well i quit six days ago after smoking two packs a day for 20 years. i went cold turkey. Within 12 hours i had extreme nausea and heartburn every day for three days. the symptoms then halved in intensity. i used alka seltzer and it helped, along with with ginger ale and crackers. I had headaches too for three days. Anyway, at about day five i feel normal actually better than normal because i always had cigarette hangovers in the morning and now i don't. Also, even smells made me sick during the first four days. it was rough but day is here and i feel good.

Two things prevented me from smoking: the sickness and the thought of me going through withdrawals again. Anyway the cravings aren't that bad --they come and go -- but if you could avoid them for three minutes they usually disappear.

Is there some point when the nicotine receptors in the brain stop begging for nicotine? At the five week point, I am finally starting to feel better physically. But I am now more irritable, unable to focus, all the typical stuff. I certainly can't go the rest of my life like this either.

This is to the post 212, thank you, you are an inspiration to me, and you are right. Every day will get better even as you suck back those hard candies or chew gum til your teeth ache, and believe me, I do both, sleep now involves ten hours a night, and I answer to no one, except myself, in my quest to quit smoking, and as usual, it involves rather nasty withdrawal. However, when I look at myself in the mirror, I see me at 90, not dead at 60. Good luck, all.

I smoked while I was happy, sad, angry, depressed, with coffee, after meals, before breakfast, during parties, during ice storms, thunderstorms, outside in the middle of winter at twenty below, after funerals, before christenings, and on my lunch breaks, which did not, after several years, involve lunch at all, and basically, smoked when I could, if I could, and revolved my life around it all to the point that at 3 a.m. I was waking up, having a loo break, and picking up a cigarette after. Talk about rewarding a dog to go out.

I firmly believe that after forty years of smoking, I came to the conclusion that I picked up that first one, and therefore, I refuse to pick up the last, and this is the way it is going to be. I will not smoke again. It has been eight weeks of particular hell, but worse, when I think that I lost 40 years of not knowing who I was without a cigarette to make things better. Maybe it is time to grow up.

God bless all of you out there, and stay strong.

I haven't had much withdrawal at all, I used hypnosis to quit after smoking 1 to 1.5 packs a day for 20 years.

I quit a couple times before, once for five months once for two months, and again for two months, each time using the patch but this time, using only hypnosis, it's much easier. I got a quit-smoking CD set. A guy named Trevor Scott, and I followed the program faithfully, and it was amazing to me to stop with no patches. I'm still amazed I did it. I'd recommend it, I know other people who used hypnosis to quit too. Some people go to a hypnotherapist (expensive!) and other people get CDs to listen to them as often as need be, on their own time. it's good, there are several sets on the market to choose from. The hypnosis fills your mind with the thoughts that you don't have withdrawal, etc, and it's amazing how it helps with the fear factor etc.

Good luck.

Have been smoking for about 20 cigarettes a day for around 25 years. Tried to quit several times, the longest was about eight months. I have tried Zyban, nicotine gum and patch.

About three years ago, I started to cut down on smoking and started the nicotine chewing gum. For New Year’s resolution (2009), I quit smoking. I was smoking about eight cigarettes a day plus nicotine chewing gum while only had nicotine chewing gum on the weekends.

About six weeks ago, I decided to quit the chewing gum so I used the 14mg nicotine patch for a week.

Now I am nicotine free for about five weeks. I think I feel all the withdrawal symptoms listed here. I feel a slight improvement in my condition but I still feel hard to focus and concentrate, and avoid having long conversations because words do not get pronounced. Leg muscles and all the joints hurt. Head still feels dizzy.

My condition gets worst in the evening. I try to rest and avoid talking much to anyone, including family and friends because I may lose my temper.

I can’t wait to feel normal. I think two more months to go. God willing!

Day six. I wasn't sure I wanted to keep this up. I was a smoker (4 cig/day) for almost 30 years. Other sites that talk about the immediate benefits of quitting are incredibly discouraging. I'm feeling worse each day, not better. Food tastes terrible, smells are unbearable, the shaking, anxiety, aches and pains, sweating, inability to concentrate or function on any level. Why am I doing this again? But, fortunately for me, I found this site, and I will continue today. I'll let you all know how I am tomorrow.

I am glad I have found this site. I am into week five of non smoking, was a pack and a half a day smoker for almost forty years. This is the third time I have quit, and this time, I do believe I am going to make it. The withdrawal symptoms have been bad this week, the urge is there in the back of my mind all the time, but funnily enough, when I now smell cigarette smoke on someone else, it smells bad, ha ha ha, so I guess I will survive this after all, and will just hang in there and remind myself that I am feeling better not lighting up. And I do feel better, I am feeling much more energetic, and will wonders ever cease, actually have times where I forget about smoking at all, so all I can say is, good luck to everyone out there, hang in for the long haul, and remember that we are all in the same boat, with the same purpose, to stop being addicted! Yahoo!

I'm not taking medication to help quit, but I can say say that after 18 days, I'm definitely sleeping a lot more than I used to. The other surprising thing is that most people seem to overeat when depressed (e.g. quitting smoking). I overeat when I'm happy, and would rather not eat when irritable or agitated. Therefore, I'm dropping weight pretty fast, which concerns me.

I have been a smoker for 10 years and quit three days ago on Champix. Since quitting I have been very fatigued. sleeping 13 hours a day. It seems all I can think about is sleep. Is this normal, and how long should it last?

Two weeks today, no nicotine. A friend once said, "Be prepared for 2 months of hell, then it's all over." After a few days of no more coughing and hacking, that's back again. This is a slow, miserable process.

I am so relieved to see that I am not the only one going through what I am going through. I quit eight days ago and I was so irritable and cranky and downright mean. Now I feel like I have the flu. Coughing, body aches, headaches, and some fever. Shortness of breath as usual, but not as bad as when I lit up (1-2 packs a day). I really am mad at myself for ever getting addicted to nicotine, so now I must face the consequences and hope this ends soon. Everyone: Keep up the good work! We can do it!

Thank god for this website. I really thought I was going crazy. On day three and having crazy withdrawals, but also have the flu to mix in with that. Weirdest thing I've had from this is the dreams in which I light one up and wake up almost panicking from regret of smoking, it seems so real. Also happened with pot when I quit.

Hey everyone! I've been a smoker for 8 years. I'm two days into my quit. This will be the third time I've tried to quit this year. I've been sleeping a lot, eating *lots* of ice-cream, and experiencing stabbing pains in my ribcage as well as racing-thoughts and heart palpitations. I think I can deal though. What I'm *truly* worried about it going back to work. I'm unemployed due to this recession nonsense. I've been a waitress since the age of 18 and truly hate the industry with a passion. I'm trying to look for work in a different field, but it's not looking good. I just don't know if I can deal with all those needy, drunk, rude creeps without a cigarette break! We'll see though. I pray I don't have to go back to that life!

I am a prior smoker. I just decided to go cold turkey.I smoked cigs for 13 years. I am now 40 years old. My first couple of weeks of stopping were not too bad, besides the urge to smoke. Then after a month and still to this day I am having terrible withdrawals from smoking. I have anxiety attacks and heart fluttering. Like others I have been to the emergency room on three different occasions, due to palpations and anxiety. It really is a scary feeling to feel like you are about to have a heart attack at any moment. Like those cancer sticks, I hope that this will pass too. But I have never been happier about my decision to quit. I never knew that the withdrawal would be so bad, and I'm currently doing this without help. Pray for me that I make it through this terrible time of withdrawal. I refuse to ever smoke another cigarette in my life! Much love and strength to all the quitters.

I am 55, started smoking in 1973, smoked weed too, but stopped that with no problem, no withdrawal. Nicotine is a legal drug. I found out that the people who created the additives in cigarettes don't smoke! Why are people making such a big deal about cannabis, which is not addictive but legalize nicotine which is more addictive than heroin. Are these people crazy? I plan to do what one of the posters said, and that is try American Spirit and/or the e-cig. I want to quit, I am tired of spending 2,000 a year on cigs.

Those who say it gets easier after three days must be the same folks who brought us the wonderful food pyramid! Do all of us now count grams of fat before deciding whether to clog up the grocery aisles? Lots of terrible advice, and from people who obviously never smoked a day in their lives. A crisp salad or a brisk walk must be the answer! Yeah, that must be it. It's day five, which started OK, but now I'd like to start a fight with any takers. Oh, you can add coughing up junk and sweats/chills to the ever changing symptom list.

What's with the sensitivity to light and blurred vision? It's like all of my senses are different after four days. I smell things in my house and car that I did not used to smell. Food does not smell or taste the same, and it's not necessarily better. Still dealing with general aches and pains, sporadic dizziness with a few palpitations, and breathing that's more difficult than before. Unlike many, I'd be happy to sleep more than usual and eat less than usual. Not the usual insomnia and overeating thing in my case. What an amazingly physically difficult experience!

Hey guys. Buckingham County Virginia again. Let me say and make myself perfectly clear. In quitting, withdrawal is different for everyone. There are no set symptoms. Still not smoking. And plan to keep on trucking. And the conquest continues. You can do it! Yay. Smiles

Hey everyone 90 days now! I am constantly clearing my throat which makes it extremely raw and sore. I ask other people about their withdrawal and they seem to have not remembered it or breezed right through it! I now go to the gym, way more active with my kids and am not a slave to the nicodemon. I will keep you posted as to how long the throat will be sore. Keep up the good quit.

Hi Everyone! So exciting. It's Day 22. I am a 30 year smoker (except when pregnant) -- almost one pack a day. Someone said This will be as hard as you decide to make it. He was right. I am excited to kick this nasty habit that was making me ill. I had chest pains, headaches, coughing, shooting pains in my legs from poor blood circulation and was bloated from lack of oxygen. I feel great and all symptoms have gone away. I decided to quit because I don't want to spend the second half of my life dealing with cancer. No way! Cancer is a lottery but you can lessen your odds. I personally like the quit symptoms because it means my body is healing and ridding itself of years of garbage. I do power walks now and always walked when cravings were bad like the first week. The second week was easy but insomnia is a bummer but it will pass. Third week I was a b*tch. Oh well. 30 years of the truth comin' out! Good luck and keep it simple.

it's been four days and i've been experiencing chills, sweats, sore throat, nasty post nasal drip, and just generally hacking up of green stuff. i've been talking to friends who have quit who said they haven't experienced any of this. at least now when i see a cigarette i want to vomit instead of smoke one. at least it's good to know others are suffering through similar symptoms too!

Thanks to all who have described the physical symptoms. I now know I'm not alone. I can deal with being irritable, tired, and queasy, but the forceful heartbeat, dizziness when standing up quickly, chest tightness, and muscle aches are no joking matter. More or less, I got addicted to the patch and used it way too long (but still smoked at night, etc). I got tired of feeling winded when wanting to do things I used to enjoy (e.g. yard work), and developed a dry, hacking, chronic cough that everyone around me must have recognized for what it was. I told people it was allergies, but who was I fooling? Time will tell how much damage has been done, and how much is reversible. Thanks, all, and keep the faith!

After smoking for 20 years, I quit for a week now. I am really happy, I did so and feel the fresh air. All I did was clean a smoker's place in the campus. That's it, Next day I stopped smoking. The day was tough because I was heavy smoker( 10-12 cigs/day). I left office two hours early, went home and slept. I told all my family and friends and coworkers. It is now a week! Looks I am there almost! and confident that will make it. No pills, no patches, no gums, but just will power drove me out of stinky life. Keep trying, people! Dev

Buckingham County Virginia here. I started smoking in 1972. Loved seeing tobacco growing in the fields. The smell and best of all the taste. God I loved smoking. I am 55 years old and for health reasons knew I *had* to stop if I wanted to continue living. I remember the adds on TV back in the day in black and white. "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should." Fact is, they kill. Seen it first hand growing up. But I didn't care. I loved them that much. The symptoms of going through the withdrawals are like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. I had just made up my mind that that part of my life was over. The hallucinations and sweating were the worst for me. The first week I just slept. Each day though it gets better and better. Two months now. Since I stopped cold cold turkey. I think the thing that really helped me was I never smoked in my house. I think that once you finally make up your mind to do it, do it. Everything falls in place. But each individual is different. And life goes on. Good luck to you.

I smoked black and mild cigars for six months then four to five cigs daily for six months. I went to the ER with back pain and was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism - a blood clot in my lung. I'm better now, not sure if it was smoking related but it doesn't matter. I got the experience of what it's like to face a possibly terminal lung problem and I'm done for good. I experienced typical withdrawals and cravings. It was annoying but what do you want? Good things take effort!

Hi Everyone my original post was #166, my successful quit date is was in July so I am in my ninth week now. I can tell you I don't think much about smoking. I gained 27 pounds but hey I am tackling that one too. I have found for me the thing I most notice now is how easily I get sick. It seems I catch everything that crosses my path. I have currently had a sore throat for a week, after getting rid of the sore throat three weeks ago! I joined weight watchers, and I take vitamin c(500 mgs) along with a one a day vitamin every day. I love not smoking. You guys have accomplished the most important thing you can ever do for yourselves, your children and your families! Do not give up!

I have smoked for about nine years, starting with 3-5 a day and moving to 15 a day the past 6-7 years. I'm on day seven of quitting cold turkey and I haven't experienced any physical withdrawal, and only minor cravings. I think I may be avoiding the symptoms because I also smoke marijuana occasionally, and over the first six days I got high four nights before bed. Marijuana always helps me sleep, and reduces my anxiety, although I don't consider myself an inherently anxious person. On the third night, I suffered my only intense pang, and I *really* wanted a smoke. I called my friend and smoked a joint and completely forgot about the craving. I went home and slept soundly and awoke rested and a day closer to being free of tobacco. Perhaps it is futile to replace one vice with another, but pot is a much easier habit to break. I never have any trouble giving it up for long stretches, and it really has been helping me thus far. You don't need to become a pothead. For those who struggle with insomnia, nightime anxiety or those who just suffer from a smoking fixation, supplementing a bit of pot before bedtime can be the difference between long panic-stricken, stress-filled nights and calm, well rested ones. Obviously, pot isn't for everyone. Those prone to paranoia may want to avoid this strategy as marijuana can induce paranoid thoughts, which may lead to worse psychological withdrawal symptoms. Also, those quitting primarily for respiratory health should avoid pot because it contains more tar than tobacco, although pot-smokers usually don't smoke 20-plus joints per day by themselves.

First of all, great posts to read and to know others are experiencing the same symptoms, a real good support. I've been smoke free two months, after 20 years of smoking. Like others on here, I've been to the doc several times for heart, chest, etc issues (thought I was dying) and had all the tests done (EKG, heart echo stress, etc) and all is fine. Even after two months, it seems that no real end is in sight. I still suffer random anxiety attacks, random chest tightness, headaches, tiredness, stomach issues, etc. Anybody out there smoke free for more than two months and know what symptoms should I expect? Thanks, this site really gives me support. :-)

I just came back from doctors office as i had heart palpitations going on for three days. My EKG was normal but my pressure was a bit high and then the second reading proved to be normal. Now i see there are others too, having the same symptoms. thanks for helping out. Cheers.

Hey everyone, I just quit smoking three days ago and I feel fantastic. Now normally, I don't buy into self help books, but I was so desperate that I tried Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking, and it actually worked. I know that I haven't "given up" anything and am simply purging a poison from my body. You don't need nicotine to survive. You got along without it before you started smoking and you damn sure can afterwards. Good luck everybody and remember to enjoy this wonderful second chance you have achieved!

