Smoking cessation may cause short-term issues, especially for heavy smokers. And these issues can lead to the unsettling phase of withdrawal.
Usually, the person who quits smoking will experience signs of withdrawal: anger, frustration, anxiety, or depression. And these symptoms will likely manifest after a week of quitting. But fortunately, there are things that you can do to manage indications of withdrawal and go through the quitting process to a smoke-free life.
Read more as we are going to share some tips in managing withdrawal triggers when quitting smoking.
Common Smoking Triggers
Before we proceed to the main topic, allow us to share some of the smoking triggers so you can stay in control with your decision to quit or to find other ways to keep you distracted to avoid these triggers from tempting you to smoke again:
- Nicotine Cravings
- Starting the day
- Enjoying a meal
- Drinking coffee
- Feeling bored
- Being stressed
- Being around smokers
The good thing is the intensity of these symptoms will gradually subside as the days go by. All you have to do is to manage it well and you’ll be on the right track to smoking sobriety.
Things To Do To Manage Withdrawal Symptoms Of Smoking Cessation
Managing withdrawal triggers when quitting smoking usually starts with your unwavering commitment to quit. Without a conscious effort on your part, you will likely succumb to the lure of smoking and will likely undergo a process of restarting the process of smoking cessation.
So here are some tips that we can share to manage withdrawal symptoms of smoking cessation:
- Dealing with nicotine cravings can be torturous, especially to chain smokers. So if ever you feel the need to smoke again always remind yourself that this urge to smoke will pass. Likewise, here are some other things you can do to cope up with nicotine cravings:
– Avoid doing stuff that you normally associate with smoking.
– Try chewing sugar-free gum, carrots, pickles, apples, and candy to keep your mouth busy.
– Take breathing exercise to battle nicotine cravings.
- If ever you feel angry, frustrated, or irritated always put in mind that these emotions will pass. Aside from that, engaging in physical activities such as walking can also help. Moreover, you also need to avoid caffeinated drinks as this will only increase your urge to smoke.
- If ever you feel anxious or stressed, you can also manage this symptom by doing all the things we’ve mentioned above. Aside from that, engaging in relaxing activities such as meditation can also help.
- If ever you notice a gain in weight, then try to consult with a dietician or nutrition counselor to help manage your weight. Moreover, you can ask your resident doctor about Bupropion as this is also effective in countering weight gain due to withdrawal when quitting smoking.
- And finally, managing withdrawal triggers like feeling depressed can be effectively dealt with by diverting your mood to more pleasurable activities like dining out or watching a movie. You can also call a friend to help you manage your depressed feelings.
If you feel that you need more help, you can use the CravingtoQuit Smoking Cessation App to help you get through this challenge. Just click on the link to visit their site.