempted – and you end up giving in.
Nicotine withdrawal is one of the biggest challenges of quitting smoking, and the main reason you haven’t been able to stick to that New Year’s Resolution. If you’re struggling to deal with your withdrawal symptoms, you may benefit from professional support.
I’m Susannah Saunders, a certified hypnotherapist with two decades of experience in empowering people to feel more calm, relaxed, and confident when dealing with the withdrawal symptoms of tobacco. I’ll help you feel more in control of your body, mind, and emotions, empowering you to quit your addictive habit by strengthening your subconscious.
What is Nicotine Withdrawal?
Nicotine is an addictive chemical that’s found in tobacco, and the challenges to quit smoking stem from your mind’s reliance on and craving for nicotine.
Nicotine mixes rapidly in the bloodstream and is transmitted to the brain, binding to neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which makes you feel good momentarily. It also causes a surge of energy by activating the adrenal gland. But, of course, the effect wears off soon, requiring you to smoke again and again.
When you quit smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco, your body (heart, metabolism, hormones and brain) craves the nicotine to feel ‘normal’.
Depending on how long you’ve been using tobacco and how dependent you are on it, the intensity of the withdrawal will vary. It can last anywhere between two weeks to a month for most people.
The withdrawal symptoms of tobacco hit the hardest after the first week, when all the nicotine has been cleared out of your system and you start experiencing cravings. Most cases of relapse happen in this period. If you can get through this phase, you’ll find the physical symptoms begin to lessen, although the psychological and emotional symptoms might last longer.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms of Tobacco
When you’re experiencing tobacco withdrawal, you may notice the following symptoms:
- Change in appetite; you may feel more hungry
- Strong cravings that can last anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes and keep coming back
- Headaches and migraines
- Tiredness
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Feeling anxious, stressed, and depressed
- Irritability
- Brain fog
- Cough
Steps To Deal With Nicotine Withdrawal
There are dozens of benefits of stopping tobacco use, which should all act as a big motivator to quit smoking. But there’s still one roadblock that smokers face: “how to cope with tobacco withdrawal?”.
Here are some ways that you can try to cope with the withdrawal symptoms of tobacco:
Try Nicotine Addiction Gum
Many people feel that vaping is a “better” alternative to cigarettes, but vapes and e-cigarettes both contain nicotine.
Instead, speak to a GP or try over-the-counter nicotine addiction gum, which gives your body lower doses of nicotine and has less harmful effects. You can then slowly wean yourself off the gum. This can often help you beat the urge to smoke.
Other nicotine-replacement therapy products include nasal sprays and patches.
You can also combine nicotine addiction gum with nicotine-free medications (this causes aversion to the smoking experience) for better results.
1. Distract Yourself From The Craving and Triggers
Wondering how to stop smoking quickly and easily? Begin by identifying the triggers. Think of situations when you’re more likely to reach for a cigarette and then plan ahead. If it’s a social situation, you can have a nicotine addiction gum instead of a cigarette or vape.
If the urges and cravings get too intense, it’s good to have a backup plan, such as excusing yourself from the situation, going for a walk, taking a shower, or sometimes, simply humming to yourself. The intense craving will pass, though the symptoms might persist.
2. Exercise
Physical activity has been found to release endorphins and dopamine, making you feel good and serving as a good distraction without resorting to smoking or vaping.
You don’t always need to go for high intensity workouts – even jogging or walking can help. Exercise can also help you cope with symptoms such as digestive issues, weight gain, insomnia, and irritability.
3. Seek Help
If you’re facing challenges to quit smoking, don’t be ashamed to get help. There are many help groups for smokers and vapers, where you can seek comfort from people who are in a similar situation.
As an alternative form of therapy, hypnotherapy to quit smoking has proven to be a highly effective treatment. In our sessions, I will help you identify and understand your triggers, so that I can empower you to resolve them at a subconscious level. In a hypnotised state, your subconscious mind is more open and receptive to positive suggestions, promoting long lasting change.
Choose Hypnotherapy To Overcome Your Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
Hypnotherapy can be highly effective in overcoming the many challenges of quitting smoking, especially if you’re open and receptive to it. If you’re worried about how to cope with tobacco withdrawal, hypnotherapy may be the right solution for you.
I use a blend of clinical hypnotherapy, cognitive hypnotherapy, and NLP techniques to help you feel calmer and more confident. My therapy will help strengthen your subconscious mind, so you’re more capable of handling the withdrawal symptoms of tobacco, such as feeling anxious, stressed, or experiencing weight gain.
Reach out to me to learn more about my treatments.
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