Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms After Quit Smoking and Its Timeline
Nicotine is a supplemental source of energy for nicotine addicts. People dependent on nicotine use it as a resource to fuel up their daily lives.
Studies show that nicotine is not only as addictive as other drugs like cocaine or heroin, but nicotine dependency increases the likelihood of cocaine use and vice-versa. Although the side effects are not as strong as the latter two, withdrawal from nicotine is quite a monumental task.
Table of contents
- Smoking Effects on the Brain
- What Are the Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
- How Long Do Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms Last
- Nicotine Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms
- How Does Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms Feel Like
- The 5 Week of Nicotine Withdrawal
- What Helps With Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms?
- Best Methods To Beat Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
- Most of the symptoms peak approximately 3-5 days after quitting and then begin to taper off. That is because, by around day 3, the body has cleared itself of all of the nicotine from the last cigarette. The symptoms can begin 30 minutes after smoking and continue to rise in intensity as time goes on.
- anxiety
- anger
- irritation
- a decrease in mental function is causing attention problems and difficulty in completing some tasks.
- a headache
- increased appetite
- dizziness
- constipation
- stomach pain
- fatigue
- insomnia
- Insomnia: Usually resolves by the end of week one.
- Fatigue: Energy levels may be low for 2-4 weeks.
- Mental fatigue/feeling foggy: Mental clarity should begin to pick up in about two weeks.
- Hunger: Appetite should return to normal in 2-4 weeks.
- Stomach upset: Heartburn, nausea, and stomach pain taper around two weeks. Constipation may last for up to 4 weeks.
- Cough/Mucus production: These may persist past four weeks, although they often begin to get better in about 2-3 weeks.
- You will also have to deal with “smoking nostalgia” for the rest of your life. You will remember the good times you had while smoking or the feeling of a cigarette after a meal or in the morning.
- Consider beginning some positive new habits like snacking on healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables…
- Reward yourself with little treats for resisting the urge to smoke. Some people recommend using electronic cigarettes with zero nicotine vape juice as a good way to help resist nicotine cravings.
How Does Smoking Affect the Brain?
A smoker’s brain works better when on nicotine because nicotine releases extra serotonin and dopamine in their brain. The two chemicals when released in extra quantity than the brain normally does, serve to improve cognitive brain functions such as clear thinking and the brain’s power to memorize, etc.
When a smoker quits, the body begins to adjust to normal levels of chemicals, in reaction to which, the smoker feels different withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms begin to appear very soon after the last cigarette.
A breakdown and analysis of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and their timeline are put forward before you to help you understand the nature of nicotine addiction and what it is like to give up the habit.
What Are the First Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal?
The earlies nicotine withdrawal symptoms are usually cravings for a cigarette, followed by:
Physical symptoms throughout the first week include:
Also, many smokers begin to develop tightness in the chest, begin to cough or notice an increase in mucus. This is because the respiratory system has begun to heal and is in the process of removing the irritants that it was previously unable to do.
How Long Does Nicotine Withdrawal Last
As soon as you put out the last cigarette, your body will start to come back to its normal state again. The need for another cigarette will quickly kick. Generally, nicotine withdrawal symptoms last 2 to 4 weeks.
How long does acute nicotine withdrawal last?
Many of the symptoms that manifest in week one continue throughout the entire withdrawal process and can even linger after withdrawal is over. That is the nature of addiction. However, the first week is the hardest for smokers to make it through, as the body is normalizing after constant nicotine exposure.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can begin as early as 30 minutes after smoking a cigarette (or vaping an e-cig). Depending on how long a person has been smoking and on how heavily they smoke or vape (some vapes, like Juul vape, for example, can contain up to 5mg/ml of nicotine), the effects of nicotine on the brain wears off anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours. It has a very short lifespan once introduced to the brain, and therefore must be delivered in very regular doses to maintain the ‘buzz’ that the brain is used to functioning on.
What Is the Side Effect of Withdrawal?
Irritability
It is common when you are experiencing nicotine withdrawal symptoms to feel like you have a much shorter fuse than normal. Relatively small things that would ordinarily cause some stress can cause you to snap and become extremely irritable.
Fortunately, this phase is short-lived, but you will want to give your loved ones a heads up and ask for their patience.
Headaches
Many people experience headaches when they are withdrawing from nicotine. Researchers are not sure why headaches are so common during nicotine withdrawal, but it may have something to do with the fact that smoking constricts the blood vessels that lead to the brain, and blood vessel changes, in general, are often linked to headaches.
Insomnia or unusual dreams
Nicotine is a powerful psychoactive drug, so it is not surprising that it can affect your sleep. Since nicotine is a stimulant and can help you stay awake, it might seem like the opposite would be true about the absence of nicotine when you are trying to quit.
While you might temporarily feel sleepier without the nicotine in your system, it might not be as easy to fall asleep because of the withdrawal symptoms. Also, when you do sleep, you might have strange or vivid dreams. These symptoms, too, will pass.
Depression and anxiety
Many people with mild mental health conditions smoke, and it is not just a coincidence: there’s some evidence that smoking is a form of self-medicating and may help them to cope with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Withdrawal from nicotine can also cause increased depression and anxiety, but even if you already had those issues without smoking, the symptoms will not be as intense after the first couple of days off nicotine. Any positive effects of nicotine on mental health do not last very long.
Problems with concentration
You may have thought that smoking improves your concentration: it probably actually did, although the effects were mild. Similarly, you may experience a temporary period of finding it harder to concentrate when you are going through nicotine withdrawal.
Restlessness and boredom
They are often the last side effects to cease. Smoking cigarettes fill time and have become a habit that is very hard to break. Without smoking, there is a time during the day that needs to be occupied, and it is difficult to find ways to divert attention or to find new ways to spend that time.
This sense of restlessness does gradually improve, but many quitters still feel even past the 4-week mark.
Some of these effects is physical, although some are also psychological.
Intense cravings for more nicotine
Part of what makes smoking so addictive is because it is a psychological habit with conditioned responses to smoke in certain circumstances, reinforced by how nicotine causes you to crave more. Because nicotine’s effects are so short-lived, it drives you to want more of it as soon as possible.
The best vapes can ease your withdrawal symptoms by delivering a hit of nicotine through a method that is not a cigarette or a recognized form of nicotine replacement therapy.
What Are the Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal?
The first week usually brings the majority of withdrawal symptoms. Moving into the following weeks, they gradually begin to fade away.
Throughout the entire withdrawal process, from day one on, the biggest challenge will be the nicotine cravings and the stress that is associated with them. These cravings cause extreme anxiety and agitation.
A hallmark of quitting cigarettes is the bad mood, high temper, and frustration that a smoker experiences. This desire for another cigarette can seem nearly constant throughout the first week.
Over the next weeks, however, cravings begin to taper off. Fewer cravings are experienced, and they do not last as long as before.
As these cravings begin to go away, the associated mood disturbances also fade. Without constantly battling the desire to smoke again, stress levels go down.
Edginess and shortness of temper can ease after week one, and then gradually smooth out over the next month, although some occasional outbursts may persist.
Nicotine Withdrawal After 5 Weeks
Once you get through the first month, the road ahead becomes much rosier. If you are at this point, then give yourself a huge pat on the back!
You have made it through the intense cravings, the emotional roller coaster, and the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Getting through one month without a cigarette is a big accomplishment, and you should reward yourself.
Now that the physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal have calmed down, you can relax…but not too much! You will have to remain vigilant for the rest of your life because relapse can happen even after years without a cigarette. One of the best ways to do this is to remind yourself of the hellish storm you experienced during the first month of quitting.
Mental cravings
Mental cravings will still pop up from time to time, especially in the first year, but they will not be anything near the level of the first month. Beware of situations where you will be around a lot of tobacco smoke or around folks that you used to smoke with.
Constantly remind yourself that things like taking a smoke break with other smokers or having a cigarette on the first day of spring are not worth going through the trouble of going through the quitting process again.
Smoking nostalgia
It is a feeling you will have to deal with for the rest of your life. You will remember the good times you had while smoking or the feeling of a cigarette after a meal or in the morning, which is why vaporizers can sometimes fill the void left by the ritual of smoking, as it shares many similar characteristics.
Don’t let yourself get sentimental! For every cigarette that felt great, there were hundreds more that you did not want to smoke but had to because your addiction demanded it.
For the rest of your life, temptations and thoughts of smoking could drive you back to the pack. These thoughts and temptations can catch you off-guard because you lost focus on quitting as hard as you were in the first few weeks.
If you are still in the first month of quitting or have yet to start the quitting process yet, then take this section as a reminder that the effects of quitting will soon fade into a healthier, happier, and smoke-free lifestyle!
Right now, you may be dealing with intense cravings, emotional turbulence, and mental anguish, but within a few short weeks, those will fade into small mental temptations that you can easily swat away as you go on with your cigarette-less life.
How Is Nicotine Withdrawal Treated?
![Hands are breaking cigarette in half.](https://vapingdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/quit-smoking.jpg)
The average nicotine craving only lasts about six minutes. That’s not even enough time to go up to the store and buy a new pack of cigarettes! So when that urge to smoke strikes, know that it will be over really quickly.
Take comfort in numbers.
There are now more people who are former smokers who quit than there are people who are active smokers. When you want to give up the habit, know that you have a lot of very good company.
About 50 million Americans used to smoke but successfully quit. When the going gets tough, remind yourself that millions of people have made it through the tough experience of quitting.
Change up your routines.
Your smoking habit is probably very predictable, and most likely, you smoke at the same time every day. Each time you do so, you’re reinforcing the habit.
For example, you may smoke shortly after you wake up, again on the drive to work, after eating meals, etc. When you quit, you’ll need to change your associations at those times. Consider ideas like taking a different route to work or chewing a piece of gum after a meal instead of smoking.
Hold yourself accountable.
Telling people that you are quitting smoking is a great way to be accountable – and get support from other people in the process. If you post on your Facebook page that you’re quitting smoking and update each day with the number of days it has been without a cigarette, you’ll be surprised by how much encouragement you’ll get from your friends and how much that drives you to keep going.
Make up your mind.
Mindset determines a lot when it comes to success in quitting smoking. You may find it effective to make a list of all the reasons you want to quit – from saving hundreds of dollars a month to not smelling like smoke – and keep that list close at hand to look at when you start feeling discouraged. The list can help remind you of your motivation.
Create some healthy new habits.If you have to give up your old habits, it’s a great time to replace them with new ones. Consider beginning some positive new habits like snacking on healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables, and getting regular exercise like taking a walk. Exercise can also help you fight some of the more uncomfortable symptoms of nicotine withdrawal like mood swings.
Get extra sleep.
You might feel more tired than usual when you’re in the process of quitting smoking because of the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Because nicotine is a stimulant, it can help you feel unnaturally alert and like you need less sleep. Your body has to adapt to not having that artificial stimulation anymore, but you can take heart in knowing that this sleepy phase will pass.
If you feel like you need a nap, take one! In addition to helping you temporarily escape from any discomfort from nicotine withdrawal, it will also help your body to heal.
Tips for Coping with Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
Have a support system
Going through tough experiences is always easier when you can turn to friends and loved ones for emotional support. Assemble your team of cheerleaders in advance and let them know you might need a listening ear or a distraction during moments when quitting smoking is at its hardest.
Ask for their patience if you’re a little grumpy. You’ll find that the people who love you want to help you get through this time because you’ll be so much healthier when you successfully quit smoking.
Reward yourself
Giving up smoking has many benefits for your health, but that does not mean that quitting is its only reward. Reward yourself with little treats for resisting the urge to smoke. Consider letting yourself have a Hershey’s kiss when you feel like having a cigarette.
Alternatively, if you are trying to watch your weight, allow yourself a latte or a magazine as a treat for every pack of cigarettes you do not buy. Give yourself slightly bigger rewards for more time that you successfully avoid smoking, like a movie date or new CD after a week of not smoking.
Keep your hands busy
That familiar feeling of holding a cigarette between your fingers is one of the most powerful associations for most smokers and is likely to be one of the first ways you will feel like something is missing when you quit.
Head off this feeling by having things to do to keep your fingers busy. Knitting or crocheting, woodworking, or even a game on your phone can be good distractions and replacements for that nervous habit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Hunger Last After Quitting Smoking?
Hunger or appetite increases can begin within the first 24 hours of withdrawal. The uptake of serotonin and dopamine acts as an appetite suppressant, and when nicotine levels lower, appetite increases. Also, withdrawal often causes cravings for carbohydrates and sweets, and many smokers eat simply to replace the act of smoking.
The first two weeks of this side effect are the worst, and then it also begins to normalize as more time passes. Associated weight gain is also considered a side effect, although the gain is usually very small, only 5-10 pounds. This weight gain may begin in the first week and slowly increase through weeks 2-4.
There is no real timeline for withdrawal symptoms because each quitting experience is unique. However, as a general rule of thumb, many of the physical symptoms like dizziness or a headache fade quickly and are not very severe.
The emotional, mental, and behavioral symptoms tend to persist much longer and produce many more problems but can be managed and overcome.
How long does nicotine withdrawal insomnia last?
Insomnia should peak during weak only come sporadically through the next three weeks. Fatigue and loss of concentration or mental ability may continue to be bothersome in weeks 2-4.
Since nicotine is a stimulant, the body has learned to function with increased levels of chemicals like acetylcholine and vasopressin in the brain, which work to improve memory and enhance cognitive function.
Can nicotine withdrawal cause flu-like symptoms?
While you are getting off of nicotine, it is normal to feel run down. You might feel like you are coming down with a cold or even the flu and have symptoms like a cough, sinus pressure, and congestion, a sore or dry throat, tightness in the chest, and sweating.
Can Nicotine Withdrawal Cause Diarrhea?
Nicotine has major effects on your appetite and digestion, so it makes sense that withdrawing from it could also affect those things. Although smoking can cause urgency with your bowels, nicotine withdrawal symptoms have more unpredictable effects and may either cause constipation or diarrhea.
Closing Thoughts About Quitting Cigarettes
Your thoughts are powerfully influential. If you tell yourself that quitting smoking will be miserable and hard, you will have a very difficult experience. It does not mean that you will not be able to quit successfully, just that it will be harder than it has to be.
Instead, prime yourself for quit-smoking success by repeatedly telling yourself that you can quit and the process will be challenging but bearable. Believe that you can do it, and you will!
Jessica Bryson
February 19, 2022 at 4:34 pmI’m 33 I started smoking at age 8 I was up to 2 and a half packs of pall mall full flavor cigarettes a day and now I’m smoking a half a pack or less my appetite has doubled a day and I’m getting really bad headaches is this normal?
Brockney C
February 6, 2022 at 9:26 amThis is my 17th day, I have gone almost cold turkey, wore patches for the first 2 days then chewed the occasional piece of nicotine gum since then. Chewed about 10 pieces of gum in total.
I gave up, coincidentally, about 2 weeks after getting over Covid. Thankfully my dose of Covid was relatively mild. However, it left me with symptoms known as ‘long covid’ which ironically are very similar to those of nicotine withdrawal ??
I can cope with the insomnia at night combined with daytime fatigue. The increased appetite is nice because covid, a week after getting the vaccine, made me lose my appetite!
I am also keeping fit again and having fun running with over 100 others ever week, accompanied by a soundsystem ???♂️?♀️???
Struggling to maintain my composure at times, lost my temper on occasion, sometimes simply having a go at myself too ??
I’ll win tho, in that I have faith ??❤️
Brockney C
February 6, 2022 at 9:30 amPs I meant to say, thanks for the article, reading things like this helps to divert away from the cravings ?❤️
MC
December 4, 2021 at 1:24 pmI read this whole article on nicotine withdrawal and quitting smoking, and then the author has a little blurb at the end about how he turned to vaping. I’m so confused. Are you trying to say vaping is fine and has no ill effects, but smoking is the thing that’s bad? Vaping made me feel like shit and was way harder to quit than smoking ever was. I’ve only been vape free for two weeks, I never want it to come back, I sometimes miss the oral act of smoking/vaping, but I can find my way without that. I just don’t understand the author – what is the message here?
Lizzie
November 19, 2021 at 4:33 pmSorry lizzie again im 48 started at 16 so 32 years smoke but 4 years was chain vaping
Red
October 20, 2021 at 12:05 pmI started smoking from the age of 13, I am 27 now. I managed to quit by means of cold turkey before for about a year, but when a friend of mine passed away I started all over again.
Now it’s been nearly 72 hours ago since my last smoked cigarette, the nicotine withdrawal symptoms are still overwhelmingly present. I hope to see it through, on average I crave for a smoke for more then a dozen times a day. Drinking a lot of water helps with detoxing quicker against the nicotine, breathing practices and exercises too. As I have read in several other comments, anxiety becomes more frequent with mood alterations etc.
Matt
February 28, 2021 at 3:40 pmThis is an absolutely brilliant article.
I’ve just had my last cigarette and after it made me dizzy and feel like throwing up, it’s time.
I will read this article every day for the next few weeks.
James Bickford
April 6, 2021 at 9:28 amHey Matt, thanks for writing in, we’re so glad that you liked the article. Feel free to visit whenever you want to reach out to us again if you need any help. Take care.
Guy
June 16, 2020 at 11:53 pmI have smoked for 44 years, 20 years ago I tried hypnosis and it worked for around six weeks, on My 20 2019 I tried hypnosis again, I had arrived at a point where I just decided that enough was enough and I have just gone past the one year of not smoking, I am so pleased that I have been able so far to have stopped, even with hypnosis it still hasn’t been an easy trip but I have waited many years to be able to say when someone asks me for a light, sorry I no longer smoke, what a great feeling, I can smell things again taste things again and smell fresh instead of smelling like an old ashtray……..
Melanie
June 15, 2020 at 10:05 amHello, I’ve been a smoker since I was around 15 years of age. I am now 33 and looking at seriously giving it up but I’m scared as hell. Ideally I want to taper down as I feel the years upon years of smoking if I quit cold turkey will give me some horrific withdrawals. I also suffer with severe forms of anxiety and depression and can’t not cope with these getting much worse. If 20 a day is smoke what is the ideal tapering down amount going to be for and how long? Many thanks
James Bickford
June 16, 2020 at 5:01 amHi Melanie, thanks for writing, it’s normal to be scared. I was scared too, but I think I was more scared of not quitting. Quitting cold turkey is not the way to go for a lot of people. 95% of people who try to quit that way are unsuccessful. If you think tapering off is the way to go, you should talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement therapy. There are many kinds available from patches to gum, even nasal sprays. Some states even offer free smoking cessation products and counseling. Go to this site to see if your state offers smoking cessation products or counseling. Hope this help. Good luck! And let us know how it goes ; )
Nicolette
October 14, 2020 at 12:29 pmI HOPE YOU GET THIS! I am kind of wondering where that led. I am laso33 and have smoked just as long!!!! I also smoke 20 a day!!! I am not at 4 and its hard but OMG I’m so excited!