199-- To reassure you, I'm at the 3 1/2 month mark and I still get chest discomfort and a pounding pulse all the way down my arm. It's way milder than before. I had an ekg and thyroid tests done, but didn't get further exams (i.e. a heart sonogram or stress test) because I couldn't afford to. A lot of people get every test in the book done only to find out they're perfectly okay. I look at it this way, if there was something wrong with my heart, my health would have probably deteriorated over the past few months, not gotten better. Exercise helps work out the circulation stuff. Just give it some more time. Hope this helps ease the tension.

I've talked to two people recently - one quit smoking five years ago and just took it up again (to be fair, her mother died in a terrible accident) and a neighbor who told me she stopped smoking for 21 months and just had a cigarette last week. (Don't know if she started up again or just had one). Hearing these people really makes me feel like giving up. I won't, but boy oh boy, nicotine really does a number on people. I haven't smoked for five weeks, and I still have the urge to but so far haven't given in. The withdrawal symptoms apparently will take quite a while before they stop. I've been having stuffy sinuses (which is another symptom I guess) and some anxiety. I've started walking to work and back - a total of about an hour of walking a day. I was taking Chantix but quit after eight weeks but I still have the pills if I trip up. I am happy I quit but this is like a full time job, this not smoking stuff!

This is a great blog. I am in the third month. I am better than before. No other symptoms. I still have some anxiety in the morning and feel sensations in my chest sometimes. I met with my doctor and he said it will take time. Can anyone tell me if i really need to worry about these abnormal sensations in the left side of the chest?

I found this site because I have been trying to quit smoking ever since I started. In a nutshell, my first cig was when I was 14. I am 28 now. I have tried everything. My grandma died in the hospital next to someone who died from using the patch. I chewed the gum off and on. One day while driving I suffered a severe panic attack while chewing the gum. I now am on colozapan and just got off of Welbutrin which I feel made me angry. This has just been such a struggling battle for me. I think it is nighttime and weekends when I am at my worst. I try to stay busy but it's not enough. It is good to know I am not alone with this. The only advice I have is that you really can't just have one. It sucks.

Hi, I quit smoking in May and had just a few relapses since. I do not smoke anymore. I started having dry mouth and sinuses after I quit smoking, and it is still dry after almost four months. Anybody can relate? Dryness after quitting smoking?

I smoked for 12 years and have been clean for three months. I just want the pain to stop.

I'd like to thank everyone who has posted their withdrawal symptoms from nicotine.

I quit a 30 year cigarette habit eight months ago and substituted the cigarettes with chewing tobacco. I decided to quit chewing tobacco and I've been clean for two weeks.

After two weeks, I still have trouble sleeping and feel somewhat "out of it." My anxiety level is decreasing by the day, but I still get dizzy from time to time. Earlier in my withdrawal, I would wake up a couple times each night gasping for air. It's like I forgot to breath during my sleep. That symptom is also slowly dissipating. I didn't know that symptoms from nicotine withdrawal can last more than a few days. Due to reading this message board, I now know that the symptoms can last much longer and that I'm not going nuts. Thanks again.

To answer the sweating question - I didn't know this was a symptom of nicotine withdrawal but it is. I get really warm, sometimes at night, sometimes during the day. Never know when it's coming on, but this is minor compared to some of the other symptoms!

It will be a month on Labor Day that I've quit smoking. Hardest thing I've ever done. I guess the cravings are gone but the urge still lingers on. So far, I'm defeating those urges to smoke!

I'm on day 15 of becoming a non-smoker. I smoked at least a pack a day for 30 years and have tried other methods to quit in the past. I'm using Chantix this time and thought I would pass these ideas along. To combat the anxiety, my doctor prescribed .25 mm of Xanax and I take a small dosage of Lunesta to sleep at night. I'm not big on taking a lot of drugs, but these are helping me get through the tough times right now and I believe will continue to help me be successful. I plan to delete the Xanax as soon as possible, but like my husband, said when I was delaying taking it, "Why make yourself miserable if you don't have to and if your doctor prescribed it?" I can still feel the urges but I believe those are lessened because of the Chantix and Xanax and I still have the fatigue. I have realized that making myself get up and do any type of activity helps a lot. The only symptoms I have had are the cravings, fatigue, constipation, and irritability. I don't know if I escaped all the others because of the Chantix, but I'm grateful either way. As I said, I'm not big on taking a lot of drugs but if prescribed by a doctor and it helps you get through this extremely tough time, then why not? Just wanted to share. Good luck to all of you!

I am 63 and I have been a smoker since I was 17 years old. I have been clean for 3 weeks, and the only major problem I am having is this sweating. I wake up in the middle of the night soaked. I sleep in front of the fan. Now today seems better, and maybe the weather is a little cooler, but nobody else is sweating but me. Has anybody else had this problem?

Okay, here’s my quitting story. It starts out a little rough but ends up ultimately hopeful, so bear with me: About mid May I decided I was going to quit smoking so I could work out again (jogging/weights/whatever). I had leftover nicotine gum from the last time I quit, so I started chewing that at work during the day, so that when I went to go work out, I would have less of a hard time breathing. However, like a moron, I continued to smoke at night. I had no idea what mixing gum and cigs did, but I soon learned. My health progressively deteriorated over the next two weeks. I quit the gum but continued to smoke. My doctor told me that I probably spiked on the nicotine and then continued to do so every time I lit up. I started having palps, extreme shortness of breath, panic attacks, and hypertension without knowing what was happening. I never made the connection that it was the nicotine, that’s how out of it I was. The last cigarette I smoked actually induced a full on poisoning. I had a burning throat, had parasthesia, and could not form a clear thought. I thought I was losing my mind, or worse, dying. I quit in June, went to the doctor where he made this all clear to me, and prescribed me Wellbutrin. The worst was over, but the next two and a half months were hell. Going from such a high nicotine level to nothing caused every withdrawal symptom in the book. I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I was a shell of my former out-going, fun-loving self. I made another doctor’s appointment, this time with a neurologist, because I couldn’t believe that two months in, this could all still be withdrawal. He told me something helpful. He told me that smoking was covering up a latent anxiety disorder, and a lot of these symptoms were results of this anxiety. I had always used smoking as a coping mechanism, overdosing on it and the subsequent withdrawal released this panic monster that was always there. This doc has been doing work with withdrawal for 25 years, so I fully respect his opinion. I used to be the type that mocked people who complained about how hard quitting is. Saying it was simply a battle of will. I was so wrong. So those of you experiencing severe symptoms, it may be that quitting caused anxiety which is causing your symptoms. He prescribed me xanax, and I refused to fill out the prescription. I refuse to be a slave to any substance. I need to confront this thing head on. This site has been an inspiration to me and I felt I should give back. It helped me understand that there are others like me out there. But I feel there’s a lot of complaining here and not enough of these stories end happily. So here’s my hopeful part: I’m on week 13, I can actually run now, my attitude is bright (even better than when I was smoking), and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My hands still shake, my heart will pound without reason, and my nerves are still building back up, but I feel infinitely better than before. I’m getting my life and health back and it will be better than ever.

I lost my darling mum to lung cancer when I was 26, and my dad to stroke (also smoking related) two years ago. I really want to encourage all the people who are trying to give up smoking to do it for your children if not for yourself. Even your future children if you haven't got any yet. My great sadness was that my mum was not able to meet her five grandchildren, or see my brother get married. She was a lovely lady, but didn't really grasp the dangers of smoking that we are aware of nowadays. My mum and dad are not around to tell me about the past and share in my achievements and joys. I have no one to tell about my kids' successes and failures and I had no one to invite to their school performances, etc. All this sorrow for your kids and grand kids just for the 'pleasure' of a cigarette?

My name is Angie and I started smoking when I was 12 years old. I am 41 now. Smoking is all I and my lungs have ever known. Today is my sixth day of not smoking. I hate it. I loved to smoke.

But I am going to stick to it for my son, I promised him. I am tired all the time, grumpy, can't sleep at night. I tell people to just call me snapper now. LOL! I am usually a very active person. So being tired has been my worst withdrawal symptom. I have picked up walking 2 miles a day after supper. Hoping to keep the pounds off. Also hoping to start getting in better shape. My husband still smokes. It doesn't bother me at all. I knew if I was going to quit I had to be able to still be around smokers and be able to fight the urge. Every day I look for an excuse to start back up. But every day I replay in my mind what my son said to me. As I lay in bed one night my son came in and laid beside me, and as I looked down at him he was crying. I said "Son what happened?" and he said "Mommy I don't want you to die!" (makes me cry as I write this to you.) He said, "Mommy my heart feels like it is breaking". He started sobbing, I tried to calm him down and I couldn't. He just cried and cried. I told him I would always be here for him. As I lay there I made a promise to him and god. I will stop smoking. I want to see my son grow up. For you Tanner I will make it through this. For you god please every day I ask for the strength. this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! I am glad I found this site because I am going to need all your help and support too. I will be here as well for all of you. we can do this!

I quit smoking last Tuesday, almost four days now. I have quit two times before and both times were pretty easy. Unfortunately, this time has been a living hell. I have a sick feeling in my stomach, like when someone has died, and cry a lot, looking for support. I honestly don't want a cigarette -- Ijust want these horrible feelings to go away.

Thanks for this site. Here's my experience so far.

Two weeks in. I still wake up with occasional deep coughs. Sometimes there's even a fleck of blood (needle head sized, very small) in my mucus if I cough really really hard.

But every day I'm chronically detached/dizzy. That's never subsided. Except when I go swimming.

I get these awful chest pains that scare the hell out of me. But sometimes it's followed by big burps. I've read it could be gas pushing up into my chest, and just plain ol' heartburn.

And the constipation... Good god. Is that what giving birth feels like? Plus it's green. Nasty.

Anyhow, today started to get dizzy spells. It's really annoying. But I take wellbutrin which honestly has wiped out my cravings.

I'm just glad to know that I'm not the only one going through this. Thanks for the site. :)

I am now at almost 14 weeks quit. Anxiety is better but still rears it's ugly head every now and then. I'm still dizzy, but not so bad, and every now and then get the heart palps (chest flutters whatever the heck that is I'm feeling) but all in all am doing better. I am experiencing depression that I don't when I smoke but I'd rather live with that than spend all the money I was spending on cigarettes and ruining my health.

Everybody hang in there. It slowly gets better. I look forward to the week where I feel "normal" every day, but at least I am having some days where I don't feel like I'm going to die and I can breathe!

I just read 183's post about quitting Kodiak. I chewed Kodiak for 16 years an have been free from it for one year and one month. Cold turkey. No meds, nothing. I did one can per day, no stopping, so when I quit, I experienced morning stomach aches, insomnia, trouble staying asleep all night, daytime fatigue, depression, sudden frantic thoughts, sadness that feeling that you describe about wanting to cry for no real reason.

I think this is all part of the ballgame though with this stuff. One can of chew contains 144 mill. of nicotine or equal to 4 packs of cigarettes. In other words, you were basically doing four packs a day. This will take some time and you can't expect to feel perfect right away. That anxiety stuff I've been dealing with all along. Though I'm starting to have better days.

I quit Kodiak 3 weeks ago - since then I have been in the ER twice for anti anxiety drugs. I feel tired, I feel alone, I want to cry and I am getting tingly all over my body - face, arms, legs. I have had blood testing and it all comes out great! I just want to wake up and not feel this anymore. I have no symptoms at night when I sleep - but they start when I get to work. And I chewed all day at work - pop a dip in all day long. When will this feeling of tingly go away?

Well i quit cold turkey after smoking for 31 years. All it took was a heavy chest one night and a commercial showing a man about 55 wearing one of those oxygen things, too worn out to walk. That's when i realized i would work all my life, hoping to retire and end up like that: nailed to a chair wheezing, wishing i was dead. I also realized after about a week of no sleep, yelling at my wife, that there is nothing wrong with using the patch to ease the anxiety; it does work. Then i cut it in half and used a half patch for about three weeks, then nothing. You need to adjust it for you. Add a good measure of honest prayer and there you have it. You will trade crappy health for the need to manage stress, etc. in a real way, but you will never regret it. Nobody gets to avoid the withdrawl nightmare but hang in there. Consider it for what it is, a drug more addicitive than heroin, and when you beat it, you are a monster in the character department. It is a success as important than any other. Chilly.

Is anyone having problems with breathing after quitting? I'm trying to find information on the web about when breathing should get better after quitting smoking, but haven't found anything that gives a clear idea of when breathing gets better. I know some will have COPD, but even with that, breathing should get a little better when they quit smoking. Anyone have any info about this?

The last two posts grabbed my heart --actually, all the posts do. Nicotine is what it is: a drug. Period. It totally messes with the central nervous system, which is key to everything in the human body. My smoke was my best friend every day for 40 years. Do not feel guilty if you relapsed. Ego loves that. Hey, Lincoln said "it's been my experience that folks with no vices have very few virtues." So let's not beat ourselves up. The fact that any of you even write in here means you have heart. Earth born is an addicion to form, be it food, alcohol and drugs, relationships. Espousing freedom but dedicated to bondage. We are all trying to fill a hole we forgot so long ago, just behind the belly button. How else could one's button be pushed? I am just understanding: you are myself. Refuse separation. This entire matrix was designed very well. Once understood, reach through it. And, frankly, the only reason I quit smoking was the slavery mode I felt to 'it' and then the breath in meditation (hard to hold it in when you have none:). And, then again, this is all nonsense too. Clarify with Self what your Divine plan is (God's Will) and let it reveal itself to you. Do what you will, but *never* beat yourself up -- ever. You are God's experience, as you are Him. In Love, M

In the morning, two cigarettes on the way to work -- maybe three? Just enough to kill the feelings of dread and despair, caused by smoking.

Lunchtime, two, maybe three? After which the mind and body felt dead and dying.

Two on the way home, or three? Then another with coffee right when I get home -- feeling of death and hopelessness.

Ears clogged up, tendons drying up, extremeties tingling, pulsating pain in head, harbinger of a future stroke.

My children greeting me with open arms when I get home, "Daddy!" At age 33 too tired to give them piggy-back rides.

Picture my children standing around my casket, never to say the word "Daddy" again.

Day 4 cold turkey for me, this is very hard, but facing the certainties I was facing was harder.

I relapsed today. It is my 14 week of quitting. I was so depressed and decided to smoke a cigarette. I feel very guilty, but I had this dry mouth and dry nose for almost 3 months now,and I know that I never had this problem before. My nose and mouth are so dry that is making me miserable. I smoked this awful cigarette, and it seems like it give me more saliva in my mouth and my nose is not as dry. What is with that? I feel horrible that i relapsed, but I have a question to everybody: do you experience this dry mouth and nose or it is only me? Thank you if somebody will let me know. I will try to stay away from this worms in the future, I promise. I hope God will forgive me. I am so depressed about my relapse.

I gave up 4 weeks yesterday. up until monday i was using the patches but had started to feel a bit sick when i had them on so i have stopped wearing them and am ok!! The only problem is that i can't sleep. I wake up about 4 times in the night and then end up getting up really early! how long does this take to go away?

I'm lovely not being a smoker!! Well done everyone - keep up the good work.

i quit for nine months and didn't have a problem, but now 10 years later i'm trying to quit agin and it is not so easy. i have no want to have a cig but my physical symptoms are very real. What you forget is that all people experience different withdrawals and different levels of them so just because you and others didn't have it bad means nothing, sir, so don't go saying that they're not real. please instead maybe encourage them. that's what this site is for

I am Vince, 31 years old from the Philippines. I'm on my 30th day of my nicotine free lifestyle. I consumed it for almost half of my halftime. On the first few days of my abrupt stopping on smoking, I have to be confined in a hospital because I was having the worst symptoms I ever had in my life. My heart was racing and pounding like I was having a heart attack, my hands and feet are sweating. It felt like my surroundings are spinning. It felt like am going to vomit. My nose was congested. My stomach was crumbling. The doctor has to do a battery of tests on me, EKG, complete blood chem, thyroid, lipid profile, ultrasounds on my heart and stomach, x-rays, all turn out to be normal. Then it sinked in, I was having a terrible nicotine withdrawal. It felt like I was going to die. I felt so horrible. I actually lost 15 to 20 pounds because of that. My appetite spiraled down and I had this panic attacks everyday.

