Readers Respond: Nicotine Withdrawal Tips

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?

I Did it, You Can too!

Firstly I'd like to congratulate all of those here who have quit after years of smoking. Secondly, I'd like to thank everyone who sat here and wrote the encouraging words "you can do it". I read those words of support two months ago when I decided I was finally going to quit and thought I could never do it. Today I am 8 weeks and 2 days smoke free. I want to lend a (non-smelly) hand to those of you who are just starting out and tell you, YOU TOO CAN DO THIS!! Honestly, I never participate on these blogs, but I feel so strongly about the help I've gotten here. I just felt a need to do the same for those who are just starting out. Even if it helps just one person, I'd like to help. Keep trying, and don't give up. Those cravings DO pass in a couple of minutes. Get rid of any and all ciggs you have left so that you do not cave in to temptation. Anyway, I wish you all luck, and again thanks to all of you who posted here. Stay strong! xoxo

—Guest Laura

Chewing

Now I don't mean chewing nicotine gum or chewing tobacco, I mean chewing either gum or a toothpick. It helps distract you from the nicotine cravings and helps with withdrawal.

—Guest guest alonso

Chantix Helped Me

I am a reformed smoker of 30 years and am only 42. I have tried before to quit with no success. My father passed away 3 years ago of horrible COPD. I watched him suffer as did my mom and my daughter. Since then I've tried to quit about 4 times. This last time, a little over 2 weeks ago I started taking Chantix. I didnt stop smoking after the first week like it said. After the first week I got bad aches and pains and sick to my stomach and very fatigued. My boyfriend said this was probably from smoking while on Chantix. From that day on..with my fathers last days heavy in thought, knowing I did not want to put my daughter thru something like that..I have not touched a cigarette since then. I bought some lollipops to give my hand something to do during the cravings. What also helped was my 12 step meetings I attend. I just substituted nicotine in place of the other drugs and alcohol. Starting in on week 3 I have some restless sleepless nights, but otherwise I feel great!! Good luck!!

—Guest LyndaP

38 Hours

I am smoke free for 38 hours. It might not seem like a long time but it is for me. I've been smoking for 1/2 my life and now I'm just taking a walk, having a glass of water or sometimes I just randomly fall asleep. I will beat this.

—Guest Nicole1blue

Accupressure

Two of my friends and myself went together and had Auriculotherapy. That is accupressure to the ear for smoking cessation. I would highly recommend this. I have attempted quitting before and have had the horrible side effects that I am reading here. With this therapy some of these effects you do not have. Others are so minimal that its unreal. Once again, I would highly recommend it. I honestly don't think I could have done it without it.

—Guest presleys mom

U CAN DO IT!!!!

I quit last year and lasted a few months. I knew it was time to try and quit again . I started smoking at 13yrs old and I am now 35. I could feel the ache in my lungs and working in the death industry is a MAJOR wake up call. I started taking Champix in March and my last cigarette was March 20th. I started my second pack of Champix but only took 3 days worth of that pack because the side effects were too much for me. So needless to say I had to dig deep and basically do it on my own after that and had to have the will power to say NO TO SMOKING. I miss and really enjoyed smoking but all in all my lungs were just not doing so good. I could actually feel the effects and at 35 that's way too early. I am at 7 weeks now and am starting to feel better. My smell and taste seem to be returning, my stamina is starting to come back. I can actually climb the stairs and not be out of breath :). I was the smoker of all smokers and if I can do it u can do it.....GOOD LUCK

—itzzmee

Remember Your Reasons

I quit April 17th 2008. A cigar on the golf course got me back on the addiction track last summer. I am now out of smokes and haven't had one in 13 hours. The last time I quit, used weed as a crutch for the anxiety and sleeplessness. Now I have a job I want to keep long term so that is not an option. I have wanted to quit again for a while but the withdrawal is a challenge. Coming here helps. Remembering how it didn't hurt to breath in the morning helps. Remembering how I didn't have to bathe in cologne to cover the stench helps. Remembering how much money I spent to heat the garage so I could smoke in the winter helps. Knowing I am not alone helps. Not telling anyone I know yet......The jury's out. Every time I have tried to quit and told people I knew about it, I failed. Imagining people's response in a few days when they realize I haven't been at the smoker's table is incentive to keep going.