Abby
March 17, 2020 at 4:53 pmI never thought I would get withdrawls. I started vaping 8 months ago. I vaped at a 3mg daily. I am now 1 week without vaping. No cravings to speak of but I am experiencing high levels of anxiety, panic attacks, and getting very emotional. How long does this usually last? I get anxiety already so this is borderline debilitating.
Jeffrey
March 18, 2020 at 1:17 amHi Abby, thanks for sharing. Usually, anxiety lasts from 3 days to several weeks. The best way to cope is to distract. As your brain is looking for satisfaction, comfort or stress-relief that it was getting from vaping — now it’s irritated after being deprived of it. First of all, determine for what vaping has been used in your life and then find an alternative source of it.
Also, for this reason, people often eat sweets after quitting.
Instead of that I strongly recommend you try one mini-game: every time you feel anxiety set a mini task for you (for instance take a few squats), and reward yourself with something you love (view youtube or tik tok videos, play a favorite game, take a selfie — do anything short-term that brings you happiness) after completing.
Following this rule 2-3 days, you’ll start feeling less stressed.
For some, yoga, meditations, and breath practices work well. Bring calmness and clear thoughts. For me, running and walking were the best options when I quit smoking. But now it’s not the best option due to some world tendencies.
Keep me updated, Abby. Always happy to hear from you, Jeffrey
Lizzie
November 19, 2021 at 4:32 pmDo anyone know thst once u finish the 12 week nicotine therapy then what i will still want nicotine I think but I dont wanna smoke or chain vape again so I’m thinking about staying on the lozenges once therapy is finished
Alexandria
March 6, 2020 at 3:32 pmAge 25. Smoking 14 years, been nicotine free 2 months. I am exhausted! Battling anxiety and panic attacks at least twice a week. I have cold and sinus symptoms and problems. Muscle and nerve pain and spasms. I have so much tension in my neck and back. I have numbness and tingling in my left arm and sometimes my right. Still don’t sleep well. And plenty of chest tightness and pressure. Every ER trip my bloodwork and xrays are clear. When does this end? When do I feel better??
Alex
June 18, 2020 at 8:20 pmIm on the same boat. 2 months and half, and feeling worst than ever. Constant ER trips, bloodworks, xrays, panic attacks, anxiety attacks. Im starting to think quitting was the worst decision I could have ever made. Any advise on how to cope with all this??
Wendy
December 4, 2020 at 2:30 pmYour post has made me feel not so alone and i don’t feel so crazy – i thought i was reading about myself. Same things as you, panic attacks, trips to ER, ecgs, bloodworks. Back aches, neck aches, tight chest. Its been 3 weeks no smoking and i started on the vaping. i have decided to give the vaping away as well as i keep getting told vaping does not agree with everyone. I am getting to the stage i am not wanting to leave the house in case i have a panic attack. Very scary and its starting to take its toll. From reading the post below it does get better so im trying to stay positive:)
James Bickford
December 28, 2020 at 5:19 amHi Wendy, thanks for writing in, glad to hear that you’re doing better, let’s try to stay positive together. Take care and keep writing us if you feel like it.
Beau
January 8, 2020 at 1:43 pmI quit recently, and discovered that IT’S NOT AS BAD AS I’D HEARD. Really, what’s the big deal? It’s just a habit. Sure, I’ve had temptations to go back, but I always tell myself that I will not be a weakling.
tom farmer
November 29, 2019 at 9:54 ami quit may 28,2008.
Tim
October 16, 2019 at 6:11 pmI’m on day 7, probably the worse day yet but still not as bad as I was expecting. I’m tired through lack of good sleep and a bit irritable. I have been eating more but not excessively and I know that I’m now committed and won’t be going back. It won’t be long now before it’s over and I can start to live a life without this awful habit.
Sam
October 3, 2019 at 9:24 amI’m 18. I started smoking when I was 16, then switch to a Juul so I could hit in class without Ms. Leri noticing. I’m in college now, working, paying for my own apartment, living on my own, and I’m on day 8 after throwing my juul away. I’m sitting in class right now typing this, and honestly I could use a cigarette or a hit. My appetite has stayed the same, my weight hasn’t changed, but I’m exhausted, angry, and depressed as hell. I want a hit, but I literally don’t have enough money to buy a new Juul, so I’m stuck in withdrawal. when does it stop?
Matt
November 4, 2020 at 2:40 pmYou honestly shouldn’t have thrown your Juul away. You won’t have access to it whenever you get a craving, sure, but you’ll have easy access to cigarettes. I’m trying to quit vaping at the moment, I gave my vape to my brother and told him to hide it from me. Going outside would be very unusual for me due to the lockdown, so there’s no chance of me buying a pack without being noticed, and at that point I might as well ask my brother to give my vape back. I basically ensured that I don’t have any easy access to any way of getting a nicotine hit, I’d have to ask him to give it back after telling him that I want to quit smoking, which would be more difficult to deal with than the craving.
Good luck.
Rick
September 10, 2019 at 3:26 amI’m on day 5 of quitting.
Headaches appear now…feeling low and tired
Surprisingly, not much nicotine craving
I have quit many times before (I’m 56) but it was always relatively easy esp when younger
This time it’s a pain.
Good luck to you all.
Tasos (Greece)
June 4, 2019 at 2:56 amAfter suffering from a mild bronchitis (early pneumonia) and receiving some treatment – antibiotics and syrups- my doctor advised me not to smoke through this 10-day treatment. Following such 10 day period i decided to try to quit. This was the second effort during the last 35-37 years of smoking since my early 20s till my 56th birthday. Haven’t smoked for 2 and a half months now.
When younger i used to play lots of basketball and soccer but following several injuries and due to age constrains, i decided to start jogging 4-5 years ago. I run about 60-70 km. per month and i participated in 5 or 10 km. competitions in the Athens Marathon contest.
I was doing fine and i thought that quitting smoking would improve my running performance. Unfortunately, so far i have not been able to run as fast and/or as long as before. I tire easily and feel slippy much earlier than before. I have also gained 4 or 5 kilos so far and hope that i will stop here and start loosing weight asap.
How long does it take for body functions to fully recover after one quits smoking??
P Sampson
May 6, 2019 at 7:13 pmI quit smoking a year-and-a-half ago and I’ve been sick ever since. I have COPD symptoms that I never had. I can eat but have no filter to tell me when I’m full. I feel periods of nauseousness throughout the day especially when my stomach is empty. I don’t sleep well and I’m tired all the time. I started walking on a treadmill a month ago but can’t go more than 20 minutes at a fast walk. I don’t miss cigarettes or smoking at all yet wish I’d never quit because I feel like crap.
Fadzli Malaysia
November 16, 2018 at 3:58 amI stopped smoking cold-turkey about 8 years ago. Then, i started vaping about 4 years ago. Almost immediately after that, I noticed my body deteriorating, bit by bit.
Well into year 4 and at 36 years old, I feel my body failing. I guess it must be the nicotine, or the chemicals brought about by the flavorings, or the PG or VG.
Whatever it is, i know vape is the cause and I must quit before it gets worse.
Now I’m in day 3 of stopping vaping cold-turkey. The withdrawals seem harder compared to smoking as with smoking, i started to hate the smell at some point after ceasing. But with vaping, the nicotine is only half of the problem, it is the sweetness and richness of the flavorings.
This is going to be tougher.
Wish me luck guys.
Cristina
December 12, 2019 at 2:29 pmI am 11 days in from quitting vaping and I agree 100%. I used to smoke cigarettes years ago and quit with no symptoms other than irritability and cravings. Quitting vaping I had some serious withdrawals. I felt so sick in so many ways for about 2 days but it subsided and I have no cravings just like moments of forgetfulness that I quit. Like a habit of oh, I would vaping right now and lose the thought process that I quit for just a moment. But then I remember and I’m good. I can’t say I feel a whole lot better yet because I have asthma and it’s been cold so my chest hasn’t been great anyways, lol, BUT my heart rate has decreased DRASTICALLY which is a huge thing for me. Wishing you the best of luck. We can do this 🙂
Jlee olivas
February 15, 2020 at 8:12 pmI knew someone who had smoked for 40+ yrs. She quit and started some vaping pen and about 2yrs into the vaping thing was found dead. Not sure those vaping pens are safe at all. I would do serious research
paul
October 23, 2018 at 3:58 pmSmoked for just over 20 years (from 16 to 36) and quit a week ago, figured I’m still young enough to repair a lot of the damage done. Apart from smoking I’m very healthy anyway, gym, active physical job, healthy diet, minimal alcohol so it made sense to finally rub out the one unhealthy thing I do. It’s been a breeze. Got an e-cig and some gum which I used quite a lot on the first couple of days, and gradually less and less (I haven’t had any gum or e-cig at all today). Tapering off the nicotine has helped those withdrawals, it’s only now I’m getting a mild headache and blocked nose and the trots, but I don’t care, they’ll pass and it’s a small price to pay for my health. I have a good app on my phone that monitors my quit statistics, the best bit is it tells me how much money I’m saving from not smoking, so that money is going into a separate account and will be used after a year to buy something expensive as a treat.
stephanie
October 1, 2021 at 2:02 pmLove to hear it all worked out for you. I’m on day 3 and it’s a bit rough.
C b
October 23, 2018 at 2:53 pmI’m on day there of quiting vaping. Going to say it’s harder than any of the times I quit smoking, been vaping for over 5 years now, mostly using 6mg.
Honestly felt so sick had to go home from work.
Wish every article you read wouldn’t recommend vaping to ease cravings, really not helpful when trying to keep the vape, especially considering how I found them more addictive than cigarettes. I think the lack if ill health affects (there are still some despite what people say) means you can ingest much more nicotene.
Yesterday was horrible, fuzzy head, sick stomach, unbelievable irratable, how knows what today will bring. But should be getting towards the days that get better now.
Gaga
October 22, 2018 at 9:23 amAfter 18yrs it’s almost 6 weeks without nicotine COLD TURKEY is the only way. Kept patches …in case..but thank God didn’t needed them.
This PAGE really helped a lot…know I m not sure can beat physiologically…
Paul D
October 20, 2018 at 1:23 amI have been vaping for several months now, winding the nicotine % from 6 to 4.5. to 3 and have been on a 0% nicotine for a week. Continuing to vape does help reduce the craving a lot. Following on from Brandon’s comment above; I have just realised that this might be due to the deep breathing giving an oxygen hit.
Need to remember not to hyper ventilate too much though. I have attached an extract from the web for info 🙂
Hyperventilation causes the carbon dioxide level in the blood to decrease. This lower level of carbon dioxide reduces blood flow to the brain, which may result in the following nervous system and emotional symptoms: Weakness. Fainting.
Brandon
October 18, 2018 at 1:26 amTake a deep breath. As if you are inhaling a deep nicotine hit. You can even mimic the two finger motion of holding a cigarette or vape. Breathe deep. Take it in. But it’s something better than nicotine. It’s Oxygen. Take three deep breaths. You’ll feel better. I think nicotine helps bring us into the present moment. And that’s partially why we crave it. So does taking a deep breath of oxygen. This helps me more than anything. Coupled with the knowledge that the craving will only last a few minutes. I’m on day 6. Looking forward to day 7. But trying to stay in this present moment. Reading other quit stories when you’re exhausted is pure gold. Keep going. The pain means progress. Then one day you’ll be free. Then you can help others. Other people need us to quit.
Jlee olivas
February 15, 2020 at 8:20 pmI love your post. Thx
Aleksandr
September 27, 2018 at 1:31 pmI myself trying to quit smoking because of my Swollen Epiglottis, I’m On day four with it Already Feel Like shit I have been smoking since I was 6 yrs old im 25 now and I smoke abnormally I’d smoke like entire pack In 1 day or 3 packs In 1 day or 10 packs in 3 days I could smoke Entire bag of Tobacco Bag which is like 6 oz or 16 oz within a Week Im starting to feel Like shit luckily I got Weed to help me through i quit cigs but Not weed for it helps me not smoke cigs lol
Cindy
September 27, 2018 at 11:07 amIts been 2 weeks. I have a headache everyday all day. Nothing takes it away. Anyone else?
Thomas Long
September 26, 2018 at 2:04 amQuit smoking cold turkey 12/20/2016. Went to see a close friend of 40 years who died the following day. We had both smoked for 38 years. Tried quitting many times but always started again. Tried “smoke away’ before this and quit in three days. Then was always thirsty. Doctor diagnosed me as type 2 diabetic. Was in perfect health before using “smoke away’! Do not use it!!!
I found the hardest thing is the habit. Need to break the habit to quit. Also, you need to pick a significant date to quit. A date you can never forget….like the death of a friend or birth of a baby, or a wedding day, etc
good luck to all!!! You can do it!!!
Natasha
October 2, 2018 at 2:13 pmI’m on day two of Nicotine Replacement Patch
Im craving cigs more today than yesterday
The headache is the worst.
Lots of water
Lots of texting the Smokers Helpline
Lots of deep breaths.
I know I can do this.
I never realized how strong the addiction really is.
I gave up heroin in 2007 and that seemed like a walk in he park compare to cigarettes.
But like any disease I have to put myself in a mindset that I will stay stopped.
Best of luck everyone..
Cheryl
September 12, 2018 at 4:41 pmI quit smoking on April 18th! I decided to hop on a plane to visit my non-smoking parents and asked them to pretty much babysit me and not let me out of their sight for 4 days. It worked! After over 30 years of smoking (I did quit for a year and a half back in 2000), I am free! My husband and daughter smoke so self control is still very necessary but I don’t NEED to smoke anymore! Good luck to all you!
Umar
September 11, 2018 at 12:13 amI quit cigarettes completely 33 days back and vape a regulated dosage a day. Got an anxiety attack about 3 week’s back after my BP went haywire,spent a good amount not knowing what it was. Still fighting the anxiety and monitoring. When does it end?
Bleh Man
September 10, 2018 at 4:44 pm26 y/o. Quit once back in December, started for no reason again in March. First withdrawal was okay, didn’t feel much of a struggle.
Current withdrawal, 22 days in. Tried quitting on/off for the last two months but that triggered a ton of stomach pain which rushed me to the ER a few times. First few 2 weeks were chill, no symptoms and cravings. Then the anxiety struck me like a little piece of shit since the last week. So much so that I forgot that I had quit vaping which was why my anxiety peaked.
For folks who struggle with anxiety during withdrawal, please read posts here, they’re far more calming and lot better than seeking the support of loved ones ( not really but, save them the agony for your misdeeds? ). It’ll be good, it’ll be alright. Stay strong and don’t ever relapse 🙂
Cindy
September 7, 2018 at 11:22 pmI have smoked for over 40 years, right now I am on the chantix and it is taking away the cravings, I have went thru the starter pack and at the moment have 3 days left on it, I then go to the regular chantix for another 30 days, once I am done with the starter pack then I am done with smoking I have set my last day of smoking and I will stick to it. I really don’t have a choice, I have COPD and got it when I worked with pesticides at my former job, before that I did not have a problem , seriously till the chemicals and breathing them in and being in closed spaces and not using proper equipment to keep me from breathing it in. So I have to stop or it my breathing will get worse than it already is, I am hoping my family will be a big help to keep me on the road to forever stopping this bad habit.
Jarjar binks
September 3, 2018 at 11:13 pmIm on day 2. I. AM. SO. SICK.
My stomach hurts like a mofo.
Really bad cramps and nausea.
Im amusing its nicotine with draws or labor. Feels like im in the beginning phase of birth.
Idk if this is normal.
Perer
August 31, 2018 at 9:36 pm3am Day 1 it’s certainly begun, it feels like I have just starred in trainspotting 3, I’m wide awake with the chills, I’m never wide awake at 3am, Its dawned on me this is going to be quite possibly the biggest battle I’ve ever faced, 25 years a smoker , day 1 round 1 to me , good luck everything one stay strong
Debby
August 29, 2018 at 12:37 pmI have only just found this site while researching for diahorrea after ceasing. Thanks to the Alan Carr book I stopped my 40 a day habit on 4th February. That is nearly 7 months after smoking for 60 years (I am 74). My problem was chronic diarrhorrea which I had not associated with the smoking. However, today on a routine visit to my accupuncturist for arthritis I mentioned the problem. She immediately said that this is a well known side effect due to the accumulation of phlegm in the body. This was previously subdued with the nicotine. Chinese medicine treatment is straightforward and I have started a course today. Already the cramping in my abdomen has eased. My GP was suggesting diverticulitis or Chroens and I am waiting for investigations including colostomy! I will keep you updated but am intrigued by the thought that traditional medicine could not provide an answer. Good luck to all you quitters it can be done.
Gotya
August 26, 2018 at 11:47 pmSmoked for 25 years one pack per day. On 5th week of cessation. Cold turkey along with self hypnosis inductions. Not suffering with any psychological disturbance but occasionally still suffering with physical craving.
Gayleen
August 20, 2018 at 2:42 amI went Cold Turkey and quit for 9mths. Then the cravings returned – Big Time! So I started smoking again. Now I’m trying to quite again. I’ve been smoking for 30 years. Scary stuff huh. I have tried patches, hypnotherapy, cold turkey and now I’m vaping. It’s not an easy road and if you don’t succeed, then try and try again. Some people find it easy and some find it hard. Don’t beat yourself up. If you fall off the ciggy wagon then jump back on. One less ciggy a day equals 365 less ciggies a year. Plan to double it, then triple it, etc. Best off luck to your all.
Justo
August 17, 2018 at 9:06 amI’ve been smoking since I was 17, im now 33 and have given up the cigs for good, now I’m going on to my 3rd week Cold Turkey, and yes I’ve seen the and felt and noticed the withdrawal symptoms and boy I actaually looked for info to explain what’s going on with me. Now it all.makes such sense, it’s been frustrating and made me so tiered and no energy but man the final outcome of never smoking is all I can see and think about.
It’s hard but it can be done!!
smokefreekudzii
August 17, 2018 at 3:35 amOn day 6 now… its soo hard.. went cold turkey… urge anyone to read Allen Carr’s Easy way to stop smoking.. a must read!!