Then things started to subside after a couple of weeks. My stomach feel a bit better now, palpitations are lesser. There is still nausea and headaches but they are starting to get lesser and lesser now. I do hope I get over these symptoms soon. I don't have the cravings anymore because I got scared of having those terrible symptoms again. I am definitely not going back to that lifestyle anymore. I wanna feel better, I wanna feel fit and healthy again.

Hello everyone, has anyone experienced peeling of the lips i currently on week #5 and it seems as though my lips are starting to peel a little. i have looked it up online which says that it is completely normal but has anyone else experienced this as of yet?

I am on day 10 of no smoking, and day 5 of no nicotine (started with the gum). This is my second attempt at quitting, the first I quit for 6 days in May. I am so ready to be done but my body feels awful. I have awful stomach pains, gas, headaches, irritiability, inability to concentrate, and lack of sleep. *Does it get better*? I have done okay with the craving so far. I really believe in the power of prayer and have asked for the desire/obsession to smoke to be removed. For the most part it has, the desire anyway. The obsession is still there but I am sure it will pass in time. I look forward to when my day doesn't feel so miserable! Good luck to you all! Congratulations and guess what....you smell better!

Help for anyone who has a cough, chest congestion and/or breathlessness:

A natural Native American remedy. The name is Osha Root. It can be bought as a tincture or capsule.

Medicinal Properties & Uses: Osha Root has been used for generations for most every ailment. The roots, seed and essential oil of this plant are a bitter, camphoraceous warming herb that stimulates the circulation, kidneys and uterus. The root, being the most potent part of Osha, is the most widely used. To soothe sore throats and irritation of the gums, the root may be chewed raw. Boiling the root into a tea helps loosen phlegm and is an effective treatment for viral colds and flu. Osha Root is arguably the best American herb for lung and throat infections. It stimulates the macrophages or resident white blood cells of the lungs, numbs sore throats, bronchio-dilates the lungs to assist in expectoration, warms the lungs and helps one to breathe more deeply. Osha can be used as a preventative for those prone to sore throats and lung congestion or who get secondary infections from allergies. As Osha Root brings more blood into the lungs, it assists in dilation of the lungs when constricted. Therefore, it is helpful for emphysema, pneumonia, allergies, smokers cough, and athletically induced asthma. Osha Root is also antirheumatic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, digestive, febrifuge, and stomachic. It is used internally in the treatment of eruptive fevers, digestive complaints, toothache, painful menstruation and retained placenta. It has also been used to treat tuberculosis and headaches. An infusion of the roots is used externally to treat body aches. Powdered osha root can be used to make a soothing cough syrup. It is more effective than Echinacea and Goldenseal when one is already acute and congested. It increases oxygen utilization and uptake into the body, which aids in motion and air sickness.

Good luck to everyone!

Hi i am currently on week #4 and it seems as though the longer, the harder. At the beginning for the first 4 days I was fine, now it seems as though it is really hitting me. Reading everyone's posts have really been helpful because it lets me know that I am not in this alone. Hang in there everyone!!

Hi Everyone! I'm glad to see so many people still hanging in there. My first post here is #149. I'm still smoke free. Most of my withdrawal symptoms are gone, but I'm still craving cigarettes. The worst times are when I'm almost finished a really good meal, I think of lighting up, like I still smoke, then reality hits me and I get depressed. Honestly, when this happens, I can actually taste the cigarette. I think that since I smoked for so long and enjoyed it so much, I'll probably be craving it for a long time. Sometimes, I think I will be able to smoke again, only a few cigs a day, then reality hits and I'm sure I could never smoke even one cig. again.

Hang in there everyone! If I can do it, anyone can do it! My prayers are with all of you!

It's been 11 weeks since I posted Post # 130. That makes me 28 weeks quit. It gets easier all the time, just hang in there. Good luck people!

Hi I love this site! This is my fifth attempt since May 2009, ten days no smoking. Withdrawals? Headaches, stomch cramps, constipation, body aches, nose runny, neck constantly feels like I slept on it wrong, aggitated, starving, blah, blah, blah. I enjoy not being a slave to smoking, talking with a client and wishing they shut up so I can smoke, having to suck four ciggs down withing five minutes of waking up just to get going. I am 38 years old been smokig a pack a day for 24 years, I am a mother to five reasonably young kids and lung cancer has now touched my circle of people, and I want to be done. I am still suffereing cramps, and aches but its the wanting to be part of that takes me out every time. I have tried chantix, patches, ecigg, really the patch helps me. I slap one on before bed and feel like the edge is off when I wake up. Keep up the good work everyone.

Just passed the 4 week "considered safe zone thing". Funny, huh? Every day, at some point, I miss my 40-year old, non-judgmental light-up companion. The upside is every morning when I awake, I say: "I am no longer a slave" and it's the last sentence I utter before going to sleep at night. It's the in-between time that's challenging. But, guess what? We can do it! You can do it and if I can do it, anyone can! Yet, should you slip back for an instant, the brain remembers instantly the satisfaction you felt..body is so amazing and a curse at the same time:). Worst case: if you slip; so what! That's OK too. It doesn't make you any better or worse, any stronger or weaker. You are still and forever a spiritual being and can never be anything less than that anyway. (I only quit smoking because I personally felt enslaved and my breathing felt shallow.) With Love, Marsha

Hi, everybody! I was the ER patient on my first smoke-free day. It is my 9th week now. I can tell that the symptoms got better. My dizziness diminished greatly, my fatigue is still there but not as bad, the tingling is still going on. The headaches are not as bad too. I still have metallic taste in my mouth and have trouble concentrating. I am very anxious and angry. I do not sleep very good. But in general I feel better. I can tell that I will experience these symptoms for a while, but I am not scared anymore, thanks to this site. When I get really anxious, I pray. It helps me. I also try to stay away from the strong smells like perfume becuase it irritates me. I think everything irritates me right now. I pray it will go away soon. I know it will.I am not going to smoke ever!!!

I'm in week 3 of quitting cold turkey and I'm a wreck. Anxiety/panic attacks, shooting pains in my chest and rib cage and and tingling in my fingers and the more I worry and zone in on my symptoms, the worse they get. But I'm in it for the long haul.

We all need to hang in there!

I recently am a non smoker, I got to say that it has been a struggle, the urges and the cravings, but I have a special someone that has been there for me. when I'm around him I dont even think about cigarettes. he has a way that makes me not want to smoke- maybe its him kissing me. I love the way he kisses me, and when I was smoking we didnt really kiss passionately. So if I could give any advice, try to find that special someone, it could be your child, spouse, family friend....doesnt matter -- just stay positive and keep positive people around you, and you will succeed if you really want to quit.... For the past 8 days I have been fine, but I woke up the 9th morning and felt extremely sick, nausea, sore throat, coughing, sneezing and really bad pains in my stomach...I researched and found that I am having nicotine withdrawls....I'm still not smoking and even the thought of it disgusts me especially if I am going to have to go through this again... No thanks...I'm going to stay smoke free...Thanks to my special someone....Jennifer

im on week 9 and the anxiety attacks have gotten worse. i need help. it was easier during the first 8 weeks. now, i feel like my world is spinning everyday, and i feel nervous a lot and i feel like im going to pass out. is this normal? i've had my thyroid checked, but found out it was normal. my blood tests were good, and so was my heartbeat. but the dizzy spells, the lightheadedness is crazy. yup, i also have 2-3 anxiety attacks per day.

I am so grateful that I found this site. 5 days in - thought I had the flu but no fever, which was confusing (horribly sore throat, sore joints, dizzy, coughing) Now, I know what I am experiencing is normal withdrawal. As nasty as all I read here sounds, at least I know what I will face. Knowledge is power. Thanks to everyone. I *will* make it because of this site.

Hello, everyone. I quit June 2nd, 2009. I find myself gasping for air like a fish, but at least I'm not hacking when I breathe deeply. I am also tired a lot of the time and do a lot of yawning. I have postnasal drip all the time, too. I guess my old body is just trying to fix itself up and get the cilia working again. Not smoking is pretty neat, though. I'm saving money and not paying somebody to ruin my health!!

Remember that no subconscious-triggered craving lasts longer than 3 minutes (if you have the urge to smoke..set the timer or watch the clock). I love that old movie promo that said "Do easy". That stuck. Everything passes; it must by nature; nothing is static. Idiots we are if we resist change; yet we are living proof of ignorance still trying to resist the nature of itself. God..ain't we somethin!!. In Love and pure appreciation of/for the human experience. xo

Dear Marsha,

Want a wonderful article. I quit cold turkey on June 6th, 2009 after 20 years of smoking. I still mope a lot although I have gotten over the physical cravings fairly easily this time compared to my previous quit efforts. I was struggling to define how it happened until I read your post. That's just it, desire has to work with will. If you do not desire to not smoke again, will can only do so much.

Over the past week, I have been having this strange sense of emptiness, which I keep thinking can only be filled by smoking. For three weeks I fought the physical symptoms and now they are few and far between, but the psychological urge keeps returning. I'm able to reason with myself and say its just a psychological feeling but I'm worried I will lose the fight. I guess I will constantly have to reaffirm my "Desire" to stop smoking and hopefully all these years of memories of living every moment of my life (Both the joy and sorrow) will eventually start fading away and I can see life as a regular non-smoking human being does. Lets see I will keep fighting.

I quit, cold turkey, 12 days ago, after 40 years of non-stop 'flying'. I happened on this discussion group just today while searching for a link between quitting smoking and lullaby land, i.e. I didn't know it was possible to be so constantly sleepy! After reading all the intelligent & empathetic comments & shared experiences, I wanted to offer this, if it helps anyone at all.

Will power can't stand alone. The emotion of Desire must join Will. My consciousness finally received the message that my body was a slave to nicotine and, just like that, I quit.

Was it that quick? No, of course not..it was a process of mind preparation which started about 4 weeks before I quit. And that began with "I'd like to wake in the morning and be a non-smoker." No knocking myself down, just a sincere statement held seeing myself tobacco free. No pressure, no guilt, no self-loathing. Just a calm vision held in mind. I hadn't set a particular day to quit, it just came in the middle of the day on June 17.

This is the most important thing I would like to share. It is about the power of the mind. Had I read about all the painful symptoms one might experience in cessation, my ego would have kicked in and said 'girl..no..I don't think so..keep on smokin'..you don't need pain..' And just by the act of reading a painful story, the subconscious holds that to be a truth. Do you see what I'm getting at here? When I quit on that day, my mind had not built up apprehension/anxiety, but rather had accepted that this could (& should) be easy. When something no longer serves, it ceases to be a slave. Period.

So the beauty is my mental body anticipated no pain..it just got very sleepy. Dopamine, naturally, trying to assist my physical body. Very weirdly wonderful. There is no laboratory in the world as sophisticated as the human body. All we need do is understand it, not fight it.

Can we understand that nicotine is a legal narcotic? Some blame, some shame..it's just what it is and has been allowed to continue because of its tremendous profit to pharma/gov't/health-care industries. The bottom line is always with the individual, thus 'as within, so without'. When we no longer choose slavery, it ceases to exist..on every level. We have to lose victim consciousness.

It will be interesting when we learn how many tobacco companies are bedding NRTs. Look. 93% of NRT users relapse to smoking nicotine within 6 mos. Understanding the mental process..just one puff of nicotine, after quitting, triggers all memories & conditioning associated w/smoking and starts the process of re-establishing our full chemical dependency on nicotine. Tobacco companies know this. Listen & let us understand: quitting smoking cannot begin until the heart stops pumping nicotine into the brain. Period. Other words...there is no 'weaning'. We really must understand this. For me, I had to reach the point where I refused slavery, consciously. We think we have 'free will'. No. What we have is 'mass consciousness'..dumbed down. And it's worked for thousands of eons of years, very successfully. With Love & understanding the only thing in prison is the mind. Freedom is a thought away...always.

Hello, again! I am the one who ended up at the ER after quitting smoking because I passed out. I am on week 6 today and I am still sick. The truth is I was also diagnosed with mononucleosis last week when I went to the doctor to check my health. I was so tired and dizzy that I barely could drive. So, she requested some blood tests for me, and they came out positive for mono. So, I think that all these troubles i was having with quitting smoking just tripled because of mono.

I just noticed that my panic attacks lessened by week six. I am still very tired and weak, but I do not know if it is nicotine withdrawal or mono. Good luck, everybody!

Tomorrow is my 5 week anniversary since I quit. The dizziness is almost gone just the occasional spell but it goes away quickly. Stomach problems are gone, but the anxiety is horrible. I have at least 2-3 anxiety attacks a day. I'll be sitting there feeling just fine & all of a sudden my heart feels like it's fluttering and I start panicking and feeling like I'm going to die. Total fight or flight feeling; if I move around and breathe it gets better. The slightest amount of stress and it feels like my heart's trying to escape. I'm also experiencing depression, had a melt down yesterday. What's weird is when this happens the last thing on my mind is wanting a cigarette. I've had some moments where I miss it so much but the cravings are nothing compared to the anxiety. I'm glad the dizziness is gone but I really hope I calm down soon, I don't know how much more of this I can take!

Hanging in there. It helps to read all of these comments and know I'm not alone. I don't have anyone I can talk to about all of this so it helps we have our little support group going on here. Thank you all and we can do it.

i'm on my 7th week after i quit smoking. things are getting better. the headaches have lessened, dizziness occasionally occurs, but the chest pains are still there and breathing difficulty. i think i still have the panic attacks, and depression. i am trying to go out and have fun everyday to overcome depression. i know i can do this, we all can. my throat feels weird too, like itchy.

any suggestions to treat my shortness of breath? doctors said i'm okay, and i think it's the panic attacks and nervousness.

I started smoking when I was 14. I am now 60 and most of that time, I smoked from one to 3 packs a day. Some days, when I was very stressed, I smoked 4 packs!

Today, I have been smoke free for about a month and a half, which is nothing short of a miracle for me, because I enjoyed every cigarette I ever smoked and I quit cold turkey. About 2 months ago, I caught a virus from a family member, which settled in my chest and caused me to get breathless when I exerted myself. Then, I was getting over the virus and came down with bronchitis. Again, my breathing became labored and the cough made my chest and throat felt like it was on fire. My doctor gave me an antibiotic and ventolin to help me breath. This is when I quit smoking, but instead of my breathing getting better, it got so bad, I feared I wouldn't be able to catch my breath and started having panic attacks. I couldn't sleep, because when I laid down in my bed, I felt like I was going to suffocate. Fortunately, it was actually the panic attacks that was making it harder for me to breath. I had no idea about how bad nicotine withdrawal could be.

I've been through it all...heart palps, panic attacks, feeling like I could kill for a smoke, dizziness, can't concentrate, moodiness, anger...etc. and expect it to go on for a lot longer. But, I am very greatful that I actually feel like I am going to make it despite all the suffering. I will never smoke again and I want everyone who is going through the withdrawal symptoms, to know...*you can do it*! Whenever you think you won't make it, think of me. I smoked multiple packs a day for over 40 years and I am going to make it...so can you!

For those who are having a problem with breathing, here's a tea that really helps tremendously:

1 teas. fennel seeds

1 teas. skullcap leaves

1 teas. fenugreek seeds

Boil all herbs in 1 cup of water for one min. let steep till cool, strain out the herbs and drink the liquid. Do this 3 times a day for at least 3 days. You can drink this mixture forever if you like and people who have a severe breathing problem should use it longer, but it should help you to breath better in 3 days.

