The worst days when you quit smoking (and 5 steps to overcome them in the best possible way)

Congratulations! Making the decision to quit smoking is a very important step.. You have decided to think about your health and improve your life habits and that is admirable, but it is only the first step. How to overcome the worst days when you quit smoking? We tell you.

The worst days when you quit smoking

The process of quitting smoking is usually accompanied, in almost all cases, by the well-known “withdrawal syndrome”.

For some smokers, quitting for good is very easy. However, for most people quitting tobacco is not easy. And it has a physiological cause: the chronic use of nicotine increases the number of receptors for hormones related to well-being – such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine – but also makes them work worse. That is why the smoker needs to smoke more and more to feel satisfaction. When nicotine is no longer supplied to the body, the balance achieved previously is destabilized again, with which withdrawal syndrome appears and central levels of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine are reduced.

It is a normal reaction of the organism, which is adapting to the interruption of the administration of the drug, which causes physical disorders that manifest themselves in different ways. Therefore, as the organism is adapting to the new situation, it is logical that the first few days are the worst when you quit smoking, especially during the first 24 hours after quitting smoking.

What are the worst days when you quit smoking exactly? According to research published in Archives of General Psychiatry about the effects of quitting smoking, Withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking begin within a few hours (2-12 hours) and peak 24-48 hours after quitting. You may experience some of these symptoms, although they differ greatly from person to person:

Dysphoric or depressive mood. Anxiety Irritability Insomnia Fatigue Difficulties in concentration Need for tobacco (craving) Desire to eat sweets or great appetite Increased cough Deterioration in the execution of vigilance tasks Difficulty in concentration Headache

Most symptoms last an average of four weeks, but feelings of hunger and need for nicotine can last 6 months or more.

How to Get Over the Worst Days When You Quit: Step by Step

Sometimes the will is not enough dare to leave behind this dangers physical and mental addiction, nor to keep withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, nervousness, recurring thoughts, insomnia or irritability at bay. Is there a way to make this process easier?

Quitting smoking can be very easy if you know how We leave you with 5 steps that will help you quit smoking and make the change easier.

1. Be very clear

If you want to quit smoking, the first step is to be fully convinced. Otherwise, relapse is more than likely. There are natural therapies that help to successfully finish this difficult decision. Some, such as acupuncture or auriculotherapy, reduce the risk of gaining weight when quitting smoking.

2. Know the benefits of quitting smoking for your health

The life expectancy is 10 years less in smokers. But the benefits of leaving it do not wait and increase over time.

At 20 minutes, for example, blood pressure begins to normalize. After a few weeks, taste and smell recover and you breathe better. And the risk of lung cancer is reduced from year to year: at ten, the risk of dying from it is already half that of those who continue to smoke. They also reduce the risk of laryngeal and pancreatic cancer.s and that of suffering coronary insufficiency is equaled.

Be aware of these benefits It can be very useful to reaffirm the decision to quit.

3. Lean into other small healthy changes

These small changes are important:

Out toxins.Drink 2 glasses of warm water on an empty stomach and with breakfast the juice of 1 apple, 2 carrots and 2 celery sticks. You eliminate toxins and the feeling of lightness helps you to persist.Breathe well. Regain control of your lungs by following the 6-3-9 rule: take a breath in for 6 seconds, hold it3 and slowly exhale it for 9. Repeat for 10 minutes. calmer. Lavender essential oil helps you relax. Put 2 drops on your wrists and inhale its aroma during the day, as many times as you need.Appetite at bay Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Its antioxidants favor purification and satiating fiber. Also add cinnamon to your recipes to reduce the desire for sweet.

4. Natural therapies that will help you quit smoking

During weaning it is important to cultivate the mental, physical and emotional relaxation. This is achieved with relaxation techniques (conscious breathing, meditation, yoga), manual techniques (chiromassage, reflexology, massage…), physical exercise or psychotherapy.

There are also other techniques that can be very effective:

Acupuncture. Along with ear acupuncture and acupressure, It is one of the most supported by scientific evidence. Using needles, seeds or hands, the acupuncturist acts on points in the body where chi or vital energy is blocked or circulates poorly, thus favoring self-healing mechanisms.Hypnotherapy. The form of the session depends on each specialist, but in general, starting from a state of confidence and relaxation, an “anchor” is created. A link is established with an object that is always at hand or with a part of the body and it is given power, when touched or activated, to awaken pleasant sensations such as security, confidence, relaxation… There are also other techniques aimed at recoding the subconscious .

Using one therapy or another It depends on the preferences of each one. Of course, they can be combined for even better results.

5. Vitamin C is your great ally

To a person convinced of wanting to quit smoking, the Vitamin C intake can help you a lot.. Produces greater relaxation and a better mood that helps stop smoking.

The recommended dose of Vitamin C is 1 to 3 grams per day. Take it preferably in the morning, as there are people who take it in the afternoon, which causes insomnia.