Gabriel
August 13, 2018 at 3:31 amI’ve been smoking for 20 years (since 15). I am quitting TODAY! I’ve been toying with the idea for about a year. I was having the last cigarette in the box in traffic this morning and decided that instead of buying another one, I’m gonna give this a proper go! Terrified of the next week, but I have some Nicotine gum on hand to get me through the worst days. I love smoking and I suspect it will hit me worst in the morning during my usual wake-up coffee routine, but hopefully I can replace this with some healthy alternative habits. Thanks for all the encouraging info and good luck to all!
Dan C.
August 9, 2018 at 9:47 am50 years of smoking. Developed Afib. On day 3 of quitting. My whole inside of body wants to burst. Anxiety and anger through the roof. Inside of mouth is ice cold. Oh well. I knew this was coming some day. Due to heart problems now. Have to lose 20lbs. .with heart healthy diet, while quitting. No more M&M’s with peanuts for me. Everyone was right that I WILL quit smoking and I get to decide when and how. I wish I decided 49.9 years ago.
Lisa
August 8, 2018 at 3:42 amDecided two months ago now down to one cigarette a day I was at a pack a day. Been a smoker since age 15 just turned 44. Been rough sleeping body aches no kind of help as much as I hurt or tired I’m determined not to give up trying.
Abby
August 5, 2018 at 3:24 amI quit 2 days ago and I have terrible nightmares every night so far. I’ve tried to quit prior and I had nightmares then as well. Anyone else experiencing this??
Dan
August 15, 2018 at 2:05 amYes, first days have been like that for me. Light sleep, sweats etc. It does get better but you have to trust it will get better. I’m on my 5th day and I am much more relaxed. I had some cravings yesterday but I kept on thinking that I am a no smoker until the craving passed
Justo
August 17, 2018 at 9:14 amYes I’ve had this too Abby, I work and im meant to be up 16hrs of the day , so when I go to sleep at 10pm to wake up at 6am I need a good night’s sleep, and wow just about every night I got horrible nightmares easily wake up every hour, then so hard to sleep as I’d normally duck out for a smoke, but i stayed strong and I’ve been moody and really hungry, but I’m getting through it,
I’m on my 3rd week quitting and yes still bad dreams and hard to sleep, low on energy, brain doesnt function the best either , lol I’m sending this at 12:12am in the morning, my client most likely wake me up in 4 to 5 hours . But hey it’s hard but it’s not impossible, we did this to our selves we need to get ourselves out of this hole that holds us back in life to be the best we can be, good luck I’m sure you’ll be fine Abby 🙂
Debwa
August 2, 2018 at 3:23 pmCant say any better than this comment before me is spot on. I given up for 7 days now gone cold turkey for fouur of thise days its been hard but feels great to know you are in charge of you not the cigs.
Le
August 1, 2018 at 9:19 pmI quit
Crystle C.
August 1, 2018 at 5:36 pmI am 2 years quit cigarettes & 9 days quit vaping. For the last 8 days I vaped 0mg juice. The first 4 days were rough, it after that it was like the sun shined through! Tired of nicotine, vaping, batteries, ejuice, ect. It was all an unnecessary monkey on my back!
J
August 1, 2018 at 4:03 pmI quit about a week ago I feel like all of my withdrawal symptoms are gone.. will they all come back just as hard if I smoked once?
David
July 31, 2018 at 7:00 amGo cold turkey. Nicotine is an addition, the only way to beat it is to keep it out, all of it. Vaping is just a less harmful way of delivery.
Best of luck on your quits and stay away from patches, gum and vapes. Best to suffer for 3 days and endure a couple of weeks to be really free from all that cr**
Randy
July 30, 2018 at 3:44 pmChantix and Quit-it app. I feel as though I never smoked after 44 yrs. no anxiety,no withdrawals don’t really even think about smoking anymore. Was it always this easy with these two combinations.
Le
July 29, 2018 at 11:43 amI have two cigarettes left. Today will be my quit day. I am encouraged to quit because my son (47) may have COPD. He is more of a chain smoker and it probably harder for him to quit. In solidarity I am also quoting. Quit before cold turkey for 6 years. I am 65 and now is the time when old habits catch up with you. I realize that because of more addictive ingredients that are in cigarettes now that it may be harder but I am doing this cold turkey. No need to put down one bad habit for another. I AM A NON SMOKER. Best wishes for success to all that endeavor end their addiction and I pray for those that don’t see it yet.
Louise
July 28, 2018 at 8:57 amI was googling support for giving up smoking and I found this site, I felt quite alone because non smokers don’t understand every day is a massive achievement. I am on day 3, I am using an inhalator and 15mg nicotine capsules, they are expensive but they are working, I feel like I am walking round with a dummy in my mouth most of the time haha, I don’t care as it’s helping the cravings, I would absolutely reccommend them.
When I smoked I was so anxious about getting lung cancer but that made me more anxious so I would have another cigarette! My whole day revolved around my next cigarette. It was hell. Then I decided I’d had enough of this stupid smoking stick that controlled my everyday. Day 3 I don’t miss it, I remind myself I can be in control, my anxiety has greatly reduced, the withdraweral is feeling very sick and painful stomach cramps. It’s scary and unsettling imagining not smoking again, but telling myself one day at a time. Good luck everyone
ToYoung
August 1, 2018 at 9:45 amI was google withdrawal systems for smoke quitting, because I could just not focus on my work and is oh, so irritated!
and here this post created a platform for a fellow “None” smokers.
I have stopped for six days.
Aged 28, smoked 15-20 on a weekday, 20-40 on weekend days for 10 years.
But this is not my first time I have stopped
It just keep repeating, stop, begin,stop begin. Like Brian quoted Mark Twain-“Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world – I’ve done it a thousand times”.
That said, it is hard.
My husband smokes, and I won’t ask him to quite, because I know if you don’t do it yourself, you wont do be able to do it. its purely self discipline.
Today, is my worst.
Thinking can smoking really be this bad for me…. Im still young I can stop again?
or really stop. I want to really stop this time and never start again.
Good luck to everyone, I understand you guys, and Thank you for sharing, it helps.
Brian
July 26, 2018 at 3:18 pm“Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world – I’ve done it a thousand times” Mark Twain
Giorgio
January 29, 2022 at 7:46 pmI wonder what led or contributed to his heart attack RIP
Brenda
July 25, 2018 at 3:44 am3 months for me. I am happy about not smoking most of time. When the thought of smoking enters my mind, the craving is very intense. I have to remember why I wanted to quit. No excuses, am having family crisis which makes it hard as I use to comfort myself by smoking. The one thing that got me through rough times in very beginning of quitting was Alan Carr’s illustrated guide of how to quit smoking the easy way. It helped me understand why it’s hard to quit and how to overcome it. I’m going to read the book How to quit smoking the easy way very soon as I think it will help bring important things to my memory. I don’t think I’d ever gone this long had it not been for his books and definetly prayer. I’d suggest any smoker to get a copy. Not too pricy either. I got a used illustrated book for less than $3 and I think book was under $10 on EBay. Best to all who want to quit.
Nathan
July 23, 2018 at 10:42 amHey Everybody,
First off I want to say thank you so much for sharing your stories, they have really helped me to feel a little better about my situation, we are all in this together right?!
I am on day 11 quitting cold turkey right now. I was a smoker for 7 years and a vapor for 4.
So lets start with the physical sensations. First off the cravings have been the least of my problems, I really am done with needing this crap all the time and have committed to myself to be done. Will power will get me through that and the cravings are lessening more and more day by day. The physical exhaustion has been kind of discouraging though. I also have had a bunch of cancer sores spring up that have made my mouth incredibly painful since quitting and a constant sore throat. This has not been lessening but getting worse and it is a little frightening. It is hard to believe this is better for me when I have been well and not sick for years until I finally quit then all of the sudden I am not just a little sick but SICK and in pain.
Lets move onto the mental side here. I have been incredibly depressed, and a lot of old feelings including those of wanting to kill myself have sprung back to the fore front and I haven’t dealt with any of these for years. I am also finding that literally everything I used to find enjoyable is now less enjoyable, from working out, to taking self improvement courses, to feeling motivated to better myself, its almost as if all of it has been squashed behind this muffler of misery.
I keep telling myself that this will get better and better as well and am working hard to maintain a positive attitude. I just want to love things in my life again, I don’t want to only kind of love them like I do now. I really do appreciate hearing everyone’s stories so I know that I am not alone in feeling these things, and also I have loved to hear how even the depression gets better, it just takes time!! I am gonna stay strong, and I believe in all of you as well!! You all are awesome and I love you!!
-Nathan
Romano
July 23, 2018 at 2:35 amI’m sad that it’s day 3 again, but I’m good. I just have cravings, no side effects that are noticeably getting me down
Jason
July 20, 2018 at 7:22 pm35 years of smoking 3 packs/day of Kools. Recent diagnoses of chronic, late-stage Lyme disease, chronic Epstein-Barr, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome meant I had to give up all alcohol, all sugar, all preservatives… The anti-inflammatory diet is almost impossible for me as I was vegan for 30 of those 35 years. So giving up my final coping mechanism, while going through all these freshly diagnosed conditions (none related to smoking), when stress is as bad for my illnesses as anything, felt absolutely impossible to me.
Acupuncture finally did the trick for me. It could only work because I wanted it to and worked hard at it. It’s still the hardest thing ever but it can be done. I tried to have my last about 2 months ago but kept taking a puff or two then extinguishing in shame, every 4-5 days.
I rededicated myself 3.5 days ago so I’m past the worst of the physical withdrawal and I think I’m going to be able to stay off them though the mourning is through the roof (like I’ve lost a wife almost). They seemed like my very best friends when they were my most insidious enemies.
I’m focused on all the new money I’m going to have, the improved health (I’m about to do stem cells as last resort before possibly giving in to disability so I really did need to quit), the improved energy, not being the stinkiest person in every room (by FAR), and just not being a slave to these nasty things that were made only to hook us all in order that others could profit from our poor health and dying.
I used to say “Make them illegal and I’ll quit! I won’t buy illicit cigarettes!” But that was one more case of me trying to place the responsibility to quit (and to WANT to quit) on others when I’m the only one that can want it enough to make it happen. I do believe I do now and though I’d love to have a reliable Kool after posting this (after *everything*) I’m going to shell and eat another zillion sunflower seeds instead.
It’s harder than hell but it’s easier than I ever imagined it could be. Years ago I’d tried Chantix three times though it made me completely insane. It worked on stopping the cravings but made me a true crazy person (I’m bipolar 1 already but this was so much more than that) and I’m so grateful for acupuncture that allowed me to quit without going back to that horror of a drug.
If you’re here, you’re probably trying to quit like I am. I wish you all the very best.
Kate
July 20, 2018 at 6:57 amYou know- I considered switching to e cigs and vapes but I just do not want this addiction anymore. Smoked for 20 years- quit cold turkey 2 days ago…this SUCKS and I never, ever want an addiction to have this hold on me- ever again! For all of you vaping- good luck- but nicotine still is in control. I just need this to be over with! I am reminding myself WHY I am quitting and going on from here.
DAvid
July 17, 2018 at 10:02 pmToday is the end of day 1 without smoking. I have been a smoker for nearly 30 years. I am tired of being a smoker, plus it is going to kill me, probably sooner than later. I CAN do this…
Nancy
July 17, 2018 at 9:02 amOk I blew it. Smoke free yesterday until 6 pm. Partner smokes. When I lost my temper and he went and bought me a pack. I had told him I’d be irritated. I have my first grand baby and hate that I smell like cigarettes. I did have three days a week ago but hadn’t read this and symptoms. I appreciate how all you post your progress. Very much the inspiration.
Dora
July 16, 2018 at 9:23 amNicotine free just over 3 weeks,in a state of constant anxiety and feeling really low.
Trying so hard to be strong .How can I overcome this anxious feeling that just won’t go?
Miles
July 12, 2018 at 12:02 pm8 days into quitting chewing tobacco after 25 yrs at a can a day. Switched to vaping but my nicotine intake is way down. I’ve been having stomach problems/headache/brain fog/insomnia/anxiety like crazy. Wondering if tapering down is a good idea. Will I adjust to lower intake if nicotine or will I fight these crazy symptoms for ever. I’ve tried to quit many times with epic fails. I don’t want to go cold turkey, however if the taper down is a prolonged suffer than what to do. i’m having health issues due to the chew so I need to do something. Thoughts welcome…Please!
Ake
July 10, 2018 at 6:09 pmStarting week number 5 cold Turkey . I’ve been smoking on and off for 20 Years. And to tell you the truth I enjoy correction I enjoyed smoking . And I believe if it didn’t have so many detrimental affects on the body I would continue to smoke. Now I look at people smoking and I have a severe hatred for the site of cigarets the smell of cigarets and my belief of what they actually do to your body. I am 60 years old and have The body of a 35 or 40 year old man. I am truly blessed. It would be very difficult for me to live the life that I am living now in a wheelchair are in a hospital bed due to my inability to put down that cancer stick. It just doesn’t make sense To be so selfish And only think of your own immediate gratifications . All the peoples lives I have corrupted by 2nd hand smoke setting the example by joining in smoking a cigarette with somebody or even offering a cigaret to somebody else. I think God so very very much I am still here today and can continue my life I will make it a supreme effort To discourage others from smoking cigarets. Bless you all for stop smoking those cancer sticks deuces
Yaz
July 9, 2018 at 6:26 pmDay 2 nicotine free for me. 28 years smoking. Can cope with this ok, having all the symptoms expected. Really trying hard to control irritability, small things make me angry which usually wouldn’t. Knowing it’s all temporary and will pass keeps me going.
Antreas
July 9, 2018 at 10:19 am4weeks without cigarette after 20years – 20 cig/Day, but vaping with low nicotine. Is it normal to have brain fog still? Anyone with similar experience? (sorry if my english Is not so good)
Ruben
July 6, 2018 at 12:33 amOn day 5, getting easier each day that goes by, BUT you HAVE to keep motivated during the craving periods they do pass and you would feel like a dick to give in when you could have just waited. If you understand that you are the master of your destiny and no fkn nicotine should have a say in how U chose to live your life. Sounds easier saying it but it is the truth. WE choose what and how we let into our bodies and lives. We were strong enough to put that awful fkn cig in our mouths let’s be strong enough to stop it also. Support Will always help, but if there is no support let’s be brave enough and strong enough to kick this in the balls. Good luck u amazing non smokers, we can do it.
Tia
July 4, 2018 at 8:02 pmI smoked and quit many times over the years. I took up vaping 2 years ago. I only vaped every once in a while at first but the last year, I was going through two cartridges a day of the Vuse e-cig. I vaped for the last time on 4/13 at 4am. The first month was tough but I got through with nic patches and water. It’s almost been 2 months and I seem to have developed some kind of arthritis. My joints are always sore. If I sit for too long, it’s tough to get moving again. I have been walking every day and I do yoga… but if I don’t move constantly, it’s tough. I have had a physical with blood work and on paper, I’m in perfect health. Aside from the usual 5-15 extra pounds upon quitting, now I have this achy bs to deal with. Can a person wake up with rheumatoid arthritis? Just like that? Quitting the vape is the only thing that’s changed. It’s so weird. I think e-cigs are really a lot more dangerous than we all think.
Mike
July 3, 2018 at 5:50 amI have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for over 17 years. I quit smoking cold turkey 5 days ago. I am still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Seems like I am still craving nicotine, my chest feels tight at times. I have only had 4 hours sleep each day since I quit. I have been having vivid dreams. I am determined to quit, so I know I am not going back. I have to ask, do these damn cravings ever go away? I thought by day 4 this would be gone.
Mildred
June 26, 2018 at 11:37 pmI have quit many times. Started up again and again. I have now quite once more going on 3 weeks. I feel fine a little tired. Breath better too. Just hope I can really stop this time. Was having a hard time breathing so decide time to kick the old habit
I do get moody at times, but I remind myself it will pass breath read a book. It has help so far. Not sure if this will be my time to really kick it. But going to give it all I got for me
Edna
June 24, 2018 at 10:24 amStopped smoking with hypnosis am into day 3 and no withdrawal symptoms just tired a lot ,such a easy way to give up smoking, tried other ways but didn’t work ??
Shelli Ann Hernandez
June 23, 2018 at 10:41 pmI stop smoking a year ago cold turkey i went through every withdrawls you can think of it was so bad i ended up at emergency room about 4 times for anxiety tight chest pains they would do ekg chest xrays nothing so my doctor told me to detox my body as much as i can to drink lots of water dexaff green tea warm and cranberry juice sugar free so i was doing all that started filling better alot and stay away from caffeine and sugar it trigger withdrawls i drank a gallon of water with cucumber a day and decaff green tea before bed it helps its been a year now i fill better i still have a little with drawls but very lightly. Hope this helps
Nicole
June 22, 2018 at 8:40 am3 weeks no cigarettes. Vaping was never an option for me. Cold turkey! Feeling so much better & I don’t get that many cravings if at all. It was definitely tough the first week, but once I made it past that, it has been a breeze. Only time I seem to crave one is on a long drive and those are few and far between. Just need to get back to the gym now to replace my time I smoked with something healthy.
Nicole
June 21, 2018 at 11:50 pmI am on Day Six of being smoke free. The first five days of quitting cold turkey totally SUCKED! I was crabby, irritable, angry, anxious, weepy, dizzy and had brain fog from hell. Now on day six, I feel pretty normal again and the hideous cravings have gone away. I finally feel sort of normal again. I have been still siting outside and hanging out on my patio like I would when I smoked, but doing it without the cig. I think that has HELPED. I have a new routine of just enjoying being outside. YAY! for all of us that are doing this thing!!!
Jenny
June 19, 2018 at 2:02 amI smoked for many years before swapping to Nicorettes. 20 years later and I was pumping them in to my mouth and totally overdosing on Nicotine. Could not give up until someone suggested hypnosis. I jumped at it and in one session I was cured. The physical withdrawal has been hard though. I gave up in October last year and I had to have medication for severe muscle aches similar I guess to heroin withdrawal. Then the severe indigestion, becoming allergic to so many foods, which the nicotine had been masking and getting the most ridiculous sweet tooth. My teeth and gums were so sensitive I could hardly brush them for 4 weeks. In essence, the repair started at my mouth and has slowly worked down through my body and now 8 months later I feel much better apart from some muscle aches each afternoon. Stick with it but the Nicorettes were a fairly pure form of getting more than a normal amount of nicotine in to my body for a long time. For everyone out there finding it hard, look for a great hypnotherapist, it made it all so easy for me. One session, no cravings and cured for life. I guess one day I will get my body back to the fit being I used to be.
