Readers Respond: Nicotine Withdrawal Tips

Responses: 80

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

What Happens When We Quit Smoking? -- Video

Top 10 Tips For Managing Nicotine Withdrawal

For those of you who have quit smoking, please share with fellow readers the tricks and tips that helped you manage the discomforts of this short-lived, but intense phase of smoking cessation.

What Helped You Most?

Chemistry is the Best Weapon!

First 72 Hours (cold turkey nicotine detox), I minimized my physical withdrawal symptoms using "body chemistry" techniques I learned at Whyquit.com: (1) Keeping my blood sugar levels up (eating breakfast, which I never did as an active smoker) and, (2) throughout the day, drinking acidic fruit juice (orange juice) for both blood sugar level maintenance and also because acidic juices help the body get rid of nicotine faster. Whyquit.com recommends cranberry juice but I drank orange because I totally despise cranberry ANYTHING. But, this knowledge of body chemistry with relation to nicotine withdrawal symptoms being exacerbated by blood sugar issues) was what worked for me -- if only I'd known about these techniques the FIRST time I tried to stop smoking (a cold turkey attempt in 1983 which failed dismally in less than 24 hours), I'd probably have succeeded then. As of today, I am 34 days smoke free. :-)

—Guest _Lena_

Learn the Symptoms of Nic Withdrawal

I have been having a hard time enduring physical withdrawal from nicotine. I had extreme anxiety, including the shakes, headache, insomnia, chest tightness, and loss of appetite. I was not expecting it and thought I was going crazy, I was using the nicotine patch and had taken it off for approximately 30 hours. I was in a panic! Had I realized it was nicotine withdrawal I might have handled it better. I smoked that night!! I am currently wearing a patch and hope to wean myself off slowly. The first week the cravings were bad, but became less frequent and weaker as the days went on. I am taking Wellbutrin and it works great for the psychological withdrawal. If anyone is really struggling with the mental aspect, prayer works. I am a recovered alcoholic and the 12 steps and lots of prayer was the only thing that could break that addiction for me.

—Guest Jane

The Discomforts Don't Last Forever

I have tried to quit smoking many times over the past 16 years. This time feels different, but I hate saying "I've quit." Instead I say that I've stopped. I don't know if that is helping me in my mission, or hurting me. I am only two days into the quitting, and this is always the time when I struggle the most. I cry every few minutes, I am jittery, I can't sit still, but I don't want to do anything. My mind races, but I can't think or articulate anything. I am hungry, but full because I've eaten all day. I hyperventilate every so often from anxiety, and then I start crying again. I hate this!!! What I hate more than anything, though, is that I do it to myself! I've stopped smoking before, and have gone through this withdrawal before. But then I had to smoke again, and now I am going through the withdrawal again. To anyone who reads this, be strong! After the first week it does get better, but after the first month you forget how awful the first week was. Don't go forget how it sucks!

—Guest Guest JSM

NO Smoke Today NO MATTER WHAT

What has helped me the most since my last cigarette 24 days ago is reading all I can here on About.com. The newsletters Prepare to Quit, Quit Time, and About Smoking Cessation have been tremendous help at renewing my determination and helping me deal with the withdrawal symptoms--both physical and psychological. When the urge to smoke hits, I do something manual (washing the dishes, cleaning, tidying up) or distract myself reading, surfing the internet or listening to music. I always carry a bottle of water with me and drink from it all the time and specially when the urges hit. Taking deep breaths also helps me a lot to relax. When I have a craving I tell myself: I am NOT going to smoke today NO MATTER WHAT. I take it one day at a time. It works. I take a multi-vitamin first thing in the morning and that reminds me every day that I am in a smoking cessation program. I write on my quit journal every day. I spend the money I used to spend on smokes on things I like to reward myself.

—pacerina

Great Pearls of Wisdom!

It's so great to read little pearls of wisdom from people actually going through nicotine withdrawal -- walking the walk. As for me, I too learned to basically give up to, but not into, the urge. I surrendered to it, in a way. My reverse psychology was to say this..."wow, look what smoking is doing to me..getting me in this fix. I will not suppress it and be angry that it won't go away. It will." I am just reminded every time I have a craving that this is nicotine talking, not smobriety. It wants me back, or miserable. I want `out of here' as fast as possible. But, in the meantime, I need to know that this pain is about being a smoker, not a non-smoker. Four years and still grateful, and mindful.