Another natural remedy to help quit smoking is niacin, a B vitamin. It has to be the niacin that causes flushing. The flushing caused by niacin can be very upsetting to some people, so please use with caution. It dilates the blood vessels, which makes the blood circulate better. This causes a very noticeable redness with heat and itching all over the body.

The therapeutic dose is 1 - 100 mg table of niacin every 3 to 4 hours or when the craving for a cigarette is very bad. If you haven't used niacin before, I suggest starting off with 1/4 of the 100 mg tablet (25mg)or less and gradually build up to the 100mg.

Good luck to everyone!

I am on day 5 after smoking for on and off for 30 years. I am using the patch and I believe it just being there has helped. I cannot believe the fatigue I have experienced during the day. I can take a nap and sleep like a log, but then I cannot sleep at night but because of the vivid dreams I know I was asleep.

Been trying to keep up with my workouts, but I am so exhausted I am fighting to get through them. I so want to succeed this time, I really enjoyed reading these posts from the long term smokers and realize, the road I have in front of me is going to be tough but it is up to me to determine my future destiny. Glad I am not alone on the withdrawal symptoms I feel. Lets all hang in there, I know we can all do it.

Hi,everybody! I read this discussion and I am so thankful that I found it. I am on my 4th week of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and it's been hell. On the 1st day when I quit smoking, I started feeling really dizzy at home and decided to go to ER. While I was driving myself there, I started passing out. So, I stopped at the restaurant, and asked them to call 911 because I was in such a bad shape. Everything was spinning around, and I could not walk. It scared me so bad. Paramedics checked my blood pressure and it was 80/60 which is very low.

At the hospital they did not find anything wrong with me and I had a friend drive me home because I still was so sick. Next 2 weeks was a nightmare! I slept non-stop for first week, I was dizzy and could not get out of bed. I was so weak that I could not lift my arm or leg. I did not drive for the first 2 weeks because I could not see good and my vision was so blurry. I couldn't concentrate at all. I also had terrible anxiety. It feels like you dying almost every minute. When I went to sleep at night, I left the lights on, and I thought that I am going to die in my sleep for about 3 weeks. I was very paranoid and depressed. I also had tingling all over my body from the head to my toes. My face went numb and my head went numb on week 4.

My gate is funny to me. I walk like I am scared to fall. I am still very tired all the time. I will be on my fifth week tomorrow, and it has been a hard time for me. I feel unreal.

Thank God that I found this discussion or I would go completely crazy. I still feel crazy and sick but I know it is not in my head. It is all nicotine withdrawal. I will get back with you later.

God bless everybody that is fighting so hard.

It's been almost 72 hours since I quit smoking. I smoked from 12 to 18 and stopped until a year ago. I'm 28 and have been smoking for a year... some days I chain smoke, other days only a few. For the last 72 hours I've slept the majority of it. Every time I fall asleep I'm shocked at how long I sleep. I also feel depressed, which isn't common for me. Is this normal?

Reading everyone's comments was a huge relief. I quit using smokeless tobacco about 4-5 weeks ago. I went to the doctor the previous week and we discussed my very high blood pressure and the fact that I need to make some lifestyle changes. I didn't discuss with him that I was a dip user. I quit using and immediately started having heart palpitations. I had an EKG done as well to find out my heart was beating normally. Even now I am having palpitations and today I felt like I was having a heart attack. Since I have been to the doctor for high blood pressure, I thought I was on the verge of a stroke or heart attack. It then dawned on me that these problems may be due to the fact that I quit tobacco cold turkey.

I searched the internet and found this article. I am so relieved to find out a lot of people experienced the same thing. I am still going to discuss this with my doctor to make sure I will be OK. If you are trying to quit, good luck to you and hang on with the rest of us. Thanks.

i'm on day 37 cold turkey. since i quit, i experienced terrible dizziness, for like a week. after that, dry mouth for days, feeling dehydrated, daily headaches and heavy feeling in my brain, tingling muscles all over my body and neck pain.

as of today, i still have the lightheadedness and the daily headaches. the dizziness lessened, though there were still occasional dizzy spells. i also had constipation and stomach pains.

the headache and neck pain is still terrible, but atleast other symptoms lessened. i also try to exercise everyday and i drink lots of water everyday. i wish to stay calm through this whole process. i know i can do it. good luck to all of us!

I had one cigarette yesterday and 2 the day before that. Am I quitting? I don't know! I certainly have a lot of the "flu" symptoms described, which are stopping me from smoking... maybe I just have picked up a bug. I have smoked 5 per day for about 20 years. I have never wanted to give up before now and don't have a good reason to now. I just keep not wanting a cigarette, so haven't had one. And suffer more. It gets to the point where I think, should I have one, to see if it is the flu, or if I will then feel better...then I think no - carry on. Don't know if I'll smoke one today, but can't promise not to. Sleeping lots and throat very sore and can hardly eat or drink.

I'm at week 2 now. Still feeling dizzy, chest tightness, occasional heart palpitations and anxiety. The stomach problems are getting better. I'm only nauseous occasionally now instead of all the time. I think I'm not craving cigarettes but I think the symptoms are freaking me out so much I don't notice it's because I'm craving a cigarette. The depression is starting but I've always gone through that off and on so it's nothing new for me. I'm trying to eat right & started exercising last week. I can at least get through a workout without wheezing and feeling like my heart is going to explode. I know I need to be patient but I can't help but feel disappointed that I'm not feeling much better yet.

I keep re-reading the comments from people who were into it longer than I've been & are going through the same problems, helps me to realize that I am not going to die, it's just withdrawals & I will make it.

Thank you all for your comments it really does help to know I'm not alone.

I quit 2 days ago after 16 years of smoking between five cigs a day and over a pack a day. I had quit before for about one month, two years ago, but drank alcohol and went right back to it. This time around I am not drinking alcohol at all, quit that a few weeks back.

I have felt some withdrawal symptoms, a heavy wave of panic last night while I was asleep, some cravings for a cigarette, constant triggers as well as sore throat, cough, runny nose. All in all it is something I felt I had to do and now is the time before I get any older, I am now 30 and have been smoking more than half my life. I was getting bad heartburn for years, yellow teeth, feeling of constant withdrawal because I would vary between smoking over a pack a day to going two or three days smoking less than five cigs a day.

For anybody who's serious about their health and wants to quit, get an e-cig.. puff on that thing for a good two weeks then stop.. quitting will be a breeze.. I'm 5 days cold turkey from nicotine and I feel great.

I am on day 4 of my second attempt at quitting smoking. Started at 16, quit at 25 that lasted for 2 years,then started again..idiot!! for the last 4 years. The first time I quit the emotional withdrawals were the worst, anger, uncontrollable crying outbursts, irritability, and depression. This time my temper is pretty even, I'm only slightly irritable but can control it quickly and no crying...yet...but the anxiety, heart palpitations, dizziness, cold symptoms, and tingling in my fingers & toes are the worst. I'm thinking it's because I'm now 31 not 25.

I decided to quit this time because I have been having dizziness, anxiety & palpitations for a while and thought maybe the nicotine was causing it. After reading about withdrawal symptoms and that most people smoke more when they relapse than they did before, I wonder if I was having those problems because I kept myself down to 4-5 cigarettes a day this time as opposed to the half a pack I smoked before I quit the first time.

I think maybe I've been in an almost constant state of withdrawal for the past year. And as you can tell from this narrative I'm having a very hard time focusing. I'll be trying to do something and find myself just staring unable to focus & continue a thought.

I have a good feeling this time that it will stick. Good luck to everyone and for anyone who's a 2nd timer (or more) like me.. don't feel bad that it didn't work the first time. Some of us just have to learn the hard way. Once you quit *Don't start again!* We can do it!

I quit cold turkey 6 days ago and feel great. I followed what most internet sites suggested. I drank plenty of cranberry juice, cold water, etc. Although my sleep sucked for the first four days that went away at the end of the 4th day. My physical withdrawal symptoms have now gone and I'm still fighting the triggers and probably will be for months.

It's amazing how quick your body starts fixing itself. I'm no longer wheezing in the morning or at night, the shortness of breath is going away after walking up a flight of steps. I feel cold turkey actually is going to work for me this time because in the past with patches, etc. I was still giving my body the nicotine but this time it only took a short 3-4 day detox to rid it completely.

This is a follow up on my post a few months back. It has now been 10 weeks since I quit cold turkey. I am not wanting a smoke. I do find that my nerves are still sensitive and my chest still hurts every day. I find my head has almost quit spinning completely. My heart seems better. I still find myself gasping for a second here and there for air. Maybe it's nerves IDK.

I am so glad I quit now. I didn't think I could hold on, but I am making it and things are getting better and better every week.

Please don't lose hope and understand this is not easy but very well worth the hell to go through to quit.

wow! I'm lucky, because even though I started smoking at 16, am now 29, and have stopped at 19, started again at 21, then stopped at 25, then started again at 29, but have recently stopped again (on 2nd week now) I'm lucky enough not to have any of the extreme symptoms some others do! One way of making it a lot easier is to use those patches! But at 19 when i quit the first time I did go cold turkey.

This discussion is very helpful. I quit cold turkey last week after 18 years of smoking because I was tired of feeling terrible. Next thing you know I can't sleep because I feel like I'm having some kind of heart attack. After a few days of hit and miss tightness in my chest and thoughts of dying in my sleep I finally get checked out (ECG, Chest X-Ray,...) only to be told that everything would indicate that I exercise regularly??? Thank god I found this discussion, I thought I was dying, good thing is that it kept me from wanting to smoke to the point that I don't even have any cravings... Now I just hope it ends soon.

I'm on day 37 of this nightmare. I had used Copenhagen for the last 20 years. These posts have really helped in knowing I'm not going crazy. A few of my episodes are similar to those posted. I have been taking Wellbutrin for quite some time also.

The first week I experienced a decrease in appetite, increasing anxiety, heart ready to blow, couldn't sleep and then totally worn out and shakes. I could also see and feel changes in vascularity/BP. That was just the first week. I started losing weight by week two. I was also feeling "tingling" in my extremities and upper chest. The anxiety had me thinking terrible thoughts. If you find yourself sitting at the edge of your bed at 1AM ready to cry or blow up, don't worry, it's unfortunately part of this withdrawal we must endure.

I had actually thought something was wrong with me. I had an EKG, thyroid, and blood work done. Guess what, I'm healthy. That told me it was the nicotine.

I have since dropped my Wellbutrin to a lower dose. It was too much with the anxiety. I still have dizziness. My appetite is very slowly returning. I still feel my heart race at times. I have also quit working out since I stopped. I used to do cardio and lift every day. I am hoping to return to that soon. It still takes a while for me to fall asleep.

It is depressing to be in day 37 and still have these symptoms. I know that it is for the best though. I will never put that worm dirt in my mouth again for the simple fact that I don't *ever* want to repeat what I went through and still experience. I pray that it will continue to ease.

I will send another post when my symptoms have cleared. I have seen everything from days, weeks to months. It looks like I'm on the long term plan. Best wishes and/or prayers to all who have made this decision. It's an ugly experience but an even uglier disease.

I just quit today. I wrote my reasons why list and am ready to commit to the quit. I think quitting smoking is harder than anything else out there, alcohol, heroine, crack. Even in AA they let you smoke because they don't want you to go crazy.

One thing that is helping so far is Australian Tea Sticks, big help. I know I have quit before, but this time feels different.

Good luck

I stopped cold turkey on the first day of the year. That makes me 17 weeks quit. It was really bad the first 12-13 weeks, everything from palpitations to tingling extremities and unbelievable fatigue. Had to get a check-up just to make sure my cardio system was all right! After the first 13 weeks-easy as pie. Just hang in there. Good luck to us all.

Today is day 3 of my nicotine recovery. Yesterday, I started to feel the shakes, it was unbearable. I couldn't even sleep. As a result, I am fatigued beyond belief. I keep asking if it's worth it. And I know it is. But how long do I suffer? The irony in all of this is that I chose to suffer when I lit up that cig for the first time. Our consequences are the result of our actions. I'm trying to stay strong. Noticed no weight gain as of yet. My mood is ok, it's just the shakes, and muscle spasms that are driving me nuts. I hope I can make it through another night.

The first three days were bad for me. I cried and felt as though I hated the whole world. The more I look back on it I don't know whether it was physical withdrawal symptoms or all in my head. Either way, it sucked. I was majorly depressed and experienced *a lot* of anxiety.

I'm day 21 into it as of tomorrow and everyday now it just gets easier. If you can get through the first 3 days I think you're good to go. It's all mental from there or atleast felt so in my experience.

I run 2 miles a day 5 days a week. This helps a lot.

Today I am going to try and quit cold turkey. I did it about 8 years ago when I found out I was pregnant, and I just remember having the worst migraine headache of my life. Well I am prepared for that again.

I want to do this for my children and my health. I have seen way too many people die of cancer. I don't want to be another statistic. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and have been doing physical therapy so maybe the exercise will help me to get by. I am also an avid coffee drinker and always have to have a cigarette with my coffee, however, I don't think I will be able to quit nicotine and caffeine at the same time. So I figure I will do this one at a time. LOL.

I am so glad that I found this site, your stories are all very inspirational and it makes me feel more confident that I can do this. *thank you all!!!*

I stopped smoking almost a month ago. 25 days to be exact. I stopped using patches. I am still on 14 mg patches.

My hat goes off to the ones who have quit cold turkey. I honestly could not have done it without help. I found a support group and just went with it. A couple of days without the patch during the first two weeks and I was miserable. I had this rage inside me that I never knew existed. I was like a bear. So, I know there is no way that I could have done it cold turkey.

So to all of you that have. Job well done. You should pat yourself on the back because you have went through a lot.

Yesterday, I did not put a patch on because of the itching, but I am so scared of smoking again that today I put my patch back on. Granted I did not have those anger feelings when I left it off. I still want to finish out my quit program. I no longer want to put a cigarette in my mouth but still crave nicotine. I am beating this addiction one day at a time. I have not had much will power in the past but have gained some with this quit and it has been worth it. I have used everything known to man to help with the cravings. Straws, sticks, gum, candy, chocolate, gum, you name it. But it is working for me. Good Luck to all you quitters, it is worth it.

Brently, I think a big help for you would be to see a nutritionist and get on a workout program. The only way I got over my symptoms is with a lot of vitamins, working out and eating well.

I smoked for 8 years at a pack a day and so I quit and it's been 3 weeks since I have lit up. Here are some symptoms that I have been going through. My head hurts in many kinds of ways from headache to dizziness. My chest was very tight feeling. Many sharp pains run through my chest heart and sides of ribs. I have fear of almost everything. I wake up from naps with this cold hurt in my lungs and it stays with me throughout the day, but is strongest when waking up. I do not wish to smoke a cig, though, the smell of a smoker is so nasty now. But I have the worst feeling come over my body and want to get back to feeling normal.

If anyone can relate to these strong symptoms please respond to me. It will help me and you out to share the side effects of quitting.

Withdrawal from anything is dependent on the individual. I have heard some people say use the patch, easy to quit. Well if it was easy for you, count your blessings.

I am now at day 22 of no longer using nicotine products. I smoked camel filters and used a can of copenhagen snuff a day. I have smoked, chewed, and been on the patch. I could have used nicotine in an IV.

For me quitting nicotine is the hardest thing. I just quit using Norco pain medication which is vicodin and acetaminophen. No big deal, I just stopped. Well if you read online about Norco Pain medication withdrawal, it can be like trying to get off heroin.

My point is that withdrawal is an individual thing and for some tobacco addiction can be the hardest of all things to quit.