Stu
June 16, 2018 at 9:18 pmI stopped June 6/18 I have smoked for over 50 years stopped many times before and always found it hard. This time June 14/18 no withdrawal systems gofigure!!
It’s all in the head??? Good luck to all. Stu
Khinmaunglin
June 15, 2018 at 4:55 amI am a long time chain smoker. Now I’m on my day3 nicotine free. Is there any tips and advice for me?
Lol
June 20, 2018 at 4:08 pmWhen a craving hits, distract yourself for 10 mins, it will pass. I am on day 4 , one day at a time. Good luck
Luis Ortega
June 13, 2018 at 10:27 amOn my third week since I smoked my last cigarette but haven’t been feeling well…cold sweats, dizziness, cold sensation of upper body, and trouble sleeping. Are these common withdrawal symptoms? I’m 29 and been smoking since I was 18
Janet Presley
June 11, 2018 at 11:33 pmI quit smoking a week ago and it’s been horrible!!! I have been nauseous, bad headache,dizzy,constipated, panic attacks you name it itve had it. Please tell me it gets easier!!!!!
Gene
June 14, 2018 at 9:48 amJanet – I have the same experience but get panic attacks once a day for some reason. I quit two times before and this never happened…I think they put new drugs in cigs to make them stronger and harder to quit. Lets both hope that its gets easier…my blood pressure is now high….hope it goes down.
Feelng down
June 11, 2018 at 6:07 pm4 months after quitting cold turkey and im feeling so so bad all and every day I just don’t know what to do. I feel I cant go back to smoking but cant face this anymore!
Dora
July 16, 2018 at 10:41 amGolly I feel exactly the same…so hard hoping that tomorrow will feel a bit better.not smoked for 3weeks but really struggling too.think the anxiety is probably the worst experience ever..will still keep going though
John
June 11, 2018 at 8:42 amI have been smoking for 26 years 1-2 packs a day. I am now on day 3…. Honestly to get me through the first week. I filled up my gas tank, and then gave my wallet to my wife. I pack lunch every day now. I can’t give in and buy a pack if I dont have any money. I keep my ID on me and my key card for work thats it. Until I feel I can trust myself I am not keeping money on me at all or I will give in. I know it.
viswa
June 11, 2018 at 5:36 amI have quit smoking cold turkey 9 days back – after 20 years of smoking. Believe me, it was horrible first 5 days.
I felt dull, down and anxious, also had tightness in chest- Couldnt take long and deep breaths due to blocked airways till 6-7th day.
Worst part was, these symptoms repeated themselves every 2-3 hours and stayed for 20-40 min everytime.
Now feeling little better- tightness in chest came to normal, being dull and anxious is going slowly.
I have no plans of getting back to nicotine back. Promised to a loved one so want to stay on.
Kenton
June 6, 2018 at 4:08 pmLove how the article says the average craving lasts only 6 minutes. Been almost 24 hours and haven’t had one second of releif. The intensity is insane and is only getting stronger. If this is day one I can’t imagine what day 5 will be like. Beginning to think quitting might be a mistake.
Dan
August 13, 2018 at 1:04 amHope you could get through that first day. If not, my experience is I’ve been 2 days off the cig and, even though I had a terrible evening yesterday and woke up at 4 am it’s no alarm clock, my body feels cleaner and relaxed. I think it only gets better so ?
Nikster
June 5, 2018 at 6:47 pmQuit smoking 7 years ago, stupidly started vaping 2 years ago. Just opened my last bottle of juice and then giving up for good. Any tips most welcome.
Brian
June 18, 2018 at 11:32 amRead Allen Carr’s book and try to find the webinar on YouTube. It’s more about changing the way you look at the addiction than anything else. Once you read it and understand it (sometimes it takes reading it twice to sink in) then quitting becomes MUCH easier.
Cory
July 1, 2018 at 2:20 pmI’m on the same path as well. This is day 4 for me without vape. I think its harder than cigarettes because of the physical addiction of blowing clouds. I quit cold turkey at 3MG.
How has it been going for you?
Jantina
June 5, 2018 at 6:28 pmThank you, everyone, I’ve read every comment; you people are an inspiration. It’s day 8 for me, I’m 54 years old, and I’ve been smoking for 35 years. I’ve given up a couple of times before but never for long. This time I decided to go easy on the nicotine replacements, only using them occasionally because I have never given up the nicotine before and this time I want to. Today is the first day the cravings (that buzzing on the end of my tongue), has eased off, so I’m not as anxious today. I have a terrible head cold (no it’s not withdrawal, definitely a bug), I’ve also got a tight chest, this morning it’s quite sore, and I’ve started coughing, I’m going to loosen up my chest with lots of hot herbal tea. I think the hardest part for me has been my inability to focus and concentrate. Sitting still and working I find extremely difficult, I want to keep moving, and so I’m struggling to get anything done which is a worry. I have a tip for those that want some help managing the anxiety. Anxiety often comes in short waves, when it happens, pull yourself aside mentally at that moment to be with that feeling, like a witness or an observer, be curious about that feeling, because this is the feeling that you were attempting to push down with your smoking. I find if I make room for the bad feeling, accept that its OK to feel it, it moves through me quickly. If I fight it, panic, run away it gets worse. Someone told me once that all smokers are trying to do is take a deep breath, makes sense to me, so now I take one! Take care people; you can do it!
Darren
June 5, 2018 at 10:30 amWanting to share my experience in hopes it can help someone else.
I smoked for about 20 years and finally said enough. I have tried a handful of times to quit using the nicotine patches and gum and failed. This time I decided to try quitting cold turkey (Best thing I ever did). Instead of delaying the nicotine addictions longer by using smoking aids. I took 3 days off of work before a weekend, and made a bed in the basement to separate myself from my family due to my anger and mood swings.
During the first 4 days, I didn’t do anything that I normally did that would have associated me having a smoke with that activity. I stayed in the basement, slept and slept, then slept more when I had a craving. I also ate what ever I wanted, this included many sweets, which I found replaced that feel good feeling you got from a cigarette.
I found the 4th day to be the worst for anger and cravings. The fifth day, I emerged from the basement and associated with my family again feeling like a different person. I had so much energy and I could not sit still. over the course of the next week all i did was workout, take long walks and read up on all the benefits of not smoking.
On about the 12 and 13 day, the cravings came back hard, but brief. I also found my energy levels dropped and i was really foggy in the mornings for a few hours each day. I am now on day 17 and I the cravings are few and far between. Every 2 days it seems to get better and better.
When I had a week moment, I would always go to a website and lookup the benefits of quitting and I told myself, I am a NON SMOKER and I am PROUD of that. For all of you quitting, good luck, remember it does get better.
R G
June 4, 2018 at 1:02 pm38 yo, I haven’t smoked a cigarette in 12 days after 18 years of a pack a day. I quit for 3 or 4 months 7 years ago and it took just one small stressful event as a trigger to go buy cigarettes ‘to just smoke one to deal with the stress’. 7 years later I am trying again. I had some episodes of high blood pressure (peaked at 204/110) and panic attacks, one of which sent me to ER. I am experiencing anxiety every now and then and high blood pressure (it goes up to 150-160/80-90), probably triggered by the anxiety. Also tiredness, foggy head, and a lot of guilt about not doing this sooner. I cut coffee as well cold turkey to help with the blood pressure. Changed diet to eliminate Sodium. Doing a range of tests to rule out anything more serious for the high blood pressure.
Reading all your comments helped get through another anxiety attack just now. Thank you for sharing folks.
I will share what is helping me with the anxiety and blood pressure: exercising and relaxation through breathing. I am doing 15-30 minutes a day of low intensity ellipticals, and some half a mile of running, will eventually ramp it up slowly. I am doing 10 minutes a day in the morning of breathing exercises and also when I feel the anxiety starting to kick. Just get in a comfortable position, breath deeply in and out and focus on the breathing, on the noise the breathing makes and on the air going in and out of your body. If your mind wanders, it is OK, when you catch it wandering go back to focusing on the breathing.
R G
July 6, 2018 at 8:16 amIn week 6 now. Almost all the symptoms are gone and blood pressure is down to 120/70. The only thing remaining is some small headaches in the morning, which go away quickly. No more anxiety attacks, I guess the body was just getting used to the new regime. No more foggy head. Had a couple of cravings last week, but they were very weak and after all I went through, it is just not worth it to start smoking again.
IBT
January 13, 2021 at 3:05 pmThank you!!!
TonyOM
June 1, 2018 at 11:40 amI’ve recently quit for the second serious time. The first time I relapsed after 3 months. This time I’m 5 days in, the withdrawals haven’t been too bad this time. However, I still get that hangover feeling, first thing in the morning.
Personally, the only real trigger for me is alcohol, which I consume regularly. As soon as I have 1 drink, I’m itching for a cigg. This time however, I’m determined to stay clear of the trigger’s and cope without both. It’s tough to think I’m quitting both, but I can assure you all it’s for the better.
My best friend told me the last time I quit, that quitting both is harder and don’t be too hard on yourself to quit both. But, that friend was wrong the last time. Now, I’m doing it on my own terms and am determined to last longer than last time. My advise to anyone is,
1. Keep trying until you succeed.
2. Do it cold turkey, without the help of vaping or non nicotine vape.
3. When you feel the body aching in the first weeks, it’s the body healing itself, so don’t give in to temptation.
Best of Luck!
Getting things off my chest
June 1, 2018 at 4:11 amWOW,
Smoking or Nicotine has been in my blood since the day I was conceived. My Parents and both their parents smoked and my mom smoked through all her pregnancies. I smoked between a 12-20 cigarettes a day for about 20 yrs. Normally this is something I wouldn’t even be thinking about but I quit smoking about 1 week ago. I am so tired, anxious, irritable and hungry and a few other things but my brain is off at the moment. I think when will this end? When will this craving or withdrawal stop? Then I read the info above…..It is a feeling you will have to deal with for the rest of your life. Okay think good reasons to quit……. think healthy thoughts…….. you can breathe, taste things better, smell the flowers, you can do this have a carrot. What am I saying…. I HATE CARROTS. Okay, this post took a wrong turn. Did I mention I’m irritated, I think I might have but I can’t remember. I could re-read what I wrote buy I’m tired. Sorry. Good luck to everyone on here. Apparently it gets better or so I’ve been told. Again Good luck to all.
fred
May 30, 2018 at 10:46 pmI and my girlfriend decided that we set the date of June 1, 2018, to stop smoking. I realize it will be one of the hardest habits to kick, but I have a strong mind and have the willpower to quit. I have been smoking for 30 years and I am tired of smoking. I am looking at the future together with my girlfriend’s help, and I helping her. IF YOU KEEP SAYING “I AM NOT A SMOKER” IT IS GOING TO HELP. I will be going to the steam room and sauna to help detox off this nicotine addiction. Worst habit I ever picked up, and I will succeed.
Doug T
May 30, 2018 at 12:11 amDay 14 off Nic from a 5 year vape affair, 22 years on Nic. Really tough. I’m being a big jerk. Going back to my vape on 6/2 if my attitude doesn’t objectively improve. Allen Carr can fuck himself.
Michele A
May 29, 2018 at 4:30 pmI have quit smoking for 3 weeks now, after smoking heavy for 58 years. I was experiencing SOB with exertion and had a bad cough. Was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and COPD years ago and was prescribed inhalers that helped. Sad part is, I worked medical and should know better than to continue smoking. It is a demon, for sure. After my first week of quitting, I had a problem and couldn’t breathe. Called 911 and luckily cleared mucus from my airway and didn’t need to go to the ER. The EMT found very high blood pressure and have continued to battle that for 3 weeks even with the BP meds. Still have tightness in chest, anxiety, stomach issues but not as severe as couple weeks ago. The withdrawal symptoms are horrible, but stay strong and it gets easier. I will be so happy when I can say I have no more symptoms and have a normal life again. I am so proud to say, I am a nonsmoker.
Michele A Worman
June 18, 2018 at 11:51 amI’m going to do an update….. I’m in month 2 now and still not smoking. Losing the urge to smoke and the bad withdrawal symptoms are settling down. No more shaking, blood pressure is dropping to normal levels (New BP medication though) I am still experiencing stomach issues and shortness of breath with exertion, mainly in the morning. My mood is more stabilized so I don’t feel like a crazed lunatic. Will be following up for a cat scan of the lungs and checking on the heart to make sure things are okay For all just starting, hang in there. DON’T give up everything at once. I cut way back on coffee, salt, sweets and fats. No way…I had to many withdrawal symptoms. I found coffee in moderation, salt in moderation, sweets as well. No problems and feel much better. I just refuse to light a cigarette and when I had a craving I told myself NO, I prefer NOT to smoke! Went and got my mind off of it. It worked!!!
HOPE
May 28, 2018 at 12:13 pmI’m on my 8th day of quitting. I tried Chantix and made me nauseaous. Now I’m Wellbutrin but the withdraws are awful. My fax is breaking out in a rash. Almost, like the toxins are trying to leave. The depression, anxiety and sleeplessness is horrible. I quit both times I was pregnant and I don’t remember it being this bad.
Gene
June 14, 2018 at 9:40 amHello – I think they are putting new toxins in cigs. because I quit two times in the past and never felt the way I do now. I think they changed things up in the last year.
tracey
May 28, 2018 at 3:40 amStopped smoking 4 months ago…. have been ill ever since .. never felt so sick in my life and feel like I am dying… AND I have had kidney failure in the past…… BUT I wont give in…. I started smoking when I was 11.. I am now 48… Not sure if my illness is due to quitting but it sure seems like it.
Jon C
May 23, 2018 at 10:39 pmAllen Carr is the way to go – Easy Way to Stop Smoking. If you don’t like reading watch the video on you tube (its about an 90minutes, Have an open mind and think positive and I think you will surprise yourself how easy it is to give up.
Ian
May 23, 2018 at 5:36 pmHave stopped smoking now for 28 weeks after 65 years.it has been hell .had all withdrawal symptoms .still get tired .but my taste buds are up the wall.at least the craving has gone.
Nadeem Qamar
May 23, 2018 at 12:34 pmi started smoking in 1981 and now quitting in April’ 2018 almost after 37 years.
One only need commitment with yourself. I did that and am happy with myself. Just take fruits, raw vegetables and lots of water with drops of lemon. Exercise helps a lots with deep breathing.
Best of luck to all. If anyone needs help, i am here.
dano
May 21, 2018 at 8:49 amFor anyone having trouble quitting, I would suggest reading Allen Carr’s “Easy Way To Stop Smoking.” No scare tactics, more about the positives of being nicotine and smoke free. Well worth to $13.99. I read it and it worked for me. Withdrawal was much easier than previous attempts to quit. Good luck to all!
Debby
May 20, 2018 at 8:41 pmToday is 2 weeks quit for me. I am a 64 year old female. I’ve smoked 2 packs a day for 30 years. I have an e-cig, that has re-fillable filters. I am now trying to wean off those. I’ve had 2 lung surgeries to remove nodules,luckily no cancer. I was not able to walk more that 25 feet without gasping, and now can see a small improvement with that.
Martins Obi
May 13, 2018 at 3:56 pmI quit cigarette four months ago after 20 years of smoking because I had a panic attack and since then the psychological symptoms of withdrawal has not fully gone. Some body pains, chest pains, anxiety and now discovered I have h pylori ( ulcer). But am not giving up cos I know every thing will be fine. So for all of us, let’s hang on, we will be glad we did.
PY
May 13, 2018 at 2:06 pmFirst time I ever took up cigarettes was in college but then was able to quit for 10 years. Took up again (multiple life stressors – all at the same time) – Some of the life-stressors are still there, but finally decided to call it quits yesterday – cold turkey. It’s been nearly 24 hours and it’s terrible but going strong so far. But the challenges still lie ahead..hoping that the prior quit experience will get me through this..this time it appears to be harder….just need to keep finding distractions and not think about the life issues. Would need support and distractions from anyone who can find time. Thanks. PY.
PY
May 14, 2018 at 9:24 am36 hours……
PY
May 19, 2018 at 9:57 pm168+ hours. 1 week. Survived the urges so far. As I write the urge is there…but will subside. Thanks PY.
Claudia
May 10, 2018 at 7:39 amI am on 11 days of no smoking cigs. I’m battling with insomnia and the past 3 to 4 days I have developed nausea to the point that every car trip entails pulling over and I cant keep down or finish a single cup of coffee. I’m concerned that my side effects are getting worse instead of tapering off. Feels like a Benjamin button case over here. Is that normal? What else should I expect?
Dianna
May 7, 2018 at 2:51 pmI’m having a much harder time giving up vaping, than I did cigs. I quit smoking in 2000 and started vaping in 2014. What tools did you use to stop? I get the tapering down, etc. but for me it’s a head thing.
Jerry Verbitski
May 4, 2018 at 9:12 pmMama didn’t raise no quitter
Darcy
May 3, 2018 at 5:53 pmAnd for those that are only on here to critique the way people write/spell/express themselves, your missing the ENTIRE message of this post and the reviews of those that are trying to make a positive change in their lives……… !
taylor
April 30, 2018 at 7:53 pmquit vaping recently, the psychological pain was nothing like ive ever experienced before, lasted for a full 9 days before i caved and bought nicotine gum. Took me another 6 months to ease off it, but I did it.
Peter Guenther
April 28, 2018 at 11:19 amI smoked since the age of 13. Now I am 77 and still active as a electronic engineer. Gave up smoking of some 40 cigarettes a day because of a rusty voice. for some time I puffed only 3 to 4 pipes a day.
However now I suffer from extreme dizziness. It is so bad, that I am afraid to loos
consciousness.
I do respect all you people who manage to give up. However I start smoking again.
