How nicotine withdrawal affected me
I quit cold turkey. For the first few weeks I felt like my brain was in a fog. I had to work especially hard to stay focused on a given task. This concerned me because my job was very detailed oriented.
The physical cravings were easier to deal with -- they made me feel anxious for a few minutes but passed quickly.
How I managed nicotine withdrawal symptoms
The physical cravings lasted for a few days. The mental urges and cravings lasted approximately three months.
Education about nicotine addiction became a powerful tool for me. I read everything on the Smoking Cessation Forum that was available to me. I embraced the challenge of the process of recovery from nicotine addiction. I made a game of it. I analyzed my triggers and devised strategies to deal with them.
Lessons learned
- The joy of seeing my strategies for dealing with my nicotine addiction work was great positive reinforcement for me and lifted my self-esteem tremendously.
- The mind is a powerful tool and if you can change your mind about any circumstance, you can your life.