Hi. I smoked a pack a day (at least) for 7 years. The first time I tried to quit, I did it cold turkey. Then went back to smoking and have tried the patch and the gum, but did not work. I have been debating going on Chantix for aboiut 6 months, but was concerned about one of the side effects I read as becoming more depressed. Since I already suffer from depression, this was a big decision to make. So I have been on Chantix now for 2 weeks today. I quit smoking on the 7th day.

*Now for the side effects.* Let me start off by saying that I do not want to stop taking Chantix as it is working; I'm not smoking nor do I want to or have any cravings whatsoever.

I first became very irritated and had more anxiety than usual, probably days 1-3 (of not smoking) at the worst where I would just go psycho mad on whoever happened to be around. Then I got sick; meaning I still don't even know if it is the flu or a nicotine withdrawal, but it feels like I have the flu. I have had to call into work for the past 3 days because I cannot move my body hurts so bad. I have had a headache, nausea, vomiting, constant chills, sweats, fever, aches and pains all over, can't sleep, can't eat, can't drink anything. Those symptoms have been going on for the past 4 days and I really need this to end. I don't want to go back to a cigarette or feel that I need one, I just want these withdrawals to go away. I cannot find a reliable timetable on when this stuff should go away.

I am so jealous of the people on here who have said that they have no side effects, because I have them all. I can guarantee after this horrific withdrawal experience, you couldn't pay me to smoke another cigarette. Good luck to everyone. You can do it!

I use the patch, it's easy. I'm 3 months clean. Start on 21mgs, do it for 6 weeks, then switch to 14 for 3 weeks (they say 2), and then to 7mg for 3 weeks (they say 2). It's hard when you go down a level, but less hard than cold turkey. You feel fidgety and anxious, but by that time you've not smoked for 6 weeks and it's not a real habit anymore. The patch is it, man.

Smoked a pack a day for 28 years, never tried to quit. Well it's been a week now and no cigs. The cravings are non-existent, but the withdrawals are killer. I didn't even know you got withdrawals from quitting. Go figure. Had cold like symptoms and took lots of nyquil. Yesterday, I was thinking great, I quit smoking, now I'll have a heartache, it felt like it. This site is great answered lots of my questions about the physical aspects and I know I'm not alone.

I am on day 14 of quitting cigarettes (I was smoking 20-25/day). OK, I did it in quite a major way: I also quit coffee, tea and all caffeinated drinks, as well as chocolate. Oh yes, I also stopped alcohol at the same time. How am I doing this? I started exercising from day 1. Now, Day 14, I jogged 45 minutes this morning. The worst days psychologically were days 10-13. On Day 13, I almost gave-up, but I stayed strong. I'm lucky because I'm taking time off work at the moment, so I have plenty of time for exercise and rest. The other very important thing to do is to eat extremely healthy, and drink a lot of water. Good luck! I'm still hanging in there!

I have read every single post on this site. Some of them are rather discouraging, while the majority of them have been extremely helpful. Just to know that you are not alone is a great feeling in & of itself.

I'm almost to my 48 hour mark without a cigarette. Cold Turkey. I was a pack a day smoker for 19 years. I didn't sleep at all last night, and that is the worst symptom I've had so far. I am having horrible cravings, extreme dizziness, irritability, my mouth and gums are absolutely killing me, and I generally just want to choke someone. Haha.

I do feel better now that I have stumbled across this forum. For those of us that are going through this, I wish nothing but the best. Peace and strength.

After 40 years of smoking, I am thrilled by the new electronic cigarette and e-juice. After dozens of attempts to quit in the past, I am switching to e-cigs and will work to reduce my nicotine input. They are awesome and I love some of the flavors.

2 weeks ago I used to smoke 20-30 cigs a day, I've stopped completely. grant it, it was difficult, but it wasn't too hard. but society and the public media has blown this topic extremely out of proportion making this less of a obstacle and more of something you'll never get over.

it is do-able you just have to put forth the effort and want to do it.

I'm 37 and smoked for 26 years. A little Allen Carr and some cold turkey took care of it. Read Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking".

I found that switching to all natural cigarettes, like American Spirits, prior to quitting helps the symptoms because you don't have to quit smoking and withdraw from the chemical additives, you withdraw from the additives, then quit and its much easier. Also don't do the drugs, they just mess you up.

I quit 2 weeks ago with Chantix. Been having nicotine withdrawal symptoms but the whole thing has been ridiculously easy. I seriously don't understand why people kill themselves with "cold turkey." Seems like they are choosing the horse and cart, and I am making use of modern technology and taking a car. Makes it a lot easier. Good luck cold turkeys but I give you all about a week before you cave. We've all done it so don't give up. :)

Well it has been 5 days and I have had only 4 cigs. Withdrawal symptoms in my particular case are absolutely horrible!

I naturally have anxiety and the withdrawal symptoms have given me panic attacks. However, the fact that i am having these attacks is enough for me to finally just *say no more* to these cigs. I can't keep them going on...

It has been 8 weeks for me. I quit cold turkey and the withdrawal was brutal. My question is---it seems like when you conquer one physical withdrawal symptom another one is right there to take it's place-----like right now I have a horrible metal taste in my mouth and frequent acid indigestion----will this to stop ???? When do the withdrawal symptoms stop altogether ?????

I won't go back because my good days seem to be slowly but surely out weighing the bad ones.

If someone could let me know if what I am feeling is part of the process it would sure relieve some unnecessary stress. Thanks and good luck to everyone.

I am a professional quitter. What I have learned is every time I relapse, I smoke *more*, and every time I re-quit, I am better at it, but the withdrawal is worse.

Good news for me on "this quit", my brain is co-operating. It's like magic...poof! I now understand how people quit...which usually makes me mad cuz I try so hard to quit. It's a brain related problem (for me) maybe all of us..who knows?

Good luck...next year we will all be at weight watchers, smellin' fine. lol

So i am 19 years old and i chose to quit smoking. Today is day 30 and i still feel like i am going crazy and should be checked into a psych home lol. I have every symptom you could possibly have for nicotine withdraw. The part i hate the most is how my heart feels, like its pounding hard, i have no concentration, and i forget what i'm doing and get really dizzy and almost pass out. I'm sure this is all in my mind like the doctors and everyone has told me, but this is really ridiculous.

I never knew quitting smoking was going to be this hard. I have the worst anxiety. I can't stand loud noises and a lot of movement drives me insane!

I just want all these symptoms to go away and I want my old happy self back! I really just need to be strong and I will get through this. I just can't wait till all these withdraws are gone. I will never go back to smoking again! Good luck and stay strong everyone!

Today is my 34th as a non-smoker. I used nicotine gum for the first 24 days, which helped break the psychological association between nicotine and smoking. This stage of quitting was actually pretty easy compared to stage 2, going cold turkey from the nicotine gum. It's now day 10 without nicotine for me. First 3 days were the worst - had close to zero energy or motivation, but still managed to feel irritated and ravenously hungry. The tiredness peaked on day 2, but is still a bit of a problem. Main withdrawal symptoms now are extreme difficulty concentrating, irritability, hungry all the time, and restlessness. I have started to notice some good things though: at times I feel genuinely relaxed for the first time in years, my skin and hair look a lot better, I can breathe easier, and have more energy. Have also taken up exercise - something that is a lot easier to stick at now I am not wheezing after the first few minutes. I am pretty much allowing myself to indulge in all the chocolate bars, coffee, junk food, and other "rewards" for the first 4 weeks nicotine free. I will be confident I have shaken this addiction by then, though will always be aware of potential for relapse - have quit twice before for long periods and gone back to the things. Stopping smoking is a major achievement - there isn't a drug out there that is more addictive.

I'm 37 yrs old. I've been smoking since I was 15. Quit once for 4 years and started when my first baby was so colicky. I've been a week without smoking. I'm going to make it stick this time. My husband and I are both quitting. I almost passed out at work the other day. I was so dizzy, didn't know that was a withdrawal symptom until coming on here. So thanks whoever posted that. I'm still fighting the dizziness off and on. I used nicorette the first three days but don't want to get hooked on that so I stopped. I've been nicotine free for 4 days now. I'm doing ok. Yes, I'd love a cigarette...but that's just a feeling I'm going to have to learn to overcome! Good luck, be strong, be healthy!

Hey guys, hang in there. Im 24, started smoking at 18 (really dumb!). I peaked at 22 years old at 3 whole packs a day. I got tired of not being able to breathe and made a commitment to quit, no matter how slowly and no matter how long. I started cutting down and today im smoking 7 cigs a day regularly. Everytime I cut down I had these withdrawal symptoms which were bad for the first few days and totally subsided after 2 weeks. Im quitting soon, cold turkey and if it takes me until im 90 years old, I will give this crap up! Im going to roll over smokes like a soviet tank! I am scared as hell, but somehow, knowing what to expect from having done this before helps a lot.

The effects of withdrawal are very real beyond 48 hours. It is a medical fact that nicotine takes anywhere from 60-90 days to really get out of your system, and even then, I personally think it lingers beyond that in some form or another.

Call me crazy or what, and yesterday was hell day 5, so I decided to drink 2 bottles of wine, no I didn't smoke and yes I really wanted to, but i gotta say all those other symptoms went away short term of course until about 530 am which is almost now and i cant sleep. power to day 6

getting drunk doesnt solve all the problems but it sure helped for a period of time, if your going to have a headache make it a great headache.

day 5 agggghhhhhhh. thought i was really going crazy until i read this page, thank God for internet right now. 20 yrs 10 cigs or more a day, combined with a lot of fun and over usage.

I dont crave to smoke now but, God help me with this anxiety, nervousness chest pains, and so on......what does one do?

To #18108 I say AMEN! I too have turned to prayer to give me the strength I need to quit. "Faith is not believing that God can...Its knowing that He will." I pray for strength for us all. Amen.

I just wanted to add another comment. I have been having tightness in my chest for about 2 weeks. Since i started to cut back. That by far has been the scariest withdrawal . I didn't not know that was a part of withdrawal. Reading the different comments has helped calm me down. I am not as nervous knowing that others are suffering from the same problems. This is the first evening for about 2 weeks that my chest doesn't feel so tight. Thanks for all of you who have shared your experiences.

I have smoked for about fifteen years. 1 to 1.5 packs a day. I love to smoke. I need to quit. I have cut back to about 6 cigs. a day. I'm going to the doctor to see about quitting. I have had withdrawal just from cutting back. I'm scared about what it is going to be like when i quit all the way. I may try chantix. I think thats what it is called. I'm quitting for my kids and my health. I want to be smoke free. I hate liking it so much. I always feel guilty when i light up. I want to quit and not crave any cigs. I pray for us all smokeless souls in a smoke addicted body.

Someone mentioned about having pains in their finger joints. Actually I am on around week 4 or 5....I havent been counting because I just dont want to think about quitting smoking. Any I didnt think it was related but I had pains in my fingers for about 7 to 10 days and Ive just realized that they are gone now. It started at around week 2 I guess. So maybe it is related. Judging by all of the other symptoms I am experiencing, I wouldnt be surprised. My one big question to everyone is.......Is there any time limit to when the physical symptoms stop? Actually I can deal with the emotional and psychological symptoms with yoga and a good boyfreind to talk to.....but the heart palpitations, the eternal hungriness, the headaches, the fatigue, the insomnia, the gas and constipation....When will it stop?? If Anyone has an idea, I would love to know. And well done to everyone, I never even thought that there would be symptoms like this. I did absolutely no research until I found this forum after 4 or 5 weeks, and I didnt even know that these were withdrawal symptoms. I was actually really worried that I was really sick and was afraid to go to the doctor in case he told me I had some life threatening disease! So thank you for sharing, at least now I know that I am normal

i have been smoking for 18 years, but only in the past 7 years everyday. I quit cold turkey a about a month ago purely because I had a bad chest and sinus infection and just couldnt smoke. So I decided to just not smoke again.

Good news is I have only had about 2 cravings in a month and I havent given into temptation because now the smell of cigarettes turns me off. However I have become a complete recluse. I am usually a very sociable person. I dont particularly feel depressed, but I dont want to be around people. I have also quit alcohol, as I dont see the point in drinking if I cant smoke. I feel like I have become very boring, and I have gained quite a lot of weight very quickly.

Every second day I feel energized and every other day i feel exhausted. I almost fainted a few times and I have a cough. I have had a lot of sinus pain (my infection has seemed to have cleared though). Ive had headaches all day somedays. I have terrible gas.

Since today I have gone on a healthy diet too, in an effort to lose some weight. On the days that I have energy I have been walking briskly and I have noticed a difference when I climb stairs.

The worst and most worrying part for me though is that i have heart palpitations...all the time. Is this normal? Does anyone know? I find it hard to get to sleep too. Sometimes it is 4am, but i tend to sleep late in the morning (luckily I work evenings)

If anyone can relate to these symptoms I would be grateful. I was wondering how long it will last. This is actually my first time to ever quit smoking in 18 years! And right now I really feel like I will never smoke again...God willing

I am finishing up day six after deciding to make my New Years resolution to quit smoking. Decided to try cold turkey to see what would happen. The nausea at night, the weird dreams, feeling exhausted one minute and feeling completely energized the next. It's definitely not easy. But after only six days, I smell the disgusting stink of smokers and food is starting to taste better. It's hard to resist the cravings and I get them at work and in the car often. I'm trying to keep my head up and not give into the temptation. Non-smokers don't like kissing smokers...that kind of sucks too!!! Good luck to everyone and to me!

I'm on day 2 of attempt #3.

The first time I went cold turkey, and the withdrawals made me murderous.

Then I went through withdrawals every weekend for about a year and a half, only smoking at work.

Attempt #2 used the patch and allowed me to quit for 1 - 1.5 years.

So far the withdrawals have been very mild. I had some pretty bad cravings last night, but it really wasn't as awful as I remember it. I'm not half as tired as I thought I would be, and I'm not irritable at all. I don't know if I'm just used to the withdrawals now or what, but I feel great all things considered.

Use a e cig Its done wonders for me.

I quit chew 5 1/2 months ago cold turkey. Before that I had chewed for 16 yrs, one can a day. Today, I am still overcoming things. I still experience fatigue, noisy stomach gas, nausea, depression, and panic attacks. All this started right when I quit so I know its nicotine related. So for those of you that read some things about how you won't have nicotine withdrawals after a few weeks, realize that it's people that wrote those that never did nicotine.

No medication for me. People wonder why I don't use any, well because it makes me worse and I can't tell if I'm improving or if its just medication doing the job.

I am chewing tobacco from last 14 years. I feel that main problem is not the tobacco, but its physiological problem. I felt that by chewing tobacco, I will show my friends that I am something special from you guys.

Isn't this too childish? Ya it is but only before few days, I came to know that its childish act. Now having sever carving problems but hope I will get rid of them soon. God bless us all :)

Well I was on day 2 till about twenty minutes ago, I caught myself though and only took 3 drags Which is bad but at least i caught myself. So we will see how it goes now. I have been trying to quit the last few months but I live with a smoker who smokes in the house!! any suggestions? this makes it so difficult I sealed off the bedroom and have a fan by the window and I did pretty good about keeping the smoke smell out but I cant hibernate in the room all the time, so help would be great.

Hi, im on my second day of going cold turkey im experiencing cravings but heres a tip for people out there that are finding it hard. Drink plenty of green tea. This would be about the tenth time of me quitting but the first time of me drinking green tea and its not so bad it helps clean out the system. Which will help get rid of the nicotine in the system faster. For people who are finding it hard to sleep some chamomile tea might help it has me. It has sleeping agents in it. we can all do this.