—Guest Scott

3rd Day and Getting Easier

5/3/2012 was my quit day. Started with the patch. Heated a bit the first couple of days. Today I just don't want to smoke anymore. When I get the urge I drink some water then go for a walk around the block, deep breathing. Come back feeling refreshed & urge free. Been eating a lot of baby carrots when I get the urge. Keeps my mind off the urges. Also got some celery sticks & some Cheez Whiz. That seems to help also. Have a lot of chewing gum which takes the urges away quite a bit. I pray that the rest of you can find substitutes for your urges. No two people are alike. Good luck everyone !

—mjmdesk

Nicotine Patches and Tired of Being Sick

I already wrote a response but failed to mention that i am still using the patch gone from 21mg now on 14mg. They do help with withdrawal symptoms. Chewing on a celery stick or a carrot helps a lot too.

—Guest Terry

Exercise and Healthy Snacks

I have been smoke free for one month. Smoked for 38 years. I coughed so horrible I would throw up my food. I couldn't wake up without feeling tired. Finally at lunch one day I started coughing and threw up and felt sick. I put a patch on and have not smoked since. I snack on celery, carrots and walk every day. I can not tell you how much better I feel. My cough has stopped I can wake up easier and accomplish a lot more than I have for a very long time. Yes, I do get urges but I keep thinking if I start back I will be back where I was and maybe worse. One thing about me when I smoked and all the other smokers they are always wanting to quit. So, I have quit and just know I don't want to go back to that horrible feeling again. So, will keep up the walking, exercise and eating on carrots and celery. They help with the urges and they're healthy too. Drink lots of water. Keep a positive attitude and stay strong. I, like all of you want to stay quit and have a better live.

—Guest Terry

Walking

Feeling like I had the flu, I went to see my doc. That led to chest x-ray, which led to pulminary test that led to the diagnosis of mild COPD. 48 yrs of smoking. Free forever. Its only been a few days since. I keep picturing myself w/an oxygen tank. That stops any craving. Walking is awesome

—Johncreanza

Doing This for ME and No One Else

This is my third day smoke-free and it is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Child birth was easier then this. However, I feel fantastic! The cravings are hard, but when I get a craving, I go into this sight and read. Not only do I learn something from others, but it is a great distraction. I will beat this! Thank you all for your encouraging words. It is truly helping me get through this.

—Guest Raquel

Trying Hard

I'm 48 years old and have been smoking since I was 20. I had recently cardiac problems, doctor told me that if I continue smoking I would die very soon. I got such a fright that I stopped immediately for 2 weeks. After that I start smoking again. I start this week on champix, my mouth feels like a ashtray, I get headaches, insomnia and cravings, still smoking 10 a day, I set myself a date to finally stop it completely by the 13/May. It's a very hard process, but I'm confident that I will succeed. This forum really helps. Good luck to all, let we all live for a better life free of nicotine!!!

—Guest JR Brites

Day 5

I'm 30 years old and this is the first time I try to quit smoking after almost 12 years! The first day was hell but so far, it hasn't been that bad except for the craving. I think what most affects me are my daily ciggy habits: after class (as a reward), after coffee, after driving....That's what I have the hardest time dealing with; how time stretches out without these "breaks" all of a sudden. It makes my day feel a little unreal. Else I am fine - I haven't felt physically ill except for a headache one day, and I also read Allen Carr's book prior to quitting. I definitely recommend it! I wouldn't have even tried to quit if not for this book.

—Guest Lara

Thanks

I've been a smoker for the past 38 years and decided to quit cold turkey. It's been 17 days now, and while I think that the physiological dependance on nicotine is gone, I crave a cigarette on certain cues, some I'm prepared for and some totally out of left field! When this happens, I come here and read your comments, and it has always helped... I know I can do it, and I know that you can do it too.

—Guest Guest Ganapathy