Tatiana
April 16, 2018 at 5:00 pmI quit smoking 3 days ago, I know it isn’t very long, but I’m still going thru the hardest part and I feel like crying, especially when I work at the absolutely most stressful job. I forget to breathe and my chest feels tight. I hope I can get through this.
hercules
April 13, 2018 at 4:23 amthese comments are really helping
I got the flue a for 3 days and couldn’t smoke slept away most of the cravings
so I figured ive ben through the worst already on day 5
this is a great tool for a support group good luck every one and god speed
Megan
April 8, 2018 at 6:32 pmI’m five weeks in with no cigarettes. Got through the foggy head, lack of concentration, hideous constipation and irritability though still fighting weight gain and insomnia. But breathing much better now and blood pressure way down. But still have the occasional cravings, but not for so long and they soon pass. I used Jason Vale’s app to help me – along the lines of Allen Carr’s books and it really helped. Stops you feeling sorry for yourself and feeling like a loser and instead turns your mindset round to rejoicing and embracing your new lifestyle and pitying those stuck in the ‘nicotine trap’. It really worked for me – and for the price of a packet of fags – worth a go. Just pissed off with the weight gain – 11 lbs in five weeks. Had been considering taking up vaping as supposedly relatively harmless compared with smoking and allegedly helps with the getting fat – which is carcinogenic in itself, not to mention depressing, but looking at earlier comments it’s sounds as if it’s as hard to get off vaping as cigarettes, so maybe not such a good idea? Any comments anyone please?
Good luck to everyone though. It’s hard but if we embrace it as a positive lifestyle improvement instead of wallowing in self pity it does feel a whole lot easier. We’ll get there.
Sarah
April 7, 2018 at 9:32 pmHi everyone, I’ve smoked for 36 years and in week 3 of quitting, I take 1mg of champix per day and vape without nicotine just menthol flavour and I’m doing surprisingly well. When I get a craving I puff on the vape (Aspire PockeX). I think I’ll always miss ‘my best friend’ but the cost and smell I won’t miss. I’m going to try and exercise more and drink water when I get a craving. It’s great to read comments and advice from all the long term smokers, gives me real incentive. I’m supposed to take 2mg of champix a day but I couldn’t deal with the horrific nightmares I was getting and insomnia so I reduced the dose, it really is a miracle drug. Good luck to us all xx
Andrew
April 6, 2018 at 3:37 amIt’s not for everyone but I’ve been smoke free for a week now thanks to Chantix. No negative side effects and it’s been super easy. Can’t wait to tell my family when the one month mark hits. Most don’t even know I quit.
Kuaslaw
April 6, 2018 at 12:28 amI am a 43 mother of 4 and stopped smoking cold turkey In March 2018. My symptoms are horrible, over sweating, shaking, weak, nausea, loss of apatite. lost weight, and irritable. I was smoking 6 cigarettes per day. I am determine to quit and never go back, I was so sick, each time I think about a cigarette now, I think about how sick I was and the thought disappear.
I repeat to myself ” I am healed, I am delivered and I am set free!
yoyo
April 3, 2018 at 10:12 pmlovely people in here, after 15 years of daily smoke (including cannabis at night), i’m 4 days in cold turkey, not exactly easy peasy but certainly not the end of the world either, the trick is to change environment, take a weekend off camping for example, suddenly your habits are gone and it makes it much easier… best of luck i mean willpower to all!
Leslie
April 3, 2018 at 8:34 pmLove the support
Thank you
Thank you!!!
I smoked on and off for years so familiar with detoxing off nicotine. This time around I was a “vapomaniac” mainly because I can vape anywhere and it does not smell. I am day 3 no vape and the withdrawls are intense! I wasted monies on the disposable as I did not want to invest snd this did not lessen the nicotine which may have been an easier route 🙂 Nicotine is a hard drug to kick and entirely possible! I am on day 3 and breathing deeply????
John
March 26, 2018 at 2:41 pmI smoked for 20 years roughly around 20 sticks a day, quit cold turkey and had no side effects ,5 months in and don’t get cravings, just get past the first 72 hours and you’ll be fine.
Jim
March 24, 2018 at 1:48 pmHello,
Same story I guess. I am 56 years old and smoked over 40 years. I was up to about 3 packs a day. I decided to stop and vape instead. I started out at 6mg vape and now reduced to 3mg in a month. I am pleased with the vape actually and it is much better for you than cigs. I plan on getting to the zero level soon but now I have the headaches and am struggling with that part. I have tried every means before and they didnt work at all. Doctors tried and no luck. The vape is working so if I can drop the nicotine level with that and be fine then I am good with it. I breathe much better now and can tell a difference. If you get to the zero nicotine in the vape is it really that bad for you? I love the flavors and want that way more than the nasty cigs now. Even makes the house smell good. The wife and I are both on the same track and she is vaping with me.
EX- NON- I QUIT
March 23, 2018 at 2:33 amDay seven. I want to be done smoking, so I will be. I went to the doctor thinking I had either a double ear infection or throat cancer, or both. Was told nothing was wrong with me. Everything looked good and dropped them on the spot. 20 years smoking. That is a long time in such a short life. I have never felt worse. Felt like bronchitis, felt like the flu, felt like death was upon me. I am an emotional disaster, I don’t know how to deal with myself. No one knows how to deal with me. I am in a fog, I don’t sleep. The urge comes and I am laughing because it is stupid. Problem is how I struggle with myself. I do not want to smoke, so I won’t but, there is a part of me that thinks, dang, with the way I feel, why not just smoke, I felt better, people liked me more. My husband didn’t want to leave me. I didn’t feel like committing myself to a psyche ward. I could keep my eyes open while driving, etc. etc. So here’s the question. Will the emotional aftermath of quitting ever relax and subdue to feeling better. I know it will, and when I am on the go, it is less stressful but I am tired and don’t want to be on the go that much. One of these days. I just have to get through it, not really another choice. Gonna quit for me, for my family, God-willing they are still with me at the end of this hell ride.Stay strong, don’t give in and, if you do, you are not a failure, just get back on the boat.
Nathan
July 23, 2018 at 10:47 amI am with you 100%
I am on day 11 and I feel awful.
Cancer sores, sore throat, exhaustion, depression, feeling a lack of enjoyment in everything I used to enjoy, less motivation to do things that used to be a routine. It has been tough.
Some of the people on here have said that after a month all of these extra little anguishes get better, I am going to choose to believe that for the both of us! I know that we can do this and feel happy and great about everything! I have to believe that lol!!
You are awesome and you have my full support! May God be with us both!!! Sending love your way!!
Nadeem
March 21, 2018 at 8:18 amI was smoking for 12 years and it’s been a 10th day of being a nicotine free. Apart from regular withdrawal symptoms, I experienced vivid dreams and heart palpitations. I believe we can overcome withdrawal symptoms by using fuckin brain as it’s the only root cause of addiction so why not use it in getting rid of smokes.
Stay strong! Good luck everyone!
Serenity
March 19, 2018 at 11:48 pmi smoked for 30 years and i stopped a month ago and i had no idea of the symptoms. I just want to stop. I started feeling dizzy, nausea, headaches, scalp tenderness, hands and feet cold, irritability … name it. I never had anxiety until i experienced it. i thought i was sick and something is wrong with me. i always tell my husband that i want to go back to my old me and i started worrying. i had complete blood check and everything was ok. i told the doc that i stopped smoking and he didn’t discuss the symptoms of quitting. It’s true that you cannot concentrate or think good during nicotine withdrawal. i didn’t even think of google! why i didn’t google it in the first place? I healed myself thru prayers, reading how to remove anxiety, yoga, breathing, tapping, getting preoccupied by other things, controlling temper and many more. I didn’t get any support from anybody! To top everything .. i still able to go to work monday to friday 8-5. Today marks my 1 month nicotine free and i can still feel the tiredeness, a bit of anxiety, sleepy at work and i know i can pass this. The 1st 3 weeks was the worst especially if you don’t know that what’s happening to you are symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, and you don’t know what are the symptoms and I don’t even know what’s cold turkey! funny isn’t it? It was so tough for me! Have faith everyone, don’t look back when you quit. Pray to God to guide and help you. God bless!
surib
March 19, 2018 at 6:54 pmDay 12 here. Smoker for 44 years. I quite for 2 years about 20 years ago. Did it cold turkey back then and again this time. I am absolutely miserable. Can’t sleep. I eat everything in sight. Tired, cranky, no patience. I have cravings 30 times a day. I’ve been walking 3-4 times a day for 30-40 minutes. I usually feel better after I walk. The whole thing makes me so angry – that nicotine could take such a hold on my day to day life. I am determined to beat this and not let cigarettes ever take control of my life again! It is a tough fight and I am so proud of all those who have beat it!
Pete
March 18, 2018 at 4:03 pmHI
I am 24 hours in and so far so good. I am 63 years old and have about 130 pack years behind me. Smoked for 48 years and most of those years were 2 to 2 and 1/2 packs a day. ?I have tried almost every method of quitting an none have worked. This time I am using Chantix. more importantly, I am determined to quit this time unlike all the others.
Tamara Phillips
March 18, 2018 at 3:48 pmThis is day 2 of quitting and so far no problems! The demon took over me 37 yrs ago when things in my life went array….I knew that this day would come! Time to fight back what the demon has taken from me! MY INNOCENTS, MY CHILDHOOD, MY FAMILY… Cant change the past, but, I can change the future…. GOOD LUCK TO ALL, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
Kathy Halliday
March 18, 2018 at 11:59 amDay14 not smoking after 45 years of smoking. It is not getting any easier with the constant cravings for a cigarette. Headaches and feeling lazy are also horrible but I refuse to go through this HELL again and I refuse to spend any more money buying them. I can already see a healthier bank balance but oh I wish the side effects of not smoking were easier than this!
Doug Sweet
March 15, 2018 at 8:06 pmI smoked for 47 years and quit.I used a box of old patches I was given.14 patches I stretched out to 21 days.I am on week 7 my appetite really has not changed,but my bowel movements are surprising me,3 cobras daily!
Im thinking nicotine caused my body to withhold waste…no holding back now.
Smoking was never good to my body or health,yet I enjoyed smoking until it about killed me.Best of luck quitting
..just QUIT
Scott
March 13, 2018 at 3:04 pmBy day 3 the worst is NOT over. It takes a couple days for the nicotine to get out of your system so the withdrawal symptoms start to PEAK by the 2nd or 3rd day. I’d say make it a week and then you’re past the worst.. But still a ways to go. But make it a week and there’s no reason you can’t keep going.
Scott
March 13, 2018 at 2:59 pmI wonder if whoever wrote this has ever smoked before. The first week will go by in a flash? By day 3 the worst is over? Pfffft. The first week seems like about a year and I’m a month in and still feeling it.
Sv
March 13, 2018 at 12:21 pmSince everyone’s posting here, and I’m really irritated and bored at the same time, then I might as well share too…
I was on vape for years (around 60mg of nictotine per day, that’s the equivelant of 5 packs of L&M Blue). Going from cigs to vape was actually very easy, since cigs taste like shit and smell equally bad. Anyway, been around 1 month since I cu offt juice and started using Nicorette. Around 45 hours ago, I cut Nicorette too. Feel like shit. Anxious, paranoid, chest feels heavy, shallow breathing. My only hope is reaching 72, where according to the infographic – it’ll get better. Well it’d better.
Jody
March 13, 2018 at 2:29 amAfter reading many of the experiences with quitting cigs, I decided to leave a comment to help others with the process as well as to encourage myself. I am on the 2nd day and definitely have all the symptoms that go along with not smoking for 2 days. Serious headaches, sinus pressure.congestion, coughing, sore throat, irritation. I mean just the worse. I am beginning to feel a bit better but this quitting cigs is no joke!! I keep telling myself…I WILL BE SUCCESSFUL THIS TIME!! I put sticky notes on my mirror in the bathroom….YOU’RE DOING GREAT! YOU QUIT TO BE HEALTHIER! YOU HATE SMELLING LIKE SMOKE!!! NOT SMOKING HELPED YOUR BP!!! These things do help me with getting through the cravings. I did try vape but didn’t like that it burned my throat and made me cough like crazy. So vape didn’t become a prob for me. Best Wishes to you all.
Jack
March 12, 2018 at 10:15 pmBeen off the cigarettes for a month now. Was using one of those nasty vape pens from a gas station before researching and finding out they were just as bad as cigarettes…. So I went to a vape shop and got a mod. Started off with 6mg, worked my way down to three, and now on my first day with 0mg nicotine, and I feel fine. I think giving up the vape will be a challenge, but the way I see it… If I can stop smoking those nails and stay off of them, I can handle quitting the vape too! You all got this! I believe in you all.
Ty
March 10, 2018 at 9:50 pmIt will be one month this Wednesday that I have off nicotine cold Turkey! It’s hard I felt like I had the flu the first 2 weeks with sore throught congestion and coughing but I feel a hundred percent better. My car is clean I don’t miss moments with my kids and my wife is happier I motivated her to stop some of her own vices. Still miss the smoking nostalgia and still find myself going in the backyard to suck on an unlit cigarette couple times a day. I almost look forward to it cuz it’s the closest I plan to EVER light one of em cancer sticks up again! Hopefully the memories will fade but i feel like keeping a cig around is a symbol of my perserverance despite temptation since I havent lit it yet. Gl everyone.
John
March 10, 2018 at 7:05 pmI am on day 2, 48 hours in 1 hour. It is extremely difficult!! But reading these comments, and knowing I am not alone, helps alot! Thanks to everyone who has shared their story, I will just come back to this site on a daily basis for motivation! Well done to everyone! I am proud of you, and thanks again!
DaeDee
March 7, 2018 at 5:59 amhi all!
I smoked for 20 years, on my almost 2months cold turkey nicotine free now.still have fatigue, dizziness, nausea, feeling unhappy, loss interest like i don’t want to do anything at all, even just watching tv (never happened before) but still won’t give up!.I will try my best and see how long it will take to get my old me back (hope not for so long).Good luck everyone!
Akhil
March 24, 2018 at 8:22 pmI quit smoking on 05/11/2017
After two years of smoking on my 5th month cold turkey nicotine. Still having fatigue feeling unhappy lose of interest in activities fuddle minded mood swing all day worst at night headache all the time songs and exercise helping me to quit. Every week am improving but dizzy from more than a month and chest discomfort raised suddenly low concentration and short term memory hard to wake up. Waking with diziness and headache beddragging feel disorientation feels like total shit state. Help
Passed all the major and intense withdrawals except these.
TMatrix
April 12, 2018 at 9:37 pmOh my, DaeDee! You just described my last several weeks. I quit smoking on 3-11-18 after smoking for 40 yrs. I had to decide if I wanted to live or die. I had lost 75 lbs. over the past several years and have kept it off. I was scared that I would gain it back if I quit smoking. Ha! I lost 5 lbs. the first week of going cold turkey. And I think that was all that I ate as well! 🙂 Now that I am 1 month in I am not craving cigs, but feel like I have completely lost my sharpness and all I want to do is sleep. Thought I would be feeling so much more energetic by now. I do feel better physically, but feel like I have had a lobotomy!
Peter Guenther
April 28, 2018 at 11:27 amDaeDee thumps up for you!! However I am to week to do the same. Afraid as well to loos my job.
Vijay V
May 29, 2018 at 3:23 pmHi DaeDee, How you feeling now. Does it get better? I feel the same as you have described. I have quit 2-3 months back.
Nck
March 7, 2018 at 5:05 amIt’s mostly about muscle memory, not addiction. When we sleep, we don’t smoke because muscle memory is at bare minimum. Anyway, during the first 3-4 days, change the thing you keep reaching for(a smoke) to unsalted sunflower seeds or peanuts…something like that and NOT carrot sticks…it has to be orally gratifying..it’ll be a LOT easier to quit.
Tracey
March 6, 2018 at 11:02 amI’ve just stopped on Sunday night after 26 yrs, I’m doing it cold turkey, actually been not too bad, my kids are my motivation plus what I can spend all that extra money on
Ace
March 3, 2018 at 9:33 amI’m into my second week of not smoking. I smoked for 8 years, and have found that replacing the habit with exercise has proven tremendously helpful. I’ve become an avid runner, and mess around with free weights a lot. When ever i get craving i go out for a walk and listen to music till it subsides.I think the trick to being successful in breaking the habit is picking up something new to take up the time you used for smoking, just try to pick up a positive habit. Good luck everyone.
Bill Teh
March 2, 2018 at 7:32 amSmoke for 15 years and im on my 3rd months free from nicotine 100%. Had anxiety , weight loss , panic attacks, lack of concentrations, feeling down from time to time and etc etc. No excuses, you do what you gota do, heal your body and heal your soul, you are gaining more time on this world with your family by not smoking at all.
Stay strong everyone
Cheers
Ken
March 2, 2018 at 6:25 amits hard to get rid of it , i’ve been started vaping 3 years ago . now struggling to quit completely from nicotine . all u need to do is create a new positive hobby exp learn to play guitar or singing it’s called subtitude to replace ur bad habit as smoker or vapers .
do your best !
Kristina
February 28, 2018 at 9:41 amI had my last smoke on feb 16th at 9am. I am on champax. I smoke a vape with zero nic to help get the cravings to pass. I have to take my pill with food and some times i get so busy i dont have time to eat. When that happens my last pill runs out and I go zero to 60 on the cravings, it is hard hard hard without the champax. I recommend champax to anyone who wants to quit. It will not take the cravings away you still have to be strong and battle it out but it makes it a hell of a lot easier. Good luck to everyone quitting, you can do it.
Angela
February 27, 2018 at 11:02 pmI smoked 1-2 packs a day for a couple years, in the last month cut down to half a pack, Thursday – Sunday I smoked 5 a day, then cut out cold turkey. I am on day 2 and have not been able to stop crying. I am a single mom of 2 boys (3 and 7) and if I dont make it through this I will die trying to be smoke free for my babies.
Danny
April 12, 2018 at 11:27 amYou still smoke free, Angela? It’s been a few months. I’m on day 3, the mood swings are bad (not like me at all). In a strange way, I’m teasing the cravings “is this all you can throw at me” and believe it or not, it works wonders for my mental position.
Karen Sandall
September 7, 2018 at 8:34 pmI love the “Is this all you can throw at me!”. Good attitude and that will be my mantra! I’m on day 12, no nicotine at all. Seeing an accuputurist who told me, you can NEVER have even one again because your addiction will get worse every time you try to quit. Of course I cheated the 1st week. So he told me i wasn’t serious about it. I needed to smoke for 5 or 10 more years until I needed oxygen. Well, I am recovering from breast cancer and a failed reconstruction, due to a staff infection. My chance at getting some breasts is a lattisimus dorsi flap reconstruction for which I need to be a non smoker for at least 6 weeks. Longer would be better I know. So my words of wisdom would be, thinking about quitting was way worse than doing it. And I WAS a smoker for 48 years. I am vaping no nicotine but not even that very much! And as someone else pointed out the cravings usually only last 10 minutes + or – a few. We can all make it through that!! So go Baby!! You can do it!!
