If you have recently quit smoking, congratulations! You are on the right path towards a healthier and happier lifestyle. However, quitting is easier said than done. The process can often come with various challenges such as mood swings, irritability, and cravings. One of the most common questions that ex-smokers ask is how long it takes for their cravings to go away.
In this article, we will explore what cravings are and why they occur after quitting smoking. We'll also walk you through how long it typically takes for cravings to stop completely and provide tips on overcoming them.
What Are Cravings?
Cravings refer to intense urges or desires that a person experiences when they crave something specific like food or nicotine. In regards to smoking cessation, these urgent feelings usually arise due to the act of inhaling tobacco smoke which can cause numerous changes in your brain chemistry.
When you smoke cigarettes regularly over an extended period of time, nicotine acts as a stimulant by increasing levels of dopamine in your brain - this makes smokers feel relaxed yet alert (a combination known as euphoria). Over time though,
the body tends to become dependant on receiving regular doses of nicotine from tobacco products; when they don't receive any more triggers they respond by longing for its chemical fix - giving rise to withdrawal symptoms like anxiety,mood swings, headaches,and what not .
Why Do We Experience Cravings After Quitting Smoking
Your craving behavior all emanates from addiction tendencies powered by neurological patterns that have evolved over time – research has shown our brains tend toward new pleasures and establish neural pathways that eventually lead back towards them again.
Different factors prompt different variations on ‘how long does one get addicted’? For some individuals withdrawal is complete within days while others take months before feeling freed from them altogether
Another significant factor affecting addiction length might have some to do with individual tendencies. The average duration that someone is addicted before they finally decide to quit their previous habit might influence how much stronger or weaker the withdrawal actually is.
How Long Do Cravings Last
Now, let’s address the million-dollar question - how long does it take for cravings to cease completely? Unfortunately, there isn't a clear-cut answer we can provide here as everyone's journey to quitting smoking differs greatly.
Nevertheless, various studies suggest that cravings tend to decrease significantly during the first month of quitting and may disappear entirely within two months post-quitting.
If after 3-4 months you still find yourself experiencing regular nicotine urges though sometimes sporadically; rest assured this urge should decline ever so gradually in time.
Tips on Overcoming Cravings After Quitting Smoking
While you await these urges' disappearance over time, there are specific things you can do help yourself manage them better – In fact below are several tips:
- Avoid your triggers : If certain scenarios/occurrences always have an effect in triggering your cravings (The smell of cigarettes smoke/frequenting around smokers) try avoiding these situations if possible.
On another hand initiating replacement tactics like chewing nicotine gum in moments trigger-free environs could make withdrawing easier than trying cold turkey quitter style.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water daily helps minimize irritability and other unwanted sensations generated by stopping dissimilar drugs and/or addictions altogether; encourage those natural medicative reactions flowing through one's metabolism sustaining bodily stability through routine hydration habits.
Plenty fluid keeps all rehydration stamina loaded enabling our corpuscles remain plump functioning efficiently even whilst taking adapting change towards an addiction free lifestyle.
- Routine physical exercise/activity : Regular movement has been repeatedly shown healthy promotion throughout human organs especially while undergoing extremes stresses such as abstinence from narcotics/nicotine providing benefit at regular engagements
In Conclusion:
Whilst trying to quit smoking, cravings can be a significant challenge. There are numerous things you can do help yourself manage them better such as avoiding triggers or consuming nicotine replacement gums or exercising regularly.
It's hard work – but quitting doesn't have to be difficult so long as commitment remains unwavering and habit forming propensities avoided!! Remembering that these symptoms will subside over time, it helps immensely in persevering through toughest withdrawal pangs.
So hang in there cheeky-non-smoker!