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

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?

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

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!

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!!!

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