Myra
February 27, 2018 at 10:16 amIm happy 6 years of no smoke and to jail out of addicted to cig. But went to all of syntom it is very hard and always make a new year resolution promised always breaks. Its done never again goodluck to those who wants to stop if you quit quit dont look backward and lessen then stick its all desame one stick or more but its big help to,breath have a nice breathing to all sorry for my english .
Sherie
February 22, 2018 at 2:02 pmI’ve been a smoker for 33 years now and have been smoke free for 53 days today I’m proud to say. It hasn’t been easy but I will share that reading blogs like this truly helps. I’m on this blog today because I’m having a craving. Also, I reach out to a good friend who is a non smoker of 8 years and he has helped me get through my cravings big time! The best advise I ever got was, its okay to crave a cig but just wait 15 minutes to decide if you still want one. 15 minutes at a time really got me through some major cravings! I’m turning 50 in October. I was only able to quit before when I was pregnant with my 2 children but started up again shortly after they were born. Stupid! I want to play with my future gandbabies and not smoke around them was my drive to quit! I went for a long hike with my daughter yesterday and was able to do it without coughing! I’m so proud of myself! My daughter who is 24 and graduating college soon said “Mom, I never thought you would quit and you’ve given me the confidence that I can do anything”! I teared up! Especially when I realized that my kids have never known me as a non smoker! Very Sad! Be strong, go to bed early and add another day to your accomplishment. You can do it! Do it for yourself!!!!
Billy
February 22, 2018 at 3:19 amI’ve been feeling dizzy for a month or so and I have had allergies is this cause I’ve quit vaping
Billy
February 22, 2018 at 3:19 amWhat do I do?
Daniel
February 20, 2018 at 7:58 pmStay strong . Drink water and remind yourself why you doing it
Daniel
February 20, 2018 at 8:01 pmBelieve in our self .stay strong , drink water and keep reminding yourself why you quitting.
Corey lee
February 19, 2018 at 8:11 pmI’ve smoke for 15 years. I quit smoking on Valentine’s day. I’m having cold sweats, insomnia, crazy lucid dreams, head aches, and weird tightness in my chest. I was able to sleep for the first time last night… crazy dreams and night sweats.
I’ve been extremely agitated for the last few days, but that is passing finally. Reading everyone’s posts has helped me out today, so I e decided to post myself. I’ll post again once I’ve reached the two week mark. I’ve got this, we’ve all got this. Good luck and godspeed.
Cale
February 19, 2018 at 1:45 pmToday is my 11th day without smoking. I am 42 and have smoked regularly since I was 13, with the exception of a year I quit for in 2003-04
The first few days were easy, the pangs were very slight and I easily brushed them off. My mannerisms were happy.
The last week has given me slight headaches and unusual dreams, neither of which have bothered me. My cough and cold symptoms went very quickly which was nice!
The last couple of days have been tough because I have become irritable. I hope this doesn’t last for too long, this is the symptom I really dislike (and so do those around me) and I honestly thought after the first few days the possibilities for this had gone.
Mary
January 13, 2018 at 2:57 amSmoker for 35 years and was definitely ready to quite. Didn’t want to fail at quitting so researched and went to Imagine Laser. its been 7 days without a thought or craving. Seems a bit strange, like I was always a non smoker, been easier than I thought but experiencing some mild headache and insomnia. I still drink my coffee and wine which were 2 big triggers. Know it’s early days but know I won’t go back. Would definitely recommend but you have to be mentally ready or you’ll be wasting your money. Good luck!
Michael
January 12, 2018 at 4:44 pmCongrats to all of you for making the decision to be non smokers.I have recently quit… Actually im now 21 days smoke free. The hardest obstacle for me was facing the fear of quitting .The first week of physical withdrawals have not been pleasant but manageable. My advice to all is this… Face it craving by craving. Exercise and lots of water, fix your mind on the mantra this to shall pass, and remember be a non smoker is so much better than a slow suicide of smoking. Good luck and God speed to all of you in this fight
Angela
February 27, 2018 at 11:03 pmI tried to stop crying when it started but then realized I have to because my body and brain need the release. It cant get it from a cigarette anymore.
Samm
May 17, 2018 at 3:22 pmthis motivated me
Leo
January 12, 2018 at 4:30 amHi all,
I am at day 5 now. All these comments here are helping me to succeed. Keep it up!
Joel Traeger
January 11, 2018 at 5:03 pmYou’ll quit eventually ya’ll! My day came on New Year’s Day. Smoked my last one at the Urgent Care parking lot. Back pain was actually a major heart attack at 42 years old. 3 stents and a catheter in my femoral artery motivated me. Day 11 and I’m doing great! I vape all day as needed 0 nicotine. Never go back. Just remember, you’ll always be an addict so yes, have your wine and go hit all your triggers now and blow through that wall now.
Fliss
January 11, 2018 at 2:11 amHi guys.
Just wondering from ex smokers how long it took for them to not have cravings anymore etc?
Also anyone planning on using a vape as a nicotine replacement. I really wouldn’t recommend. I believe it’s more addictive than smoking in my experience. Its far too convenient!
Shashi
January 10, 2018 at 9:15 amM thinking of quitting but not abel to but when i saw all t comments made my mind to quit now i smoked aroud about 15 years now wann to be a non smoker
Richard
January 10, 2018 at 6:00 amToday is my 5th day of no smoking for my 3rd time attempt of quitting. My first try lasted for 4 months and the second lasted 3 months. I’m hoping this time would be my last and no more relapse. It’s really true that one puff can get you back to a pack a day smoker.
Charles Uh
January 9, 2018 at 4:55 amI’m on day 8 of no smoking. 1st week was very hard. Felt like I was in a haze for the 1st week and very irritable. But week 2 is so much better and now I can see myself doing it. Lungs already feel better. Smoked for 20 yrs. Trust me of I can do it you can do it.
Katie
January 8, 2018 at 2:28 amI’ll just put this out here… I’ve smoked cigarettes on and off for 15 years. I quit cold turkey each time I got pregnant (3 times) and stupidly got hooked on them again after 6 months of breastfeeding each kid. Like clock work. I am getting surgery now in a week and chose to get off the cigarettes again as I want recovery to go well, so here I am, for the fourth time, quitting. 1 week in.
I’m also a recovering heroin addict. Was addicted to heroin for 4 yrs, clean from it for 7 yrs now. Let me tell you this, I’m tired of hearing how nicotine withdrawal/addiction is worse than heroin addiction. People, consider yourself lucky that you are going through nicotine withdrawal and not heroin withdrawal. I’m not telling you this to put you down, I’m honestly telling you this to give you strength. You CAN do this, as can I. Because I went through heroin withdrawal aND nicotine withdrawal, and I’d rather go through nicotine withdrawal any damn day over heroin withdrawal (hence why I keep picking it back up, but best believe I won’t ever touch H again, given the withdrawal I went through, even the mental withdrawal). Ya’ll can do this. Nicotine cravings go away after a few minutes each time. Heroin cravings get worse and worse until it’s completely over. Good luck everyone!!
Carl
February 19, 2018 at 1:57 pmKatie, good on you, and I relate to what you are saying. I have been through heroin withdrawal myself, 17 years ago after a relatively short-term habit. The withdrawal symptoms are on a completely different level to those from nicotine! I have found it an absolute definite that I wont go back to that stuff!
However, to be fair on the article (and others I have read) it is stating that nicotine is as addictive as heroin but it doesn’t compare the withdrawal symptoms. I personally agree with that and I think it is just that people reading it, who have not experienced both, have misinterpreted the statement.
Wishing you the most amount of success, I’m in my second week and have unexpectedly struggled for the last two days, but I am still determined.
Reading this helped – thanks! 🙂
Giovanni Schiavone
January 6, 2018 at 1:38 pmHey, been a smoker for 24 years. Tried giving up, never really wanted to deep down, so kept doing it. I decided to get and a vape, it’s been 3 weeks now, I’ve vaping 6 and 3 of nicotine, and will start to mix 3 and 0 from next week. Igor believe that if I can stop cigarettes, I can stop vaping. Only down side is the stomach pains and wanting to sleep more than usual. I’ve starting drinking more water, and this seems to help so not napping so much. I wish everyone all the best of luck quitting. I know the effects are a nuisance. They’re not forever, so I’m told. And going through the worst of it. The only things my lungs need is fresh air.
Giovanni.
Ajay
January 6, 2018 at 8:39 ami started all bad habits 2 years back and been continuing for the last 2years . I will have a bad habit if i quit one(neither cig nor dipping). 3months back i quit all bad habits except smoking. actually i relapsed many times in the past 2 years. yesterday i quit smoking i feel so confident but withdrawals are there. Always hate to quit bcz it may effect sleep but from yesterday i decide whatever happens i won’t relapse and imagining myself as non smoker.
Jason H
January 5, 2018 at 3:14 pmI quit cold turkey almost 2 weeks ago, I been feeling anxiety, alergy or illness like symptoms. Im sure the 3 degree weather is not helping. I havent been able to sleep well, lucid dreaming nightmares…. ugh, this is the god knows how many times I quit for more then a couple weeks. it seems every time I do quit it gets harder and more difficult through the withdrawals! I have to quit for sure, found out I have an intestinal yeast/fungal infection and in order to get rid of it I have to quit nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, I havent drink for a month, nor caffeine, nicotine was hardest to kick. Been going to the gym, im just ready for 6 months to pass!!!
Ronda
May 4, 2018 at 3:36 amJason, to get rid of your yeast and fungal stuff you have to go gluten free too. Your body treats gluten/wheat like sugar which causes yeast and fungal infections. I had it too. Now I am in my 5th day of nicotine free. Going thru every withdrawal symptom that drug every created. After the 10th day I am going to detox my whole body to get rid of any lingering withdrawal symptom. Everybody needs to take a good multivitamin and mineral to help heal affected parts if our body. Just make sure they are not hard pills. Only powder capsules or gel caps. Calcium gel caps with magnesium and vitamin d will help you sleep. SCHIFF BRAND. Also Wal-Mart has a bottle of sleep aides for $4.00 That is Equate sleep aide. 25 mg. 32 tablets. Has a picture of a little blue oblong pill. You will sleep like a baby. Won’t make you drowsy and can wake up at any time necessary feeling rested. People save about them. Are not habit forming.
Luis
January 5, 2018 at 6:04 amHello guys,
I am currently 25 years of age soon to be 26. I started smoking since I was 18. Of course at a young age I was always on and off on smoking. During the the age 18-23 I could smoke one day and months could pass and I wouldn’t crave it. I guess you can say I was a social smoker. My smoking habits started to get worst on 2016 (age 24). I smoked pretty much every day (2017, age 25). I would smoke maybe a pack a day. I would wake up to a cigarette get ready for work and smoke another one on my way to work. Same routine for a year. I have a gambling issue as well. Every night I would go to the casino I could smoke 2 boxes within 3 hours. I decided to quit. My last cigarette was Dec 28 2017. I started to feel sick. Being winter I thought I had caught the flu since I have very stuffy nose. I was producing a lot of mucus, my body ache and had frequent headaches. But today Jan 4, 2018 11:55 pm I think I am experiencing something else. I didn’t imagine that nicotine withdrawal was even a thing. Since yesterday I started to feel anxiety. Last night I felt like someone was jumping on my chest. I seriously thought I was going to have a hearth attack that I was even afraid to go to sleep. All day today I’ve been thinking of a cigarette. On my way to work this morning I was imaging my self smoking how I usually did that it made me so depressed. Tomorrow I don’t even want to go. I don’t know if it’s the nausea but all day I was producing so much saliva and had the need to go many times either outside or restroom to spit it all out. I didn’t slept well last night. Kept waking up. Right now I am not sleepy at all. Is this really real or am I making up lies in my head that trying to give my self a reason to smoke. It’s been nearly 5 days. I can’t stop the small coughs, headaches, my hands and feet sweating uncontrollably…. I was also anxious to go to the casino today but didn’t. Leaving one bad habit behind is hard, now doing two at the same time; I feel like I am going crazy!
Penny
January 13, 2018 at 6:27 pmYou are not going crazy. That’s just the side effects of trying to quit. You can do it. I smoked 38 years and have quit for 3. Trying to stop vaping beginning today. Good luck and don’t give up!
Fran
January 13, 2018 at 9:42 pmPoor baby, wish I could tell you that it will be better tomorrow, but it will take at least 3 more weeks. I’m in my 3rd week, almost gave in this am, but I have something on my “goal” list in addition to the regular reasons why I want to quit. This reason occurred when I started to write, it just popped into my mind & gave me new sense of encouragement. Try sitting quietly with pencil & paper just put your feelings down. Got to say you are so smart quitting at your young age! Best wishes.
Gareth
February 20, 2018 at 6:44 pmThis is how I’ve felt I’ve gone cold turkey now and I’m on day 9 none smoking and day 6 without patches I feel awful I feel tired, cranky, chest tight body aches lots of spit (sorry) but it slowly getting better I think I’m not sure how long it lasts for this ill feeling?? I too had anxiety attack last week I was going to the hospital because I couldn’t breath but when my partner calmed me down I was OK,
Gene
June 14, 2018 at 9:44 amI experienced the same…how do you feel now?
richard harrier
October 11, 2018 at 1:31 ambeen wondering why I was getting that .glad to know it might be part of the process .quit 2 mo.ago have copd and have a hard time breathing.been wondering how long the anxiety attacks last .havn’t slept good for the last month
Kanu
January 5, 2018 at 12:20 amGood article! I quit in 2018, I have tried it before but this time it was abrupt! Till now chest congestion and sleeplessness
Deshaun
January 4, 2018 at 5:19 pmBeen smoking cigs for a long time…26 years. I’ve made plenty of attempts to quit in the past but never made it a few hours without smoking..SMDH?…
Here I go again, except I this time I primed myself with the metal preparations for a couple weeks before jumping right in.
I smoked my last cigarette 1/2/2018 at 4:00 pm….. Its 1/4/2018 at 12:16 pm and i still havent smoked… Its hard, but I’m LIT..Im all the UP and I have God…. Will post again on day 30
Danni G
January 4, 2018 at 12:04 pm4 days in to quitting vaping here! I quit smoking about 2 years ago & been vaping since. Although I got down to 6mg nicotine with the vape juice, I was vaping all the time so finding quitting this cold turkey a lot harder (I’ve tried cutting down in the past but didn’t work for me).
Day 4 symptoms: overslept & got into work40minutes late, feeling super tired & just not with it, no concentration, zero motivation, don’t want to talk to anyone today & just want to go home & hibernate ?
Decided that tonight I will stop off on way home for some healthy snacks & chewing gum (after eating constantly last few days!) & will get St Johns Wort supplements to try & balance my emotions a bit.
Good luck all of you!
We got this ??
Cataya
March 6, 2018 at 4:43 pmTaking a magnesium supplement will help too 🙂
K kerr
May 10, 2018 at 9:39 pmI thought i was doing a good thing by giving up my two cigarettes a day and going to a juul vape. Turns out im now chain smoking the menthol flavor pod, the equilvant of a pack a day. Now i cant stop and they make no flavor pods without nicoitine so i cant reduce slowly.. i was fooling myself that the nicotine was ok. It was the tar thats the problem. But when you cant stop something, there is an evil there too
NON SMOKER cause I chose that
January 1, 2018 at 8:22 amCut the crap everyone. You weren’t born addicted to nicotine. You, and only you acquired the habit. When you decide you WANT to be a non-smoker – throw the damn things away and call y ourself a non smoker, not a smoker that has gone 3, 23, 56,78,123,453, etc days without a cigarette. YOU need to think of yourself as a damn NON smoker. Addiction is a weakness. I hate weaknesses. Get a grip, put your big girl/boy pants on and throw the damn things out. No excuses.
Mário
January 2, 2018 at 8:53 pmGreat…
That’s it…
No excuses…
Laurie
January 3, 2018 at 7:50 pmWhat are you even doing here?
AngieB
January 4, 2018 at 1:29 amGlad you aren’t running an addiction clinic! I feel the way you wrote,towards alcoholics and drug addiction. Quitting these cigarettes aren’t easy either…. Good luck in 2018 to all of y’all quitting cigarettes too,I’m 3 days in myself 🙂
HeatherAnn
January 11, 2018 at 4:45 amThanks AngieB! 5 days here having that throat scratchy chest tightness thing which really triggers my anxiety! But I’m quitting for good. I’m not even craving so i didn’t think I’d be so anxious ?
Lee
June 15, 2018 at 1:08 pmI have GAD n PTSD… so anxiety is 24/7 with or W/O cigs/nicotine… n since ur seretonin n dopamine levels r wayyy down do to quitting cigs (nicotine AND the mental AND physical withdrawals).. try Vit B’s and Ashgwanda … (IT HELPS ME TREMENDOUSLY!….PLEASE ASK UR DR 1ST!!!
Gym B.
June 10, 2018 at 3:51 pmI am on day 4, im going cold turkey from a 56 year 2pk/day habit. This is my 3rd attempt to quit. This time i have several boxes of 21,14,&.07mg patches and an unopened pack of my favorite brand of cigarettes on hand just in case it turns out that i am so weak i just can’t go on. So far my “super-power” is still TRUMP…that superpower of the ability to decide( that happens to be as strong as i am ready to commit to that decision ), and i first decided that decicions are the ultimate power
Jen
January 5, 2018 at 3:47 amSure, you can say that cuz you have never been there. Unfortunately, I have and so have alot of other people here. If you want to make some positivity here, try egging these folks on for their attempts instead of cutting everyone like you know what’s going on here. If you have never smoked, you will never understand the attempts at breaking the cycle of addiction. Go back to your never smoked world. Not sure why you were here to begin with.
J
January 5, 2018 at 9:32 amWhere’s the “like” button?!! 🙂
While it’s true you obviously know nothing about addiction (no disrespect intended), we all need any army sergeant like you for a friend!
Jason H
January 5, 2018 at 3:09 pmQuitting nicotine is equivalent or worse then heroin and cocain. Good talk though!
New non smoker
January 8, 2018 at 1:55 pmSo glad that your a non smoker. But to be mean and judgemental is not necessary, this is for support and information.
Karen
January 9, 2018 at 8:04 pmWhoa… lol easy Non-smoker! 🙂 Happy New Year!
Linda
March 2, 2018 at 12:34 amSays someone who doesn’t have a clue. Really was I ever a non smoker? Both parents and all adults in my childhood smoked. Back then almost everyone smoked. I started at 12. Quit 2 months ago and will not go back but I want to everyday.