Im now suffering from anxiety and my neck is killing me.. I also having palpitations and shortness of breath.. The worst is I feel so tired all day and very sleepy and being depressed with no particular reason.. Today is my 4th day of no cigar life.. It's very hard.. I thought there are no side effects in quitting I began going to the doctor to check my heart and anxiety condition.. Now I'm quite relieved from my anxiety.. But I still need to make sure that I'm not having cardiac problems nor Hypothyroidsm.. God bless us all.. And may we have a good and happy lifestyle after enduring this challenge..

I have been smoking for the past year now, on and off mostly. Began just 1 or 2 with some friends while walking to the nearest store. Now im around 5-7 a day which aint that bad considering some stories i have heard, Im very athletic and just want to quit before i get deeper. throughout this year i have quit a few times which i refer to as a "cycle" , month in a month out i try. I believe when you quit cigarettes try smoking 1 or 2 of those little cigars, I know the experience is nothing like a cigarette but it helps a lot with the psychological effect of not smoking as well as provides you with a little bit of nicotine so you dont kill ur self. after a week of this you will personally just quit using the cigars.

I quit smoking cold turkey 7 wks ago,it was my 4th attempt. The only problems i have at the moment is being short of breath and chest tightness. I smoked for 20 yrs and was a heavy smoker something like 40 a day. I got so fed up with my chest probs that i have had a few e.c.g done and 2 chest x-rays,my anxiety levels were through the roof.

I am hoping the chest tightness will go soon, but it is a price to pay for smoking.

hi im 29 ive ben smoking for 15 years 1.5 packs a day and im on day 15 and nothings getting better for me my cravings are pretty much gone, but i shake all day dizziness, upset stomach, and my neck, back and jaw kill me when i wake up in the morning. I just never knew there would be as many symptoms that come with quitting smoking.

This is my 11th hour from last cig I had and I been smoking for 6 and half years and I cannot sleep at all ....I hate this my withdrawals are that bad though get the chills once in a while and I hope this all works out.

went in for heart valve surgery Oct. 15. Last cigarette Oct.5. Everything went smooth. Never even thought about smoking. Now six weeks later, With surgery behind me,starting to think about lighting up.I'm 62 yrs .old. Started smoking at 28 years old.Smoked for 10years. Quit for ten years.Smoked from 48Years old, to 62yrs old. I have six week no smoking behind me. Afraid i'm am going to blow this gift. Urge getting stronger every day.

I'm on day 10 of quitting after smoking 1 pack/day for 15 years. I'm using Chantix. It has really helped curb the withdrawal symptoms I got when I tried cold turkey. Be warned, the medicine will give you some wild dreams and can give you an upset tummy if you don't eat before you take it. Right now I'm experiencing 'smokers flu'... congested, tight chest, runny nose, ect. Something else I've noticed that I never did before... smokers smell BAD! Made me realize that for 15 years, people were talking about how bad I smelled! :)

Being a smoker on and off for about 30 years, I am very pleased to announce that I did not just stop smoking...I have QUIT smoking. :) (Stopping implies the ability to restart...no way!!) This was the MOST difficult time I have had, and I have always quit cold turkey. Not sure if it is due to my habit being larger (1.5 pack a day) or me being older, or whatever...but the nicotine withdrawals are real and frightening and enough to make some go straight back to smoking. However, I just persevered and said to myself, "I never want to go through those sort of withdrawal symptoms ever again in my life!"

I am "only" on my 78th hour of being smoke free...and I know I still have a ways to go...but I can attest to this...I am not craving the cigarette at all (and I REALLY loved smoking!), but I am relearning to live and do things as a non smoker...those commercials are no joke!

I have experienced dry mouth, sore gums, sore throat, weird dreams, insomnia, restless sleep, fatigue, heightened tastes and smell, foul taste in mouth, and even some circulation issues which I think may be more from lack of sleep?! Anyway....Good luck to all!

so i got sick with bronchitis-so the doctor told me i need to stop for at least until i got better

oh my god- it's been the truest 4 days of hell

the first half day was ok and then everything-everything was irritating. it hasn't stopped-i feel so empty i keep eating chocolates worse than that as i was telling someone earlier--

it truly feels like i lost my best friend...thats what my cravings feel like--its really the saddest thing about it how empty it makes you feel like i had some great times with this "friend" and the only thing in the world that will make me feel better is if i "talk" to "him" again--horrible i really dont ever want to go through this withdrawal bs again.

i was in my psych class and the teacher told us about how she quit- and that was like 20 years ago and since smoking is like trained conditioning on your brains reward systems-- youll get craving throughout your lifetime its what they call a "spontaneous recovery"(reemergence of a conditioned response which has been previously extinguished) sucks for everyone and ME!! yaya

Hi, I quit smoking 13 weeks back. I was under impression that all the physical difficulties associated with nicotine withdrawal will be maximum 12 weeks. During this period i went through serious stomach problems like indigestion, constipation etc. Now the constipation problem is not going. sometimes i feel i aggravated my health by quitting smoking. can any one tell for how much time the withdrawal symptoms persist.

Hi everybody!!! Great to see the online support group. I'm on Day FOUR smoke free after 6 yrs of smoking a pack a day. This is my second attempt, both of which were cold turkey (first one lasted 54 glorious days).

Yes, the withdrawal sypmtoms then and now are a b****. But this time, they are more bearable, I believe, because I REALLY want to stop. See the first time I stopped was because I bought a brand new car (the first ever brand new car I buy) and I didn't want to smoke in it and stink it up like I did my rented car and older cars/parents cars. So technically I didn't want to quit.

Then I didn't want to quit because it was a part of my identity, like literally, I was the girl who chain smoked. That was who I was, and everybody from friends, to coworkers, to family to acquaintances knew they couldn't even joke about my smoking because I was so sensitive.

That all started to change about two weeks ago. I was sick, like really, really sick, fever, cough, sore throat, lost voice and not only did I insist on going on a road trip with friends, I also insisted on smoking. Two weeks later, the cough wasn't giving up and it got thicker. Worst of all was choking on my own cough and not being able to breath between coughs. That was VERY SCARY, add to that a few comments from close friends saying that I cough like a 60 yr old, and I put my last cig out for good.

Must agree that the second day was by far the worst ever, don't know how i'll feel in the next few weeks, because I do know that is the real test.

Good luck to all of us, we know that all this is for our own good:)

Quitting smoking is helacious - quitting dipping is hell on earth. I have done both and as hard and painful as quitting smoking was, quitting dipping is 10 times as horrible.

This thread has been so helpful to me. 2 weeks now without a cigarette, after years and years of 30-40 a day. I have been through everything - tight chest, palpitations, cravings, sleepless nights, etc. etc. But I just know that I don't want to get on that treadmill again. And most of all, I know that I don't want to give any more of my money to those damn tobacco companies. To think that for years I would sooner buy cigarettes than food! I feel ashamed. I will ride this out. And I will do it with the rest of you. Please, please, don't give up. Lean on me....so long as I can lean on you. Deal?????

It's been nearly 12 hours and I'm finding it really hard to focus when reading.. For some reason my eyes tend to skip a few words or a sentence. I can tell you this.. I will have a smoke before the end of the day.

Pack a day for 23 years now. Been trying and failing to quit for years now. I've mostly tried the patch with limited success. This time around, I decided to do the unthinkable... cold turkey. A very strange thing is happening. It's been 48 hours so far and I haven't felt a single craving. Not one. It's actually kind of freaking me out. Don't get me wrong... I'm not complaining here, it's just completely unheard of. I'm trying to think of recent biological factors that may be playing a part. I wore a patch for a single day before deciding I didn't want to endure 2 months of slow agony. I'm taking Lexapro for depression and just raised my dose from 10 to 20mg two weeks ago. I tapered off my drinking two two drinks a day a before deciding to quit smoking (I was going a bit overboard and both are closely linked to my sense of identity). I do experience a physical "rush" from time to time, but if I keep my mood positive, I can actually enjoy the feeling. Here's to hoping I can continue to ride this one out. Whatever is happening; I wish you all such luck in your endeavors.

Okay here we go!!!! It's been 2 hours. I'm going to do this once and for all. Done. Over. No more. And I thank you all for motivating me to do so. From my heart to all. Stay wise, be fit, dont smoke.

I am on week 12 of quitting chewing tobacco cold turkey. Things have been difficult on and off up until last week when I caught a cold. Its been 6 days in a row now that I've had insomnia, depressed, anxiety and sick to stomach. I kept thinking that 12 weeks should be far enough out not to have these symptoms but apparently not. My Dr. said its not uncommon to experience anxiety this far down the road. All i can say is Get your SLEEP! If you can manage to sleep properly, you'll get through smoking or smokeless tobacco withdrawal.

For 18411 --- What's up with the teeth and gums aching? I have that too! Any idea what causes that? It would seem that teeth and gums should be healing. It's driving me nuts!

I havent smoked now for 9 weeks. I am 43, smoked since I was 14 years old. I chew a lot of nicorettes and normal gum but it helps. My daughter who is 12 got caught smoking at school... my reason to stop!!! I miss them terribly but will stick with it as an example to my daughter and for better health myself.

Am I loosing my mind? kinda feels that way its been 2 months since last cig, and about 7 weeks since i quit the 4mg lozenge. I smoked 1 1/2+ packs a day when I quit over the past 20 years. haven't really made any serious attempts at quitting in the past,can see why! Between a new found respect for people who detox from drug addictions, anxiety, racing heart, wanting to eat for no reason, smelling things you don't remember smelling before, teeth and gums aching waking up and looking at the alarm clock to realize its been a few minutes since you last looked and haven't slept, tired, fatigue and kind of spacey feeling. I'm sure I'm forgetting some but funny thing is still experiencing some of this 2 months later. All I can say is this is a strange feeling that I can't wait to go away, But will. Good Luck All!

Most of you probably don't want to hear this but I feel the need to share it. I smoked 1-2 packs a day for 30 years. Was diagnosed with emphysema a month ago --- I am 47. I had tried to quit more times than I can count over the years and couldn't do it. I tried everything. Patches, lozenges, zyban, celexa, nasal spray, herbs, hypnosis, acupuncture and gum. Nothing worked. I truly didn't think I could quit and was prepared to die the way I watched my dad die --- with emphysema. Then I prayed. I am not the best Christian in the world --- never have been --- but I asked God for help because I knew I couldn't quit on my own. And it worked. It has been two weeks. It's almost scary. I have had no unbearable symptoms of withdrawal at all. It truly feels like a miracle. The only thing I feel is exhausted. Completely exhausted and a little "out of sorts". No coughing, no headaches, no irritability, nothing. For what it's worth, I wanted to share this. I just keep praying and asking for strength. I was ready and I needed this miracle. I know how horrible withdrawal can be. I have experienced it many times. This time, it's different. This post is my way of thanking God.

to anon 267; that is total bull. You must not have smoked much for very long. I smoked off and on for about 25 years. I have been smoke free for about 7 days. I have had a cough, headaches, insomnia, joint pain, dizziness and irritability. I don't really crave a cigarette now but hate the side effects. I forgot to mention the gas and acid reflux. Right now I am starving.

I've kicked everything in the book. Nic is the hardest one, I can tell you that for a fact. Day 3, 5th attempt over the last 10 years. I've quit for a year plus before. I know people who started again after quitting for 14 years! You will always be a fiend, it just just easier over time. Haha...

im on day 7 of no smoking and ive started to feel worried, shortness of breath, insomnia and hunger. i was really worried at first before talking to a professional and looking it up online. i am able to say even with the discomfort now knowing that they are regular symptoms of quitting i am much more relaxed and ready for them. Good luck to everyone!

after 22 years of 2 packs a day, i decided to quit cold turkey. no patches, champix, chantix and gums. no nothing. today is day 5. no smoker's flu, but terrible dizziness and occasional light headedness kicked in from day 2. i also feel heart palpitations every now and then. i'm not sure if it's another withdrawal symptom. the cravings were and still rampant but so far i can still control it. how? by thinking that my blood is now nicotine free and by no means, i will let another mg of nicotine to enter my bloodstream. i keep myself busy when the urge comes.

after reading all the posts, i am convinced that more discomfort will come my way. i pray for all of us. Good luck to us all.

I am on day 8 of my quit. The withdrawal symptoms were horrible. The only symptom that I still seem to have is the shortness of breath. I just feel like I cannot get a full breath of air. Is this normal??

About a year ago I started smoking, then moved to chewing (Chewing an equivalent to 2 packs of cigarettes a day), although I still smoked a couple cigarettes a day with my friends. about a month or two ago I noticed a small pain in the lower right hand side of my left lung. It disappeared, and I continued on with my life. A couple weeks ago It came back. I was a little worried about lung cancer, but I continued smoking and chewing that week and weekend, planning to quit the next week... Well its day three of quitting with 4mg Lozenges, and I am feeling Dizziness, I feel hot, tired, cant really concentrate, and I go thru periods of Irritability. good luck to you though, and has any body had those lung pains before?

Hello, I'm on my fourth day after only six months of smoking, but for some reason it seems like the coughing hit me the hardest. Is it because I smoked heavy menthol cigs? Well thankfully Im quiting now and never want to smoke a cig ever again after this damn coughing.

misery definitely loves company..... nine months into my abstinence and i haven't yet kicked the chocolate a day habit..its working out cheaper mind you.. tightness of the chest is going away slowly..had 3 rounds of antibiotics about 4 months ago.. with the heavy chest i went for a tuberculosis scan to make sure im NOT suffering from t.b, no coughing mind you. I have not picked up weight either. There is the odd second that i do crave the pull but usually it goes away with the next thought. As for the crabbiness/irritability, i have always been irritated by certain things so that has just continued.

It's been about a week for me. A few days ago I started having terrible flu like symptoms and chest pains. Also had a bad sore throat. Coincidentally I had a pulled muscle in my shoulder. I seriously started to think I had waited too late to quit after eight years. I thought it was cancer and the pain in my shoulder and arm was pancoasts syndrome. I'm doubting that to be the case now as the pain has stopped. I looked up lung cancer and got paranoid because apparently the symptoms of withdrawal are similar. I still have the chest pains and tingling all over my body. A question for others...does your chest pain consist of a slight burning/pinching sensation at the top of the chest?

8 days in, smoked for 10 years, horrible quitters flu, chills, shakes, coughing up blood-tinged mucus & having difficulty swallowing. Can't sleep well either. It'll get better, it has to.

Stephen again. I really suggest people go for runs, walks, pushups, sittups, pullups or some kind of physical activity. It really helps. Also the weight gain isn't a concern, actually its a motivator. I could use an extra 5 to 10 pounds.

Hey all my name is Stephen. Been about a pack a day smoker for around 6 years. Switched to mainly chew a year ago... but I still smoked a little. Then at the end of my final college semester (last may) I went off the wall and was smoking and chewing alot. Now I haven't had a smoke in 3 days and a chew in 2. I'm using the gum 2mg from time to time.

This is pretty hard, but honestly its not as bad as I thought it would be. Finally, a few years ago I quit an opiate habit of 2 years. That was total hell. I've been clean off of opiates since then, but maybe that's why I feel this isn't as bad? Who knows.

I have really enjoyed reading all the comments, it was very supportive. I'm on day four of quitting chewing/dipping. I had used for almost 30 years, and had been doing it 24/7. I even used at night during sleep. The thought of quitting was too scary for most of these years. I didn't even consider it...I decided that I did not want to be a slave to anything ever again. I quit cold turkey and am still having huge cravings, and terrible fatigue, I could easily take a ten minute nap every two hours. I was starting to think I must have cancer or something, so I was relieved to see that the fatigue was a common symptom. I agree with the poster before me, I also have panic disorder and could see those symptoms in a lot of other posters, so look up panic attacks on the web and you will see how those very real physical symptoms are created and controlled in your head. Best wishes to all, Decide who you are a user/slave or free.