—jmf3210

I'm Going to Win This Battle

I quit on Halloween and I know exactly why. Sure, the kids asking me to quit was an incentive but the largest reason needs to be for me and my health. I started when I was 29 and I've smoked for 9 years. What a waste of time and money. One was never enough. Super Gross. I had severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms the past couple of times I quit.....which were all half-hearted quit attempts. Now....I was looking forward to the symptoms. Whatever poison my body was expelling was telling me just how angry it was at me for smoking in the first place. I'm on my third day and my feet are tingling from the withdrawal symptoms but I kinda like it. I'm going to win this battle.

—Guest quitter

Eating

I have this gnawing that I know is a craving and I make it go away by eating. For now, that is a better thing to be doing than smoking. I was to the point that every fall I would get bronchitis and cough so hard that it hurt my chest. I would stand out in the cold and rain to smoke. I have quit twice before for almost a year. The addiction don't really go away completely. I think you are always going to have that desire to smoke. I think the key is to want your health more. Everyone is right when they say that there is no such thing as "just one". It always comes back to just one more...one more...one more, until you are right back to being a smoker again. I'm on an 11 day quit and I'm taking it a day at a time. I wish everyone here the best success. This is by far the best web site I have been too. I plan to visit often.

—Guest Guest

Meditation

I have only managed a day and what has helped so far is meditation. Deep breaths and the primary focus is imagining myself in a hospital bed, just about to leave this life because of smoking. It works for me.

—Guest DUMISANI

Distraction Central

After 16 years of smoking, I've been smoke-free for 44 days and counting. The first week was a challenge, then my body settled down. I got through it by keeping my hands busy. Now, it's my mind that's working overtime, so I try to "change my mind" during a craving: go outside and breathe, chew a new piece of gum in a different flavor, phone-a-friend, pet the cat, change the radio station, etc. It's helping me get past the junkie thinking.

—Guest burnsey

This Time......The Final Quit

After twenty years of smoking, I am 33 days smoke-free! I visit this blog religiously. When the urge to smoke hits me, I drink one to two bottles of cold water quickly. I go online and look at pictures of patients with oral and lung cancer. Talk about a deterrent! I printed out a list of the 4000 chemicals in cigarettes. If I crave a cigarette, I google one of the chemicals to remind myself of what it is that I would be putting into my body. I cross each smoke-free day off the calendar with a fat red marker. It helps me to see how much I have accomplished. Stay strong!

—Guest mari

Water and N.O.P.E (Not One Puff Ever)

Water really helps me. I never ever drank water and now I'm drinking 2 liters a day. I'm in the 6th smoke free week still getting cravings but I'm sure they are psychological ones but it is definitely getting easier day-by-day.

—Guest Leanne

Day Two and Struggling

I stopped smoking 3 days ago after 25 years of smoking. Have been using a gum but find the stomach cramps, headaches, nasal drip extremely tough to handle. Just reading all the people's comments on this site have helped a lot! But will not go back for sure.

—Guest GuestRaj

New Ex-Smoker

I have just completed 7 days. I am having a hard time, and so can't tell you what best helped me. I guess it would be reading websites, and learning that what I am feeling is normal, and that every day is a win! I hope to write again soon, and to let you all know that the anxiety and headaches are gone! I am determined to remain a non-smoker. It's time....

—ANNIEVT

Grapes!

I discovered that if I eat a few grapes or drink grape juice it helps to reduce the desire for a smoke. I quit gradually and found this to be a good way for me. I still have the psychological stuff going on but the urges for nicotine are not so great. Also if I exercise (take my dogs for a long walk) this helps. I am doing this one hour at a time and using the 12 step principals to help me. It is great not being dominated by the smoke screen. Now I have to have my cars detailed and my house painted. The more nicotine-free I become, the more I can't stand how they smell. Thanks to all for the helpful information and the support. After 50 years of smoking I wasn't sure if this desire to be smoke free was strong enough, but when my son and daughter tell me how much they appreciate the effort I am putting to this it is a doable situation. Thanks.

—wwiker123

Mints and Lollipops

I am struggling and argumentative. I am eating mints and lollipops and it helps. Many times I want to run to the shop, but I don't want to face the disappointment of a failed attempt, so I'm going to keep at it.

—Guest tez