Keep your comments to yourself since like I said you don’t have clue
Me
March 15, 2018 at 7:32 pmSound like you could use a smoke. Lol
ka
March 29, 2018 at 4:44 pmNON SMOKER needs to calm tf down omg lololol.
Former smoker
April 22, 2018 at 10:37 pmAsshole. Why the hell are you on this? Obviously not for support. Get a life. Loser.
Ex-Smoker
June 1, 2018 at 3:24 amIs withdrawal from smoking a credible reason for wanting to strangle people like you?
Arnie
July 3, 2018 at 8:34 amIdiot
Nancy Kane
July 16, 2018 at 6:24 pmI think it’s helpful and positive to call yourself a non-smoker if your not smoking. But I will argue I was born addicted. After two children, my mother began smoking because she heard it made smaller babies. She smoked the rest of her life, even up to 7 packs a day. (Ask older truck drivers. This is possible). My mother smoked in the shower! I started at ten, but did not smoke three months before, during pregnancy or nursing. I am the smallest in the family but my boys are six one and two. I quit for eight years. I go on and off. I was always able to quit cold turkey. Biut this time and the time before I could not do it. I tapered off the time before and this time using patches. I have my first grand baby and have a bite the bullet determination. Everyone here wants to quit, seems to me.. The thing that helped me most besides prayer was exercise. Gods blessings all.
Doodles
December 31, 2017 at 12:01 pmI stopped smoking 18 months ago. I smoked for about 5/6 years. I then vaped for 16 months the last three months on zero nicotine juice. I’ve not had a vape in 2 months so months off the nicotine and I still get withdrawal symptoms several times a day, my tongue feels like it’s burnt from eating a hot stew, I guess the inside of my head feels the same.
Kathryn Lloyd
December 30, 2017 at 2:02 amIt has been 10 days without a cigarette for me. I had bronchitis the 1st 3 days & was on antibiotics so I had no desire to smoke. Now I use the gum, not sure it helps, but thinking of the gum pain, devastating coughs and degrading & harmful steps that had to be taken to hide it from the landlord, I’m just gonna do it! I’m trying to visualize myself as a non-smoker. Once I do that , I think it will be easier. Best wishes go out for all of you.
mika797
December 29, 2017 at 7:43 amI stopped smoking 12 days ago… i dont use vapes, patches and so on… eth was ok but now I have breath problems and heartbreak problems. thin that it nervous .
Aaron Gharibian
December 27, 2017 at 3:10 pmI got 5 days today off. I’ve had a few, super minimal stogemans as of today. With a virus 2, haha. It was bad, and it still will be for months to come. It takes time. But I’m 25, 120 lbs, and I know I got this. I started at 15 and a half, so been at it almost a decade, I’ve probably had at least 80k ciggies so far, but believe it, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING…
Just remember your made of tougher stuff then what u think u got.
I can’t wait to crush puny men like confetti.
Karla
December 27, 2017 at 3:31 amI just want to die quit smoking 6 weeks ago with the help of the patch took last one off tonight and I am so irritable and want to die I hate this feeling can’t take it
Steve
December 30, 2017 at 11:16 pmHi Karla, I have smoked for 40 years and recently went to the NRT which I was addicted to as well! A week ago I went off everything and I hear you it has been really tough. But I refuse to spend the money, i refuse to go thru this again, i refuse to cough and splutter and i refuse to let it beat me. Stay with it WE can do it
Jennifer Summerlin
December 26, 2017 at 9:23 pm1 week since I last smoked. Had a few drinks last night and that was hard. But I feel like doing the same things I did before and coping..no point in putting off the triggers because I enjoy wine. I would rather get out all the bad triggers during the first few weeks since it’s the hardest. I honestly feel way better but do feel lazy and sluggish! The worse part was the headaches which I never get and the wine trigger. I downloaded quit guide as a reminder for why I wanted to quit. The quit smoking apps are great tools! Good luck, you got this, and the cravings can’t be as bad as what it’s doing to your body.
Colly
January 4, 2018 at 2:01 amI agree don’t put off the things that may trigger a return to the demon..deal with it..iif its a coffee have it if its a wine have it..but do not smoke..dig deep..very deep..find a place that is there but you have not found before that say no more…not ever ..never..and then…just don’t..NO MATTER WHAT..good luck..we can all do this..we can
Fran
January 13, 2018 at 9:27 pmHi Colly, your comment will be the last one I read today. It makes sense out of all I’m trying to do. This is my 3rd week so I need to read & listen to encouraging comments like yours. Thanks.
dolores budden
December 24, 2017 at 2:15 amI am 2 months in on quiting smoking, it was so hard to do but I did it, I feel amazing, I can breathe again,when I walk from my car to work i can’t wait to take a big breath of fresh air.my skin tone looks healthier I don’t feel run down and I enjoy my job so much morel
Deshaun
January 4, 2018 at 5:23 pmWow….congrats…. You inspire me….33 hours with no cig
Andrea Ingram
December 21, 2017 at 9:49 pm5/13/17 was my cold turkey quit date…for the past 6 month I have had severe anxiety and it seems worth at night when I lay down. I have not sleept an complete night sins than. Dr gave me welbutrin and some anxiety med that did not help at all..aroma therapy as well as magnesium and zink…dont know what to do? Dr said to see a psychologist???
Annie
February 24, 2018 at 12:50 amAndrea do you exercise? It helps tremendously because it releases endorphins and other feel-good hormones which is sort of what the cigarettes did. You need to get your heart rate up high enough where you can’t easily say a sentence, that’s when the feel good stuff kicks in. Try to get in at least 30 minutes a day. Any activity is fine as long as you’re raising your heart rate like I said. Good luck!
Bhavesh Budhadeo
December 19, 2017 at 9:28 amI quit cigarettes on 12-12-17,I was smoking almost 12-14 per day, but on that day I decided that I would not even touch the cigarette.I felt carving for it but I replaced it with chocolate and today 19-12-17 is carving is less than before.
I started work outs 2 hours daily and drinking 8-10 glasses of water.
Everyone should try this….it helps
Donna Yuille
December 11, 2017 at 11:03 pmI stopped for 4 months with a vape and realised I was still ingesting nicotine.. started smoking again sadly.. so downloaded stop smoking in 2 hours and dug deep. Into day 3 nicotine vape and cigarette 3 feel great and realise no physical symptoms just mental niggles.. I’m not going back I hated smoking so glad to say I’m free from it.! Good luck to everyone trying 95% psychological and 5% physical on the withdrawal symptoms remember they soon subside.
Christina
December 7, 2017 at 2:23 pmI am 48 hours into quitting smoking. I am 39 and have been smoking since I was 17. I had quit two times in those years one tome because I was pregnant and it was a breeze and the second time just because, it didn’t last long, I went back to smoking a month later and here I am today regretting ever placing a cigarette to my mouth. I think of all the damage I have done over the years and feel angry at myself. I am experiencing feeling very fatigue, irritable and the strange thing is I have no appetite probably because of my anxiety being up. To those that are quitting keep moving forward, you can do this. Think of your loved ones and your health that will benefit from it.
Fran
June 26, 2018 at 7:22 pmI’m 36 hours into not picking a cig up the only prob won’t m having now is alittle anxiety and blotting in the tummy and a father who is negative as heck
Christine
December 2, 2017 at 10:01 pmI’ve quit smoking 4 weeks ago. Week 1 and 2nd was the worst! I’ve got serious depression episodes and anxiety and I felt like my brain was exploding! I’m still having headaches and insomnia but it’s getting better week by week. Thank you for this useful information and good luck for everyone!
hmc
December 1, 2017 at 10:01 amI am quitting again after 30 years and now 6 back. This is week one. I was wondering if any of you have perceived the unusual dreams thing in the withdrawal side-effects. I toss and turn and when I sleep I have these really bizarre yet realistic dreams i can remember. I also hear voices in these dreams. Has that happened to anyone here? Maybe the experts that wrote that report have some pointers. is it dementia?
Kandy
January 5, 2018 at 1:30 amI’ve had the most bizarre dreams. I’ve Always been a vivid dreamer but it’s been crazy the last 2 nights. Not to mention I slept most of the day today bc of a terrible migraines…. craziest dreams!
Lee
February 22, 2018 at 9:19 pmNo! Ur nottt crazy! Or we both are! Lol. I’m Glad u posted this! I’ve been turning the TV on mute and stopping dead in my tracks since I quit smoking after 35yrs! It’s been since Jan 2, 2018.. BECAUSE I KEEP HEARING FAMILIAR SOUNDS (that are not there) AND VOICES (familiar AND just can’t make them out… BUT THERE NON EXISTENT!) … it has been slacking off now! THANK GOODNESS! I honestly was wondering IF I WAS REALLY GOING INSANE from some underlying issue I wasn’t aware of having. I HOPE they sooon DISSAPPEAR for you! I KNOW that they are for me! Thank you for ur post.. I haven’t seen it anywhere else! Puts my mind at ease.
Sam
June 24, 2018 at 9:14 pmOh yes! I started using Chantix and cut down for a week before quitting. The dreams are intense, bizarre and vivid for a while but they level out.
Sarah
November 30, 2017 at 10:53 pmHi everyone,
I am also a former cigarette smoker then became a vape smoker. The vape was harder for me to quit because I smoke it from when I first woke up til I fell asleep at night. My vaping was equivalent to the nicotine of 2.5 packs of cigarettes. I tried quitting multiple times but the withdrawal symptoms were horrible. All I wanted to do was sleep and I became really depressed and ended up back on the vape. This time I quit. I did it slowly but the right way this time. I smoked all the nicotine vape juices I had and then bought 2 big bottles of 0 nicotine. I also started a 14 mg patch each day for a week then after a week I cut the patch in half and wore half a day and smoked my 0 nicotine vape when I had a urge. I also exercise an hour per day, increased my water intake and suck on hard candies or chew gum when I felt irritable. Its been over a month now and i feel better this time around. I had alot of stressful issues lately but haven’t turned back to nicotine. I’m trying to live my life more positive and nicotine free. Good luck to you all if you need someone to chat with feel free to write me.
Sarah
November 30, 2017 at 10:54 pm*Equivalent to 2.5 packs of cigs per day.
Alexia
April 7, 2018 at 8:11 pmHow long did your withdraw symptoms last ? I’m on day 11 of smoking about a pack a day for only 2 months and still feel awful
Annie
February 24, 2018 at 12:45 amThat’s awesome Sarah! Good for you, its tough isn’t it? I bet you feel great now though
Rob
March 23, 2018 at 1:44 pmSarah, after reading your post, I am quitting the same way. Only difference is I am not using the patches. After many years of smoking cigs, I was able to quit by picking up the new habit of vaping for the last 5 years. From the time I woke up until I went to bed. About 6 weeks ago I started working down from 12mg nicotine to 6, 3, and 0. Now it has been 5 days without my vape. I almost constantly have a piece of hard candy in my mouth. I do not think that I have the withdrawal from nicotine so much as I am just used to picking up my vape. It is hard though. Almost like losing a bad friend. Thanks for all of your posts. I am sure it will get easier.
Mark
November 28, 2017 at 11:35 amI’m nearing 3 weeks of no cigs. Used a starter vape kit to quit. Worked down from 15, 12, 6, 3, to 0 nicotine. Just added the lower amount to the vaper when it was low. I’m glad this site has the 2-4 week withdrawal symptoms, as I have dad all to some degree. Otherwise, I would have thought I had something really wrong with me, especially the stomach pains. The zero nicotine vape does seem to help me get by cravings, just by the motions. Each day using less and less.
Brenda weinrauch
November 23, 2017 at 8:28 amI’m 62 yes old and was diagnoised with lung cancer The cancer in-remission. After being out of hospital for 3 day I stated again I smoked off and on for three months. I prayed about it-and then started Chantix . half way through my second moth I started again for 3 days and I just fell on my knees and told my Higher Power that I couldn’t quit and ask for His intersesstion. I’ve been smoke free now for almost 8 weeks and it’s wonderful . Today I didn’t smoke and I will let my Higher Power help me again tomorrow. Life can be good with the right support.
t
December 28, 2017 at 3:57 ami am glad for you. i hope your issue will get resolved prayers . i have quit for 5 weeks and so depressed
Cataya
March 6, 2018 at 4:40 pmA magnesium supplement will help 🙂
cherie
April 12, 2018 at 12:33 pmthat is so beautiful and I agree with you, I have smoked for 35 years and the Lord has gave me strength to put them down one day at a time
Sheila
July 3, 2018 at 7:28 pmPlease say a prayer for me. I’ve been smoke free only 5 days. I decided to vape 0mg of ejuice today. It seems to help with the craving. I’ve been a smoker for 37 years. It’s a tough habit to break! I’m giving it my best shot! Thank you in advance!
Jena
July 7, 2018 at 4:39 pmHi Sheila. I said a prayer for you! Hang in there. I am going to quit Sunday night (July 18th, 2018) at 10:00pm. I’m anxious about quitting but I am coming up with a plan to give up coffee too; I will drink green tea instead, and go for many walks, Pilates, yoga, whatever I can. So say a prayer for me too 🙂
Janie
July 13, 2018 at 11:47 pmHi Sheila! I completely understand what you’re going through. This is so hard! I am a 27 year smoker. I quit smoking quite easily for a bit last year but found a crazy excuse to start again. I recently started a new routine that makes it easier to smoke all day, every day and was coughing up black phlegm yesterday morning. That was it for me. Quit cold turkey again on the spot and this time pretty intense cravings are hitting several times an hour. I am not going to say I hope this quit sticks because the word hope seems to leave the door open for relapse. I am making the commitment and calling myself a nonsmoker from here on out. Best of luck on your quit. Remember, you are going to feel uncomfortable for a time but it will not kill you. Continuing to smoke can and will most likely kill you prematurely. My friend died of lung cancer at age 39! Hugs and prayers!!
ToYoung
August 1, 2018 at 9:49 amJanie! you are also young and struggling! I am 28, and have stopped a few times. Good luck to you! I am having a hard time, because i really liked smoking.
day 6.
I will survive and be much healthier and happy for it ( easier writing this part than really believing it). We can do this!!!!
Taufeeque
November 11, 2017 at 7:36 amThank you so much for this piece of useful information, perfectly explains what we as ex smokers goes through
Maureen Smith
November 10, 2017 at 3:34 pmI’m 3 months into quitting and I feel like hell tired insomnia cortisol levels are high anxiety depression and I really don’t want to smoke how long can this last?
What do people do when they smoke so long with all these side effects I feel like I’m losing my mind!
Tia
November 26, 2017 at 4:46 pmMy main problem is depression without Cigarettes. If I get on a antidepressant, I can’t take tramadol for my arthritis. If I didn’t take that, I would definitely get on an antidepressant, and that would help me to quit. I think?
Fran
January 13, 2018 at 9:14 pmHi Tia, I also take Tramadol for arthritis and an antianxiety med called Buspirone prescribed by my doctor. I’m in my 3rd week without cigarettes & the withdrawal symptoms are still with me at times but I think the Buspirone lessons them. Talk with your doctor about this. Good luck.
FezrotBean
April 13, 2018 at 9:54 amThere are herbal non addictive anti depression alternatives
Diana
May 4, 2018 at 6:08 pmHow are you making out Tia? I have been vaping with CBD oil and it has helped me with the withdrawl symptoms. I don’t use it a lot though because I don’t want to kick one habit to form another.
Connor Ryan
June 24, 2018 at 8:40 pmCbd is cannaboil its not an addictive sub e3stance
Sandy A Franklin
November 30, 2017 at 11:49 pmListen to music, start riding a bike daily, exercise helps with sleep. I smoked for 40 year’s, I am on day 4 quitting, I cycle, you have 3months!! Hang on.. I am right behind you
Christine
December 2, 2017 at 10:02 pmSame here! However I’m on week 4 now.
No more clouds
December 5, 2017 at 6:08 amI quit vaping 3 weeks ago I smoked on and off for 15 years then started to vape heavy for 4 years. The first week was crazy. Tightness in the chest and foggy in the head. Like walking around in a dream. Week 2 anxiety tightness in the chest mucus and foggy in the head. Week 3 less frequent anxiety and tightness and foggy head.
mr b
January 3, 2018 at 5:14 pmtry physical exercise run cycle box etc..worked wonders fo me
Karen
January 9, 2018 at 7:55 pmI suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, it’s the pits! Try getting some exercise. Go for a walk, it REALLY helps with the anxiety and sleepiness. I quit cigs 9 mos ago and vaping 3 days ago.. so far I’m okay, just uber tired and I have that dry throat/tightness in chest thing going on, but no where near as bad as I thought. I did cut down the vaping slowly though, so that helped. And I exercise regularly to keep my mind occupied mostly… good luck! ??
Linda
March 2, 2018 at 12:10 amYeah I thought it was supposed to get easier with time. 2months for me and the cravings are worse and the depression is worse. I just sit and cry and cry. It’s hard to concentrate on work. It’s a good thing I can work from home because the crying jags in the office aren’t cool. Smoked 48 years. It’s like losing a friend.
Elliott
March 12, 2018 at 5:00 amHi Linda,
I agree with your appraisal. Quitting is very much like losing a friend—a best friend. I described smoking to a non-smoker the other day as having a button that you could press to make something good happen. It’s like losing a magical ability. But all of these things are sideffects of the nicotine’s powerful effect on our brains. The cigarettes were rotting us from the inside and giving us a half life. I might have lived a smoker, but I’m not going to die one. The cigarettes are not your friend. Their death means your life.
Vaile
August 11, 2018 at 7:42 pmThank you, I needed to read this tonight! I quit three days ago and struggling
Alice
March 16, 2018 at 1:21 am1st day without cig,smoked for 50.quit for 2 yrs with chantix, can’t take again not allowed to mix with antidepressants.have to do it this time cold turkey, have to have faith
Yvonne
May 4, 2018 at 7:11 pmI’ve just reached 6 weeks and I feel terrible – finding it really hard to find pleasure in activities I used to enjoy. Saying it’s like losing a friend really resonated with me. I’ve smoked 20 a day for 50 years, so I can understand why it’s hit me so hard, but I never expected it to get more and more difficult as each week passes by.
Alison
May 22, 2018 at 9:30 pmI did 45 years of smoking with only a couple of little breaks due to surgery. I’m on Day 6 but have had to resort to patches for about 7 hours a day because I just wasn’t coping … anxiety and depression were taking over. The first couple of days were horrid with disassociation and totally spaced out and filled with fear .. that’s when I started patches … they help level me out. Linda the crying I get …. where do all the tears come from? I’m so glad I found this site! I will keep reading on here … it gives me hope.