After reading some of these posts, I just though I could add my own $.02. The last time I tried quitting was about 10 months ago. I used Zyban, and after a 10 days tried to gold cold turkey. Zyban is a mild anti depressant, and is supposed to replace the dopamine fix that nicotine gives you. I also have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder … something I had under control until I tried to quit, big mistake.

When I tried to quit on cold turkey with the Zyban, my panic attacks came so often that I began smoking again after only 4 days. After reading some of the comments above, a lot of the symptoms tingly extremities, tight chest, feeling that you are going to “lose it” are all eerily familiar to panic disorder. If you are having these feelings due to withdrawal, it might be a panic attack, so don’t worry it's all in your head. Techniques that I learned to cope with my anxiety will work for you as well.

I was able to get my panic attacks under control using the following techniques.

1. 60 minutes of cardio, 4 times a week.

2. Yoga for 30 minuets a day

3. Breathing exercises that I performed several times a day.

4. Xanax when I needed it.

The next time I tried to quit, 6 months ago. I used the patch. The patch is great because it gives you the nicotine that your body is used to, but allows many of the other withdrawal symptoms to work their way out of your system before you take away the nicotine. For example, the post smoker cough, its your lungs clearing out all that garbage that has been festering in it for years but your smoking killed all the cilia that would have normally induced your coughing reflex to get it out. The dizziness is your blood O2 levels coming back up to normal and flooding your O2 starved brain, making you feel dizzy. These ancillary withdrawal symptoms are so much easier to deal with when you are not trying to face the biggie, no nicotine.

For me, combining the patch with my stress management techniques, flowed by xanax when needed has allowed me to be smoke free for 6 months. I don’t know how typical my experience is, but take it for what its worth.

Good luck and God bless.

Allen Carr's book is pretty powerful. It makes you realise that the feeling you have as a smoker when you're not smoking is very similar to the one you feel when you initially quit. Once I really understood that it really affected my ability to enjoy a smoke. I knew that the temporary feeling of relief it gave was simply a prelude to another longer bout of wanting. That cycle can be quite addictive (even without the physical aspect) but ultimately a stress in and of itself.

I've been lucky in that I got really sick a couple of weeks ago and simply couldn't smoke and so managed to get through the first couple of days not even feeling physical withdrawal symptoms since I had a fever of 102 and had more important things to worry about.

Now that it's a couple of weeks later I must admit I underestimated the longer term detox process that would be taking effect. I've coughed up some nasty stuff and in general have felt some serious fatigue. I'm not experiencing any traditional cravings probably because I see having a cigarette as adding to my problems; not resolving them. Despite my smoking, I worked out religiously and now haven't gone to the gym since I stopped smoking. I'm hoping that once the fatigue finally lifts I shall be able to take my physical regime to the next level.

Probably everyone's experience with nicotine and its withdrawal effects is different. As one another note, I'm surprised more people haven't discussed herbal cigarettes. If you go six months without a smoke and really feel like you need a smoke, why not just have a herbal cigarette? You'll completely avoid the worry of putting nicotine in your body and by the time you've finished the smoke the real nicotine craving (or psychological wish for one) will probably have subsided without the worry of feeling that nicotine drain from your body.

Good luck to one all!

this is my third smoke free day, and the nausea, irritability and fatigue is definitely kicking in.

I have a splitting headache, and i know this is only the beginning. I even thought of just having one smoke for relief but i stopped myself. Goes to show how far willpower goes.

And i'd like to add, i'm doing it without any help (i.e nicorette)

misery loves company -- thank you for all these posts, i'm on my second day cold turkey after 25 years on and off. I thought it would be a piece of cake because I *only* smoked 10 a day, I cut down to 5 before cold turkey and wow, i feel it. DIZZY! last night I couldn't sleep because my mind was racing, I woke up at 1:30 am thinking it was morning already. my head feels heavy, my cheeks tingling. Last night i got cramps in my feet. during dinner, i felt like i was going to just explode so I took the dog and we walked as fast as I could go until the feeling passed, I thought i was going to be good for the remainder of the night. this morning im dizzy with a headache, foggy brained, cant eat which is different from day one cause i pigged out on seeds and nuts and i even made a homemade cake last night to keep busy. I didnt smoke, tho' -- and you know what the biggest reason was? I made myself a little one month starchart like we had in 2nd grade and I bought some colored foil stars before I quit. I want to fill up my one month chart. Last night I talked myself into wanting a star more than a cigarette. it's pretty! I am so glad to read all the suffering and know i can get through it too. thank you!!

I smoked anything between 14 to 20 cigarettes a day for the last 8 years. Since I suffered from ADD, smoking really helped me with my concentration during work. On the downside, I was very prone to mouth ulcers and over the last year I has quite a few of them.Everytime an ulcer showed up,I could think of was oral cancer.Thats when I seriously decided to quit. it has been 3 weeks now since I quit cold turkey.I had every single withdrawal symptom in the book - smokers flu, headaches, irritability, lack of concentration, chest pain, hunger and the one which drove me up the wall was insomnia.It took me more than 10 days to get a continuous 4 hour stretch of sleep.The cravings have reduced drastically but every time I see someone smoking I have to clench my teeth to resist myself.Someone rightly said, there is nothing like an ex-smoker,only a smoker who refuses to smoke.

I just found out I am pregnant so quit cold turkey . . not sure if it is hormones or nicotine withdrawal but I am having heart palpitations and just want to smoke to see if they will go away. I can't sleep and seem to get really anxious when I lay down. Please give me some tips . . . I haven't seen anyone on here talk about palpitations . .

I am on day 35 of not smoking. This is 3rd attempt in the last 12 months, side effects are horrendous!!! Any suggestions to put me at ease!! I am suffering dizziness, extreme fatigue and chest pains. Sleep patterns are up the creek, enlighten me pls, I would like to start to feel normal again!!!

Well, that was my post way back there...#9067, the longest post of all. Sorry for being so long winded, guess I had a lot to say that day, and that was my condensed version!

I'm happy to report that I am 13 weeks, 3 days and 14 hours free of cigarettes after 34 loooong years. I can honestly say looking back that I didn't know how I was going to ever quit smoking and really didn't think I could. Now I can't believe that for so many years the fear of living without them was the only thing keeping me smoking. I will never (and I'm serious) ever pick one up again. It is amazing how much I can smell now. Food tastes totally different too and not all for the good either. One of the best things is I've started growing new hair on my head. They say your hair grows 1/2 an inch per month and I have just over an inch and a half of new hair all over my head. At first I didn't realize what was happening. I thought maybe I had broken some hair off at the front with the straightener or something and it was growing back, but it's all over my head not just in a patch! My skin is brighter too. Amazing what wonderful things happen when you are not putting all those toxins in your body. As for the cravings, I hardly ever get them anymore, and when I do, I realize it's just the demon looking to be fed its dose of nicotine and so I focus on my breathing for the 30 seconds while it passes and move on. I still can't have a nap but I'm now able to sleep through the night for the most part. LIFE IS GOOD! Cigarettes ruled my life before, it was always when and where was I going to get the next one. It's so nice to go out without having to make sure I have my lighter, cigarettes, extras in-case I stayed out longer, cause I couldn't buy mine in the states except for a few vacation spots, so I always had to plan ahead. I don't have to look at the watch while I'm in a movie to see when it ends so I can smoke etc. I feel so free, and my husband and kids are all so proud of me. They saw how difficult it was for me. Their support is amazing and I'm so lucky. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!! Write it down, talk about it, just try to beat it. I know it's very rewarding when you do. It's an accomplishment that no-one can EVER take away from you or me!!

Thanks, everyone. I've just struggled through day 2. For me, it's cravings. I have this feeling that if I could smoke just one, my brain would re-set itself and then I would be strong enough not to smoke again. But of course, that's ridiculous. I'm strong enough now, and I will do this. We all will.

I am in Day 8 of quitting Cold Turkey after 32 years of smoking 1 1/2 packs per day. Even though the first few days were tough, I think it is tougher now than it was then. I think the reason is that for the first few days I was so thrilled that I actually went "so long" without a cigarette, that I felt like I had conquered the world (or at least my own person demon). Now I realize that it is a very long on-going daily battle. I have more urges and cravings now than I did a week ago. My mouth and gums are so sore, I can barely eat (I have lost 5 lbs this past week). I only pray it gets better.

i am on day 7. cold turkey. i have to say that this time quitting has been much easier than the past. i have not even had a craving. the smoker's flu kicked my butt tho. i am finally getting over the cough and sore throat. i think all in all this little cold has been the worse part about all of it. i was smoking half a pack per day for about 11 years. i think what has helped me is all the support from friends and coworkers. good luck everyone! you can do it!

Wow, I really enjoyed reading everyones experiences. Funny, I googled "withdrawal symptoms after 2 weeks" (or something like that), and I found this. It's helping me so much to read peoples stories. Im on Day 9 with the patch. I smoked for 12 years, and for the last 3-4 years or so, Ive pretty much been a pack a day smoker. I just hope its not too late. Im sure I have done irreversible damage to my health, but Im hoping I can still make it up (Im 31)! I thought I would feel better by now, but I dont! Granted, it is a bit better than the first few days, but I still feel it.

The first 3-4 days or so was hell for me, even with the patch. (Kudos to you all doing this cold turkey!) I had headaches, dizziness, the worst stomach cramps after about 4-5 days which lasted 2 days, and Ive been eating way too much junk food! BUT, Im also drinking more water, and slowly, little by little, its getting better. I physically feel much better. I can breathe better and Im not coughing anymore. My cravings are more off and on now, not constant. My main problem right now is that I am just exhausted! I just cant seem to get enough sleep.

Whats really helped me a lot is thinking of this as one day at a time. Dont think about tomorrow, just focus on not smoking today. Deal with tomorrow when it comes. Dont think "man, Im never going to smoke again", instead think "Im not going to smoke today." Do the same thing tomorrow and so on and so on, until you just dont think about it on a daily basis.

Also, I downloaded one of those quit meters. Every time I want a smoke, I look at it; the money Ive saved, the cigs I havent smoked, and the days, hours & minutes Ive been smoke free. It keeps me going! Id hate to have to re-set that meter!

Good luck to everyone! I know its hard, but if other people can do it, why cant we?! Remember, nothing worth having ever comes easy!

I am entering day 5 of my quit cold turkey. It's been hell, with no truly strong urges to smoke. I smoked for 20+ years, about 5-8 cigarettes a day. I want to live smoke free, that's why I'm quiting. I had a weird experience the other night with a racing heart and anxiety, don't know if it was because of a drop in bp or bs. ...Day 5 and no weight gain maybe later on, I must be stressed because I tend to eat less when I'm stressed, and used to smoke as well..but no longer. I'm moving forward and not backwards, I don't want another cigarette... so I'm investing in nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies for the cravings

I wish us all well on our quit... "Lets do this"

I am entering day 5 of my quit cold turkey. It's been hell, with no truly strong urges to smoke. I smoked for 20+ years, about 5-8 cigarettes a day. I want to live smoke free, that's why I'm quiting. I had a weird experience the other night with a racing heart and anxiety, don't know if it was because of a drop in bp or bs. ...Day 5 and no weight gain maybe later on, I must be stressed because I tend to eat less when I'm stressed, and used to smoke as well..but no longer. I'm moving forward and not backwards, I don't want another cigarette... so I'm investing in nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies for the cravings. I wish us all well on our quit... "Lets do this"

Day 24 for me, and what hell! I smoked for 36 years, mainly cigarettes, although the last 5 years, i smoked pipe tobacco cigars, appx. 80 per week. Even this late in the game, my D.T's are quite severe! Very dizzy, body aches, depressed, anxiety, stomach pains, damn, I sound like a hypochondriac. Have thought about having just one, but I realize, I don't ever want to go through this again!

Good luck to all quitting!

Day 5.

Not fun.

Making progress though... I think I've craved a little less today, finally. Last night I actually got a solid hour of sleep. Mostly, it's been 5-10 minutes, then awake for at least an hour. Took Mon/Tues/Wed off work, just so I could lay in bed and try to get through this hell. I've got all the classic flu symptoms, with back-ache, digestive problems, acid reflux, headaches, dizzy, blurred vision, and heavy emotions.

I smoked 2+ packs a day for 18 years or so. Started when I was 24... late bloomer I guess. This is my fourth time trying to quit, but first time cold turkey... no gum, no patches, etc.

Just threw them away. Angry with myself, and tired of being a slave to it.

Good luck to all of us "Ex-Smokers" May God grant us the strength to stay quit!

Havent had a smoke in 45 days and finally feeling my old self again!

Had em all! Anxiety BP went up to 289! Acid reflux like you wouldnt believe for 2 weeks! Got dehydrated and checked into the hospital. First 3 weeks were hell! No sleep, no real food, headaches.

Either it was the nicotine and caffeine withdrawal or the high blood pressure.

All I know is that after 45 days my BP is ok and my stomach is ok and i can taste food again!

And it was worth it....

I am a professional quitter, in fact I am so good at it I have done it twenty or more times. Not so good at sticking to it though. Today is Day Four on what must be my twenty fifth attempt, my many attempts have been fruitful, and brought me to this point of knowing Nicotine Addiction for what it truly is. I have no desire to smoke, to spark up just one more, but I have been irritable, cranky, moody, restless, short tempered with headaches, so I know that my physical symptoms are real, not overwhelming, copeable, but very real. To those two previous entries, probably schooled by Allen Carr and his quit painlessly methods, good luck to you both, but nicotine withdrawal is real, but I know I can deal with it as can you all. I enjoyed reading everyone's sufferings, so thought I would add mine to the list, we are not alone, sufferers. Stick at it, I know I will.

I'm in total agreement with the very first posting, that physical withdrawal symptoms can and are minimal if you really believe (know) that smoking is mostly a psychological addiction. I'm cold-turkey 2 and a half days into quitting and, like the author of the first posting, occasionally have a faint craving, an emptiness, but the feeling soon passes when I shift my thoughts elsewhere. From 30-40 roll-ups a day for 37 years, to nothing!! And because I'm treating any physical symptoms as 'manifestations' of my mind, then the physical symptoms are really just not present. A lot of you guys are making your quitting a hell of a lot harder than it needs to be. Please, please, take note of the first posting, and your symptoms will diminish, if not disappear altogether. Good luck!

I am a 30 year smoker who has 6 days into being a non smoker. Starting to get the quitters flu symptoms and have all the posted complaints in different levels of severity as everyone else. The only difference in the attempt this time as opposed to the last thousand is attitude and honest desire. I have always known the logical reasons to quit but never truly wanted to heart and soul. Until you reach that plateau it will more than likely fail. All the prior attempts were good learning experiences and to all keep trying. To all who say nicotine is stronger than heroin withdrawal I strongly disagree, nicotine is no picnic but having gone through heroin withdrawal cold turkey, there is a big difference. I know day 6 is just entering the land of discovery not recovery, but I feel positive and I hope we all can take control over this horrible drug and Marlboro you can kiss my butt before you ever get one more hard earned dollar from me. Thanks for letting me vent this craving has passed but I know they'll be more. chew gum and smell good..........................................

Hi! 5 weeks without a smoke! The past few days, I feel like I am going to lose my mind! When are these feelings going to go away?

Today is day 12 for me. I'm 53 years old now. When I was 30 I quit cold turkey for 10 years, then started back like a fool. So this time I tried the Chantix - my quit-day was day 12 of Chantix. And that was 12 days ago. I quit the Chantix 2 days ago - too many vivid dreams. I had the same symptoms as everyone else the first 3 days, despite the Chantix. But I gotta say, it has helped. I've done this both ways, cold turkey and Chantix - the Chantix makes it easier. Just wanted to tell everyone to hang in there - fight thru the cravings - you'll be glad you did one day - and so proud of yourselves. I feel kinda honored to be a part of this group.... we're gonna make it!!!

