Kick that butt

So you’ve decided to kick some butt, even if it is a cigarette butt, and we applaud your decision, o venerable one. But just like drug users go through a phase where they are going cold turkey, so too quitting cigarettes beings with it baggage in the form of nicotine withdrawal and what is termed as “quitter’s flu”.  It’s more cumbersome than anything else but it’s all smooth sailing once you do get through this stage, although no one’s going to claim it’s all smooth sailing. There are well known symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and some that are less widely known and just like two people are unique no two cases of withdrawal are the same.

Cravings for cigarettes are a well-documented physical response to quitting cigarettes and increased irritability, fatigue and a degree of insomnia too are widely reported fallouts of giving up smoking. Perhaps you can spend those sleepless hours reinforcing to yourself why exactly it makes good sense for you to give up smoking altogether. In case you’re finding it hard to find the motivation to walk the straight and narrow, follow the path of the 5 D’s.

• Delay things. Stall for time until the craving for that one cigarette passes.
• Distract yourself. Find something to keep yourself pre-occupied.
• Drink loads of water.
• Deep breaths are good, so inhale and exhale slowly, it helps to relax you.
• Discuss things with those close to you if you find it too overwhelming.

Of course, these aren’t the only things you can do to kick the habit. Try exercise, it’s a known way to increase your energy levels and help keep you pre-occupied. Smoking will have hurt your stamina somewhat depending on how long you’ve been at it, so start slowly and build upwards from there. There is a natural tiredness that sets in when you quit and this happens because you have abruptly cut off several chemicals you used to ingest regularly. Regular exercise can help deal with this too. Similarly, if you have insomnia, take a long walk and this might tire you enough to have you sleeping like a baby. If all else fails, take nutritional supplements like multivitamins.

Quitting is never easy, but you have to do whatever you can to stick with the plan. This is, after all, just a passing phase and you will come out on the other side healthier and better for quitting this addiction. Better times lie ahead, and it’s entirely up to you to get there.

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