Abbey
July 20, 2018 at 7:36 pmThank God so.eone else says it is harder after the first month. I am on month two and I would literally kill for a cigarette. I’m so much more irritable and honestly after 20 years of smoking I don’t even feel like this is worth it at this point.
Vijay V
May 29, 2018 at 3:18 pmHey Maureen,
I am feeling same as you. About 2-3 months for me too now. Wanted to know if it has gotten any better for you today. Don’t know if i am facing withdrawal symptoms or do i have something else going wrong and should go in for a test. Unable to concentrate. For me, eating junk food seems to kill the craving and eventually improve concentration.
Lee Campbell
November 10, 2017 at 2:17 amQuit smoking in 1989. Took up skoal bandits a couple years later until now. On day 3. Have tried to quite many times but very hard. Way worse than cigs.
Annie
February 24, 2018 at 12:42 amGood luck Lee, don’t give up! I smoked for years, quit then got on nicotine gum, hooked on that for over 10 years, finally quit but I’ve had many short-lived relapses, luckily I’ve been able to nip them in the bud before full on addiction set in. Keep fighting, its an on going battle but my Dad quit 30 years ago and never had a single relapse since.
Gary
October 27, 2017 at 6:38 pmQuit smoking aweek ago today and i am craving it so bad as im struggling with the headaches and my chest is tight but i surpose if i stay off the cigs it will where off
Margie
April 29, 2018 at 10:06 pmDo it stay strong my husband and I quit together It’s only a couple days but we are driving each other crazy ,, God willing we stick together and do this I’m smokin about 18 years when I met my husband he really didn’t smoke at all just cigars and he picked up my nasty habit just keeping my fingers eyes toes and everything crossed that we can keep up the good work I’m sure we will experience some mood swings we already are
Dave L
October 17, 2017 at 5:23 pmMy blood pressure, when checked at the dentist this past year, has been running about 181/117. With all fitting drama for a 45 year smoker, I swore them off in the pre-dawn hours of this 10/15/17. 24 hours later BP reading leveled to 125/92; 29 further hours later it is 118/66.
Readings like that can only be good news, and incentive to stay on the wagon, in the meantime however, and I’m retired so I can do it, I just want to sleep on the couch every moment I can steal. My side effect is something like the motor falling out of the bottom of me.
Mark
November 28, 2017 at 11:22 amWere you on any BP meds at the time? Did it stay lower or go back up after some time?
Pauline
December 20, 2017 at 4:50 pmQuit now for 3 weeks, never ever tried before. Yeah!!! I feel so tired, that why I actually got on line to look it up. I been smoking for over 57 yrs. decided not to gape. And am glad.
Fran
January 1, 2018 at 8:40 pmI’m right there with you Pauline, 3 weeks wed. the 3rd, this am has been almost disastrous, but I’m going to do it if it is the last thing I do! LOL
BRETT
March 4, 2018 at 1:46 pmWATS GAPE
Jody
March 13, 2018 at 2:12 amShe probably meant Vape
Tina
March 17, 2018 at 5:22 amWhat is WATS?
ELLE
March 26, 2018 at 6:31 pmWhat’s wats?
Evelyn
October 13, 2017 at 7:40 pmI quit smoking and now I’m smoking the Blue, now I’m hooked on it, Now I want to quit smoking the blue cigarette, been on it for almost 2years..Help! Now where do I start and how..
Miracet Reviews
October 12, 2017 at 2:45 pmHi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came to take a look.
I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting
this to my followers! Great blog and outstanding style and design.
Katie
January 8, 2018 at 2:14 amMySpace is still alive and well, huh?
Deirdre
October 6, 2017 at 2:56 amAfter 29 years I quit smoking and went to vaping. I quit vaping 3.5 weeks ago, and started chewing gum. I still have the craving, but the mental anguish hasn’t been as hard as giving up smoking. I vaped for 4.5 years. I’m just so tired of being addicted and having a crutch.
Margie
April 29, 2018 at 10:04 pmGood. For you I’m trying so hard
highesthotliver
July 27, 2017 at 12:52 pmquit three years ago and went to vaping. Seemed like a good idea but, now it’s the vape I was addicted to. Quit vaping three days ago and I’ve felt sick as a dog. Chills, fever, joints aching head aching. Way worse than quitting cigs.
cd
September 13, 2017 at 1:59 amWhy don’t you quit quitting? 😉
Jill
October 2, 2017 at 1:41 pmthanks for this. I quit cigs four years ago and replaced with a vape. Now struggling to quit the vape. On day four, feel really unwell, chills, nausea, head ache. Chugging water, exercising, eating healthily – oranges etc. When does it get better?
Jennifer Mack
January 2, 2018 at 11:47 pmI never had an anxiety attack until I stop smoking cigarettes . I stop on my own like 3 weeks ago and I start feeling funny for no reason ! Like having headaches body aches finger locked up barkey can sleep etc… I was wondering what can I do to get threw this withdrawals
Name
January 11, 2018 at 5:39 amWell hang in there! Your body is healing itself, it is uncomfortable, and it will get better. At least Barkey can sleep. Oh Barkey… I knew a Barkey once, that girl kept barking and barking… I didn’t have the heart to tell her she was a cat. OHHH BARKEY.
LB2
May 21, 2018 at 9:28 pmBahahaha!! Barkey! (Not nice but too funny!)
Anyway…quit on May 13. Took Champix for about 8 weeks on and off. It makes me feel soooo sick. Quit that as of today. Risky but I can do it on my own now.
Jbear
March 31, 2018 at 12:59 amI am in week 5 and still have 1 cig a day. I actually just had an axiety attack today which took 6 hrs to get rid of. Freezing cold, tingling head, foggy, week. Three days ago in bed with flu symptoms. Keep telling myself it will get better. The last 5 weeks have been really bad but it has to get better. Stomach bloating is aweful. Started Pilates and lots of water. Praying I stay with this. It is very hard.
Skrew Cigs
July 6, 2018 at 5:35 amCongrats! I am on day two of quitting. The foggy head is what really gets me. I had to sit down at work yesterday because I felt like I wasn’t even there I was in such a daze. I couldn’t sleep for days. I was even an hour and a half late for work because when I finally did fall asleep, I slept right through my alarms.
Mikki
July 28, 2018 at 5:04 pmI’m glad you posted this. I’m 2 weeks cig free this Mon, but I’ve felt very anxious like a tightening in my chest, rapid heart beat…..things I never used to experience. I also feel very tired which is tough bcuz I work 3rd shift and I always feel like tired anyways! Lol The quitting wasn’t as tough as I thought (I used the gum the 1st week) altho days 4 and 5 I wanted to smoke like never before (the gum helped tremendously those days!!), but i was just wondering when the anxiety and the tightness of the chest would go away. Glad to know it’s normal!! Good luck!!
Kacie
September 13, 2018 at 1:43 pmThe one cig a day is prolonging the withdrawal process!!! I read a book by Allen Carr. The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. It was a game changer for me! I quit with mild discomfort.
Angel
May 19, 2018 at 12:10 amDid you stick it out?
Just ran across this site . I quit cold turkey March 21st and I’m not touching a darn cigarette again. My co- workers smoke and it does not bother to me to much even so I smoked for 43 years 1-2 packs a day
LB2
May 21, 2018 at 9:29 pmYahhh for you!!
Freda Rine
July 13, 2018 at 2:20 pmCONGRATULATIONS! I am confessing I AM NOT ACSMOKER.
I WANT TO LIVE A COMPLETE LIFE!
NOW IS MY TIME!
I STARTED SMOKING WHEN I WAS 30 years old.
38 years now!
I PRAY I AM SUCCESSFUL! WITH GODS HELP I AM!
Ellen
September 3, 2018 at 12:15 amIam still vaping after 14 months no nicotine but iam sick of the juice i feel i need nicotine i think i quit the nicotine to early
Luis Ortega
June 13, 2018 at 9:55 amChills? Like cold sweats? I been feeling dizzy with cold sweats and my upper body feels cold. 2 weeks and 3 days since I had my last cigarette
[email protected]
August 31, 2018 at 8:31 amI’ve given up smoking 3 weeks ago and I shake my body aches I cry all the time , and I also suffer with my sinuses can anyone else tell me if they have gone through this please
Dan
October 13, 2018 at 9:24 pmI am feeling very depressed since giving up. Started the process of having one a day 2 weeks ago and have totally stopped for 1 week. Felt very depressed, a lot of anxiety, and have now got trouble sleeping. Feels good to have stopped though and I’m excited for a future without smoking.
lowestcoldkidney
October 4, 2017 at 12:44 amBecause you didn’t actually quit nicotine when you quit cigs..
Lili
October 12, 2017 at 5:29 pmWas considering taking up vaping to help quit…Thanks so much for your post and best of luck to you.
Yael
October 14, 2017 at 10:46 pmHi, I hope you’re hanging with it. I started vaping 3 years ago after quitting cigs 25 years ago. It’s
Taken many attempts and been much much harder. I too have been physically sick. I’m stating the course tho. *Acupuncture* is helping me.
Thanks for sharing – it helped me
Kristy Anne
August 20, 2018 at 9:03 pmI smoked for 18 years with cigarettes and vaping this last year and this is day 2 without nicotine and day 1 wasn’t too bad but day 2 I’m getting cravings all day but not sick.. no serious withdrawal symptoms except cravings…good luck to you all…Its mind over matter
Tarun
October 19, 2017 at 2:32 amI feel the same..how much day will it take to pass this..
Michelle)
October 19, 2017 at 3:53 amI’m very glad you quit the cigs, and the vape. I just don’t feel any of its good congratulations, you can do this! I hope you feel better soon! I’m an Ex-smoker too!! Twice, it’s hard!
Mary
May 17, 2018 at 8:19 amI quit smoking three weeks ago and the withdrawl is awful. Can’t shake it right now. I feel like I’m sick everyday. Any advice on coping with the agony of withdrawl
Angel
May 19, 2018 at 12:17 amDrink a lot of green tea or water. I bought bags of baby carrots and had them on me in a container all the time. Every time the craving hit I grab a carrot and dank on that till the craving went away . I quit Match 21st so far do good I actually have half a pack in my car still For me this is also a fight about something controlling me and I’m not having it. I’m reminding myself of that This is probably not good for everyone though. Stick with veggies or fruit for cravings and get up start walking around and tell yourself NO. It goes away fast. You can do it.
Georgeanna
July 15, 2018 at 10:47 amI quit five days ago, cold turkey. It’s been horrible and my temper is through the roof. Like you, I have a pack of cigs on hand. This keeps me from going into panic mode when I’m extremely irritable. Sounds stupid, but works for me. There have been multiple times this week when I wanted one badly. I never touched a one. But, my journey has only begun. I have to quit! My very LIFE depends on it! Best of luck to all!
thomas jacobsen
June 23, 2018 at 1:23 pmSmoke a doobie
Josh
October 25, 2017 at 3:38 amAre you still off the juice?
Karen
January 9, 2018 at 7:48 pmI quit cigs 9 mos ago and started vaping haven’t picked up a cig since. Started at 6mg to 3mg to 1.5mg and finally .75mg. I have now been vape Free for 3 days, similar withdrawals to quitting cold turkey but not as bad as once before. I know I can get past this 3-4 day hard time part! Try lowering the nic and going that route. I’m nowhere near as bad as I thought I’d be?? Good luck!
SunTanner
April 25, 2018 at 3:22 amI quit three years ago with the help of vaping. I had no intentions to stop smoking but my medic said to cease tobacco, since then my medic has confirmed my improvement in health and build. I began on 18mg nic and weaned down to 0mg nic in this time frame. I just enjoy the fruity flavours and wild berries etc here in NZ. But I always had plans to continue “having a chug” and I have no regrets…just adding my 10 cents to the mix team, cheers!
Annie
February 24, 2018 at 12:39 amSimilar here- quit cigarettes and got hooked on nicotine gum for over 10 years. Quitting felt SO good. Instead of being irritable and all that I just felt spacey and lightheaded but it actually felt great.
ashley
March 15, 2018 at 3:58 amomg i just quit vaping yesterday. I smoked cigs for 10 years. been vaping for 4. i bought nicotine gum because I did not want to go through all the BS. I hope I dont get hooked on this stuff
PATRICK DONOHUE
April 4, 2018 at 12:37 pmI QUIT SMOKING 1 MONTH and 4 days ago MARCH 1st .
I read all the above info and yes most makes SENCE. ACCEPT I never got the headaches .which is cool. ANYWAYS I don’t need to worry about any cravings CAUSE I don’t have any. I just told my brain LISTEN your lungs will not take in any more smoke . You smoke you die simple as that and so the feeling of breathing keeps me going??❤?
PATRICK DONOHUE
April 4, 2018 at 12:44 pmOh yes I WAS SMOKING for 46 years and HAFT to say everyone’s case will be different in my case if I didn’t QUIT I’d die or spend my life on a machine for air and possibly hooked up to a machine for the rest of my life.
Jim
August 3, 2018 at 10:25 pmKeep going i too smoked 45 years. The last few it was two packs a day. 5 days into this cold turkey. You inspire me. I have to quit for good there killing me.
Julian Lowery
July 23, 2018 at 6:09 amToo true
Janine
April 17, 2018 at 7:33 amI am more addicted to my e cigarette than anything else. I have smoked a vape for 4 years. I am telling you giving up smoking cigarettes was easier than the vape. I am having hectic withdrawal symptoms.
jacqueline
July 28, 2018 at 2:37 pmI understand that! i’m so addicted to my e cigarette! i quit 3 days ago. i’m not craving it anymore BUT i feel like i can’t concentrate on anything! i feel like i want to cry. and feel extremely exhausted! is anyone experiencing these symptoms? so tired! feel like i’m going crazy! i don’t want to start again.
Narik
August 7, 2018 at 8:15 amI tried quitting vaping before, 3 years ago. Did so successfully for 6 months, then as soon as I had no accountability I started feeling the urge to vape again. It is a siren song. I am on my 2nd day of my second attempt to quit vaping. I don’t know how it’s going to go.
Ariel
September 28, 2018 at 7:36 pmI feel the same way, I am on my third day, I feel very anxious and I am sweating so much and having panicked attacks. Been a smoker for 14 years
Frank Grabovac
October 26, 2018 at 6:23 pmAllan Carrs Easy way to stop smoking…
Will set you free ..
Margie
April 29, 2018 at 10:11 pmwell we bought fake ciggy They are absolutely horrible but have to take a couple drags after my coffee in the morning I do seem to be getting some headaches and it’s only been a couple days but we are trying so hard my husband and I together we put them down his mother recently had a spot on her long and I lost a best friend deal to London they are absolutely horrible but have to take a couple drinks after my coffee in the morning I do seem to be getting some headaches it’s only been a couple days but we are trying so hard my husband and I together we put them down his mother recently had a spot on her l lung and told us it was cancer ,, we are sick over it ,,We both have children and we would like to put them down and stay positive for ever
Windy
July 10, 2018 at 8:54 pmI started smoking when I was 10. 42 years!! A pack a day sometimes more. Newport Menthol Gold. I think the new chemicals they put in the cigs are making this harder, and I feel like I was smoking more and more the last few years Had my last cig 48 hours ago. Spent a lot of $$$ on patches and vape supplies, only to realize that stuff will only prolong the inevitable…just a substitute, eventually I’m gonna have to go through the hell that is freeing yourself of nicotine addiction. So, I’m doing it cold turkey. I’ve been a basket case all day. I actually have had screaming crying fits, lasting anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Thoughts of ending it all even. I’m miserable, but I won’t give in. I feel like putting a patch on will set me back a day so I won’t do it. Now that I read so many say vape makes you sick quitting too I’m not touching that again either. So, thanks for the sharing. I just didn’t see anyone write about the symptoms I’m having so I thought I’d share too. Good Luck to All…
Barb
August 24, 2018 at 1:45 pmLast time I tried to quit I went through the same thing. About a month I am walking my dog and tears are streaming down. Bought a pk!!! Now I am on champagne two weeks in. I smoke about 4 a day. So tired. I did some research and what I thought were side effects of the champ axe is nicotine withdrawal! I am not going to give in. Sick of smoking it stinks, is expensive and a pain.
Diane Davin
August 26, 2018 at 5:35 pmHi Wendy I hope you’re doing well after quitting smoking. My name is Diane and I’m trying to quit smoking too. I tried cold turkey but my stomach was killing me. I didn’t know the withdrawal symptoms were going to be so bad. I hope you made it through yours. Sincerely,Diane
Janet Harvey
October 12, 2018 at 9:32 amThere’s an audiobook on YouTube by Allen Carr. It’s a little over 5 hours long, but it’s excellent I haven’t smoked since I read it a couple weeks ago. Unbelievably easy.
Look up stop smoking Allen Carr and you should be able to find it. Good luck everyone
Frank Grabovac
October 26, 2018 at 6:26 pmAgreed..
Though the book is infallible..
Allen Carr should be knoghted, if everyone read Carrs book…the nicotine industry would become obsolete.
Joe Nowak
August 9, 2018 at 1:00 amseveral companies offer nicotine free vape juice. I have been at 0 for almost 3 weeks now. I hope to drop it completely relatively soon!
Lucybeck
September 10, 2018 at 6:47 amYes I am on 0 % nicotine… but I’m getting the head aches and feeling sick, especially in the morning.. I didn’t expect all this, but I am persevering though as I’m sick of being tied to something all the time !! The 0% makes it easier because you can still vape while losing the nicotine out of your system. I am hoping to stop vaping once the nicotine cravings have gone !!
Nancy Shero
August 14, 2018 at 11:44 pmi smoked for approx 30 years then vaped for 3 years. i decided to quit and i did it cold turkey. i have to admit it really wasnt that difficult,i was in aw. i should have done it years ago. the only thing i cant figure out is is its been 2 months now, and the 1st month and a half was no problem i didnt have cravings and i didnt raid the fridge. now god forbid the dog prob thinks im going to eat her and its all i can do not to go to the store and buy juice for my vapor,but i know i wont, i just cant figure why i have the urges and appetite now after 1 and a half months.
Craig
September 12, 2018 at 1:59 amlol, haha I’m stuck between the same rock you are. I didn’t even know I liked pimento cheese.
Tim
September 29, 2018 at 6:20 pmAs stated in other comments, read Allen Carr’s book Easyway to Quit smoking or check out goggle reviews
I will make it ALOT EASIER TRUST ME.