hi there i'm 25 this year.. ive been
smoking for bout 8 years and now i started
to quit smoking (direct stop from smoking)
about a month ago.. i feel dizzy , lack
of concerntration, having tight throat and
cant sleep well untill now ..Is this
normal and how long will it last? ..please
help
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UCanQuit
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 109 Location: SEATTLE
Posted: 09-18-07 08:25am
People may or may not have the sysmptoms
you're describing when they quit smoking.
One way to combat the concentration/dizzy
feeling is to eat smaller, more frequent
meals to keep the blood sugar up.
I'm not sure what method you use to quit,
example patch, gum cold turkey etc., but
if you're using an NRT, it is more
important to use the advice given above,
because nicotine still might be placing
havoc on the body.
When you smoked, nicotine caused an
interaction that caused you're body to
release it's own stored fats(sugars). This
raised the blood sugar.
So now that you're not smoking, nicotine
is not automatically doing this, but from
years of smoking we forget that we need to
constantly feed the body with energy.
Smoking hijacked on how we recognized
needs.
Being hungry, thirsty, tired, etc. often
got confused with a need for a cigarette.
As far sleep. Sleep disturbances are not
that uncommon when quitting. I was a bit
tired for a while.
If you're having trouble sleeping. You may
want to check your caffeine intake if you
drink caffeinated beverages.
Nicotine hampered your body's ability to
absorb and utilize caffeine. If you're
still drinking caffeinated products. Be
aware that it now only takes approx. 1/2
the amount to get the same effect.
Cutting Caffeine when quitting eases a
lot of quitting symptoms.
Your tight throat could be from a few
things. It sounds like stress, but be
aware that also, cigarettes had an
ingredient that caused the smoker's
airways to open more so as to be able to
absorb more nicotine, but if your tight
throat was from that. I would think that
it would have been back to normal by now.
Another factor is smoker's are notorious
for shallow breathing. Their only real
deep breathing comes from inhaling
cigarette smoke.
One of the best things that a new quitter
can do, it to practice deep breathing. 1.
it will help relax you. and 2. it will
help you breathe more effiecently in every
day life. 3. it will improve your
circulation.
Google yoga breathing techniques and you
will find a lot of helpful breathing
exercises that you can practice anywhere
at any time throughout the day.
Eric
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trendybrendy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Phoenix Arizona, USA
Posted: 09-26-07 05:34am
I went cold turkey and it hasn't been too
bad. For the most part, just keeping busy
seems to help a lot. I would also suggest
finding something else to do. Chewing gum
or eating something like pistachios helps
for me. The tricky part is fighting the
urge when I'm out for a drink. Any ideas
on that?
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UCanQuit
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 109 Location: SEATTLE
Posted: 09-26-07 08:18am
Hi Brendy,
Much like stress, alcohol causes a
physiological reaction that causes smokers
to lose nicotine at an accelerated rate.
So when smokers drink, you'll probably
notice that they smoke more.
Unlike stress though, when a person is
drinking they don't feel the anxiety that
they normally would feel while under
stress. So when they smoke, they believe
it is just for enjoyment
The truth is, a smoker who drinks is
only smoking more because they have to
replenish lost nicotine at a faster rate.
It really isn't for enjoyment, but the
intoxication of alcohol creates an
illusion for the smoker that it is.
Especially after years and even decades of
drinking alcohol as a smoker. The smoker
becomes brainwashed into thinking that a
cigarette and alcoholic drink are the best
combination.
You have no nicotine in your system
anymore. So the mechanics I explained
above are no longer happening to you, BUT
your subconscious has left over memories
of associating drinking with smoking from
all the years of havingto relieve
withdrawal when drinking.
While the information I gave you might
not totally take away the urges to smoke.
Hopefully it can help you change how you
deal with them when you do drink. Realize
that you're not depriving yourself of
anything. All your msoking friends don't
get to smoke when they drink. THEY HAVE TO
SMOKE WHEN THEY DRINK.
Take away their cigarettes and you'll
find that they'll be pretty miserable for
the rest of the night. Not because the
cigarette made the night any better, but
because they HAD to smoke to feel the
inner peace that non smokers are already
at.
The urge to smoke when drinking will go
away. Personally now. If I'm drinking
something and smell smoke, it makes me
feel ill. I don't think of smoking when I
drink.
Since your new at quitting, just be
careful when drinking. Don't let your
guard down and think that just one is
going to be OK.
Eric I freed myself from cigarettes
7/7/04
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trendybrendy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Phoenix Arizona, USA
Posted: 10-24-07 03:40am
UCanQuit
wrote:
Hi Brendy,
The truth is, a smoker who drinks is
only smoking more because they have to
replenish lost nicotine at a faster rate.
It really isn't for enjoyment, but the
intoxication of alcohol creates an
illusion for the smoker that it is.
Especially after years and even decades of
drinking alcohol as a smoker. The smoker
becomes brainwashed into thinking that a
cigarette and alcoholic drink are the best
combination.
Wow, that's great advice! I didn't realize
that you lose nicotine faster when you
drink, thats pretty interesting. I've been
smoke free for almost a month now, so
since the nicotine is long gone from my
body, as long as i tell myself that its
all in my head i should do pretty ok.
thanks!
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maggiepaul
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 3
Quit Smoking ?? Posted: 11-08-07 00:58am
Hi friends,
My husband has been smoking from 2-3
years. I want, he should quit smoking.
Please suggest me some ways how can he
quit smoking. Please help!!!
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rjb627
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 1
Quit Smoking Posted: 12-24-07 14:34pm
Maggie,
Ways to quit smoking:
1) Don't drink alcohol (as stated in the
previous posts).
2) Don't take coffee breaks if he
associates coffee with smoking (or hanging
out with friends).
3) Keep your mind occupied - Reading,
learning a new subject, watching movies,
etc.
4) Using Smoking support groups
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