I've smoked over one Pack a day for 34 years. I made the decision to finally quit for good on a Tuesday morning and went without for 16 hours. Broke down and had one with the reasoning that one wouldn't hurt, it would just take the edge off! Well that was the "best" and the "last" cigarette I will ever smoke. I had not educated myself and had no idea that nicotine leaves your system within 72 hours etc. After learning more about nicotine withdrawal, I wasn't too happy that I had to start that 16 hours over again, just the thought of the torture that those hours were, I didn't know how I was going to handle what was to come. Armed with my printouts and my computer for some support, I quit cold turkey. I quit drinking a year ago (which was hell) so I figured well I've survived that it's time to quit smoking now. this is worse! I've been a stay at home Mom raising my own 3 + 2 stepchildren for the past 14 years and my husband and I are now empty nesters, so I can basically do whatever I want when it comes to taking care of myself now. I don't think anything can replace this horrible, don't know what to do feeling. It's been 5 weeks today. Don't think I slept more than 2 hours a night the first couple of weeks and then when I did sleep it didn't feel like it because it was all vivid dreaming. I was exhausted. I tried having a nap in the morning or afternoon and I couldn't even fall asleep but I was able to lie still and rest I guess you call it that. That's not what I wanted, I just wanted to sleep and wake up feeling like everything was wonderful and I was my old energetic (smoking) self. Well it hasn't happened yet. I'm still feeling lost. Eating isn't doing anything except adding 4 pounds to my perfectly healthy weight, so I now have to get back to eating right again & cutting back on the chocolate I'd started indulging in since I quit smoking. But it tastes so good!! I feel surprisingly calm inside since I know I'm not counting down on the clock for my next cigarette because there is not going to be one! That's the best thing I've put into my head. Come on, if we felt this torture forever than we would never quit smoking, at least that's what I keep telling my self. Thank goodness all the restaurants and bars are non smoking now, so don't have to put up with all that. My sense of smell & taste is unbelievable. I had no idea I've not smelled or tasted things properly since I was 13! Makes me so angry I just want to scream....but I have to keep saying that I can't change the past but the future is definitely mine to create. I'm really having a hard time concentrating on anything. It's not as bad as it was the first few weeks but it's still difficult. My back is really tight cause I think I'm holding all the tension there. I have to keep reminding myself to breathe, for some reason I keep holding my breath. Since I have a dog that needs to be walked, I have to get out in the fresh air, even though I don't want to cause I have no energy. Luckily it's freezing here so I can throw on my hat, scarf and boots and really don't have to worry about running into too many people cause I'm not in the visiting mood! I just have to keep telling myself that this will all be behind me someday. I drink tea. Green tea in the morning, detox or lemon tea in the afternoon and because nicotine withdrawal made me constipated (even though I eat all my fruit and veggies, grains etc.) a natural laxative tea after dinner. and a calming tea at bedtime. They all make a huge difference. Since I detoxed from alcohol, I had incorporated the healthy eating along with the teas and the water into my daily routine already. Now if I could just get enough energy to start working out again like I have all my life than I think most of the extra symptoms I still have will start to go away quicker. I'm planning on going to get some St. Johns wort for the mild depression feelings and I've made an appt. at the spa for a massage and I might also get some acupuncture if I still feel I need something else. That's my plan for now...I'm proud of myself and everyone who has ever gone through or is going through this horrible hell. Congratulations to us all!!!! Thanks for starting this for me to ramble on.

I smoked for 7 years. Usually would smoke light cigarettes and have somewhere from 7-12 a day. I recently made up my mind to really quit. I'd recommend people switch over to "natural" additive free cigarettes for a few weeks before they quit. I got myself down to 3 or 4 natural ultralights a day before I made up my mind to finally stop.

I guess it's like taking off a band aid slowly, but it taught me to tell the difference between a really bad craving and a manageable one. Also I think my body eventually realized that I was quiting so now that I'm going cold turkey it is more ready. Still irritable and can't concentrate but getting used to ultralights was actually less pleasant and now I feel like if i've gotten this far then there's no point turning back.

So I went 3 days without smoking and last night I relapsed. I couldn't take it anymore and the worst part is that as soon as I stopped smoking the black and mild, I relaxed and then the symptoms returned just like that. I just hate not being able to sleep. My chest starts feeling really tight at night and my heart starts beating fast because of my anxiety. I get very sad and then it turns into anger. I was angry at myself for smoking last night and now I feel like I have to start all over. Please tell me it's going to be easier this time around b/c I hate this constant anxious/tense feeling.

I am on day 3 of my withdrawal. Last night was soo terrible. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I couldn't sleep one bit. Hopefully tonight will be better but I did have to drink coffee to stay awake for an exam I had at 10:00 this morning. Hopefully the caffeine will be out of my system so I can at least get two hrs of sleep. That's all Im asking for. It is the worst feeling. I didn't think it would be this bad because I started smoking last yr. I did smoke black and milds though, so im wondering if that contains more nicotine than a cigarette. Oh well, I'm done smoking so that's all that matters.

I quit cold turkey after 41 years of two packs a day, and am on my 28th day today. Spent my first two weeks, literally, in bed, either asleep or crying. Have made an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow (even though I will be yelled at for the weight gain) to see if I can get any help with the overwhelming fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, and chest pain. I have finally quit crying every day (it's about every other day now) and my cravings are down to about three or four a day. Don't want a cigarette but I would really love to feel better, tired of feeling this way, even though being retired I can fortunately take a nap every day. I think it has a lot to do with my blood sugar because when I feel the above symptoms they're alleviated somewhat when I eat a LOT of high carbohydrate foods, which I've been craving. Now it's very hard to exercise because of the added weight...I'm sure I gained 25 pounds since I quit. I scream, cry, sleep, eat, whatever it takes to stay off the nicotine. Sure hope I can make it.

Today is day four. I'm overpowered by the intense gnawing sensation I have in my chest and gut. I have been a pack and a half smoker for 43 years. I'm tense and have this desire to scream. Please tell me this gets better.

I have not had any nausea or anything, but i have had a lot of anxiety. I am now on day 8 cold turkey, and the first 4 days were awful. once i woke up on day 5, i actually felt a lot better, but i still had a few cravings.

I was wondering if anyone had any joint pain in their fingers after quitting smoking. On day 5 i started experiencing joint pain in a couple of my fingers, and i am wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if it may be an underlying problem. I do work in the medical field and have already done a sed rate to check for arthritis, and the test was normal.

any advice would be wonderful

I feel like such a wuss now after reading everyones posts. I have been smoking over a pack a day for 17 years and just recently (11 days ago) began taking Chantix. I have been smoke free for three days now. The only problem I have had so far is the cravings. Like some I would start to get the shakes if I went more than three hours without a smoke, felt like my life revolved around my next cigarette. Now I'm ok except for the cravings. No sleeping problems, not moody, no illness except slight nausea from the Chantix.

Tried the patch before but I smoked just as much with it as I did without it. Zyban didn't phase me either. Chantix didn't make me stop but it did make me feel like I didn't enjoy smoking enough until I was able to say the hell with it and put it down.

My one question is when do the cravings stop? I chew tons of gum, hard candy, exercise, drink plenty of water, but that craving is still there. Any ideas?

As for whether or not to take Chantix? So far I'm all for it, seems as though by taking it I have avoided a lot of the symptoms other people are dealing with. From what I understand Chantix keeps the nicotine from bonding to the cells in the brain while you continue to smoke so that when you do quit for good most of the withdrawal is already complete. I guess it comes down to what is best for each person. Good luck everyone

I've quit smoking after 1/2 pack per day for 25 yrs. Cold turkey. I can't sleep at night or nap during the day. And I have the worst fear of gaining weight. Other than that I'm doing ok.

After dipping a can+ every day for the last 15 years, I've decided to kick the habit. I am in hour 71 without. Putting the cravings off isn't so bad, I munch on sunflower seeds or sour candies. I never anticipated not being able to sleep, though (maybe got an aggregate of 6 hours over the last 3 nights). Or that dang tingling in my hands that just won't stop. Being without it right now feels like when you were a kid and you had to stop carrying around your best blankie. I will stick with it; the symptoms have to ease up sooner or later... even if they don't, it's better than oral cancer.

I wrote the post above, just thought I would update, I'm now on day 10 and I'm on 1 - 2 pieces of gum a day now, only chewing for 15 minutes each piece, no bad cravings, had a really horrible couple of nights where I couldn't sleep at all but apart from that I'm holding strong :)

Good luck everyone!

I'm on day 5 of no smoking now, and I feel good :)

I cut right down over the last 3 months, I was smoking 5 - 8 cigarettes a day in that time, before that I had been smoking for 13 years, usually a pack a day. I have had no really bad cravings this time, I don't feel dizzy or blurry eyed, the only thing is I feel tired and can't sleep too well, but I don't care, because I don't smell awful anymore and I'm not coughing my lungs up all the time. Ive been using 5 pieces of nicotine gum a day, and already I'm thinking of cutting back to 4 pieces. I don't seem to be needing that much gum, every day I forget to chew that many pieces, I have to remind myself. It's all about positive mindset. Mind over matter. Cliche, I know, but true. It can be done. Good luck to everyone reading this!

i smoked on and off since i was 12. quit easily at various points so i never thought it was a big deal. started smoking again a year and a half ago after 5 years clean, quit 2 weeks ago. the first 72 hours were horrific. i was completely surprised and scared to death. i thought i needed to check myself into a psych ward. my mind was racing, i couldn't sleep, time stood still, and i was really anxious, very doom and gloom. i actually felt like i was on drugs ironically when i was detoxing. it was excruciating just being in my skin. 2 weeks later am much better but nightfall still stresses me, stomach is still adjusting, and i get fidgety and anxious when my body gets chilled (i need to crank up the heat regularly). am working through this, more exercise (as opposed to none previously), relaxation CDs, watch a lot of comedy and knit (hands are busy, mind is quiet). i have recently started cognitive therapy as well. one this is certain: this one experience of withdrawal makes me absolutely sure i will never smoke again. might not sound like much to go through and my youthful adventures never seemed that troublesome or consequential, but this time the experience was terrifyingly hellish. i only need to go through that once to know i am blessed to come out the other side and never want to experience this again. good luck to everyone and hang in there. in whatever form your withdrawal takes, it will pass. get help if you need support and stay positive.

I Was a smoker for 10 yrs i had 1 PACK + a day. During those 10 years i've quit 3 times: 1st cold turkey for 6 months , 2nd time with herbal rx tabs for 7 months, 3rd time i used lozenge 4 mg tabs for first 3 days and and cold turkey i quit on 21 st of november 07 it is already 25 days . keep in mind i had horrible urges first 7 days/ and they decreased day by day now i don't have anything i am free on 25 th day ... but i still avoid a smoke

do not take zyban or champix or chantix!!! i tried zyban it was bad. it messes with the brain.

dear anonymous,

i am so sorry that you are suffering so much through your nicotine withdrawal. it must have been really hard to quit after 30 years -- i bet your family is so proud of you! i hope that you can endure a bit longer and that the symptoms subside soon. don't give in!! have you talked to your doctor about your symptoms? they could be due to an unrelated condition.

my little sister who is 19 started smoking last year. nobody in our family smokes, so we were pretty sad and disappointed. i've been encouraging her to quit. i know everyone is different, but i was wondering what the best method of quitting is? cold turkey? gradually weaning yourself off? using nicotine patch/gum?

week eight now without a cig, and after 30 years of more than a pack a day, it still feels like hell. i was fine for the first two weeks, then acid reflux, and chest pains, that subsided over a two to three week period and replaced with stomach aches, and muscle aches that seem to appear and disappear all over. Now I wake up each day and feel good in the morning, but as the day wears on the body aches, especially the neck and shoulders, get a numbness and mild headache in the back of the head. This all peaks in the early evening that seems to become a wave over the whole body along with the odd added chest and stomach pain and then it subsides before bedtime. I go to bed, wake numerous times during the night and then repeat the whole cycle the next day. I am still holding out that this is temporary and my body will normalize. While I appreciate some or most people who quit have mild physical symptoms, I and others do have real and quite intense, long-lasting effects.

This is real and anyone who calls it rubbish can only see things from their own experience and should be forced to experience it. It is hell to go through and it would be much easier to deal with and more people would quit successfully if all the promoters on the stop smoking campaign would provide information on these symptoms and guidance on how to manage through the withdrawal process.

I am on day 7 and lucky for me the only thing i have really had a hard time with is very fatigued. it is starting to ease up but i could sleep forever.

constantly tired all day. I pushed myself to keep up my workout routine and i believed this has really helped. My husband on the other hand is also on day 7 (not fully quit). he was a 3 pack a day smoker, and he is having a much more difficult time with the symptoms. The headaches are unbearable they come back as soon as he starts feeling relief. this has been for 5 days now with the constant headaches for him, he is almost fed up enough to go back to increasing his smoking. my question to anyone out there have you experienced this and how long do these terrible headaches last? they are constant and even wake him up from sleep. any suggestions would help.

Kudos to all here who quit cold turkey! The metaphor that quitting smoking is something like an exorcism is quite right in my estimation. I am 3 and 1/2 months smoke free and while during the day I am completely fine without the patch I am having a hard time getting off the last step of the nicotine patch at bedtime. I now cut the smallest one into quarters... that's roughly less than 2 mg of nicotine now. I've had to put it on at night to sleep because I keep waking up every ten minutes regardless of how tired I am...I guess my best option would actually be a sleep aid to get me through the first few nights of no patch.

Agreed about the first comment. The physical symptoms are mild?? When I tried to quit cold turkey, I was entirely unable to last 8 hours without completely breaking down because I felt like a physical disaster. My VISION actually became completely blurred...I physically couldn't see! If that is mild, I'd hate to see what severe symptoms are like.

Congrats to everyone here for successfully making the healthiest decision we could ever choose for ourselves and our loved ones!!

Thirty eight years of cigs, now I am at 3 weeks cold turkey. The first 3 days were the pits, then things leveled off, but the last few days have been tough. Seems the depression is really sinking in.

I quit smoking 35 days ago, after 7 long years of smoking. First few days after i quit smoking was miserable (i can not concentrate, eat lot of junk food, cold, flu ...).After 3 weeks i still feel fatigue, confused etc...

did anyone experienced this?

I just quit smoking after smoking 2-3 packs a day for 33 years. Yes it was hard, the first 72 hours and especially the second day were awful. Dizzy, foggy, couldn't sleep, and now the fatigue even after two weeks is still there. I have gained some weight also. It's totally worth it though.

I started smoking when I was 12 years old and smoked for 20 years. I smoked 20+ a day for 17 of those years. When I seriously thought about giving up I used to cry. It TERRIFIED me that much. I saw 3 close relatives die of cancer, but just carried on. I believed the addition was too strong for me to break. I used to shake slightly if I went for more than 3 hours without a cigarette. In the last year I began to think more about smoking, not just my about my addiction: it's very expensive, I really do smell horrible, I will die a painful death, everyone looks at me with pity (why not, I'm a drug addict)and many more reasons. So one day I said enough. I put out my last cigarette and haven't smoked since (6 months ago). I've had no cravings, no lose of sleep, I'm not eating more, I'm not irritable or anything else. Giving up smoking has been totally fine and the reason that I think this is, is because I REALLY don't want to smoke anymore. I'm having no 'arguments in my head' with the nicotine demon. I killed him! So I'm not driving myself crazy. I truly believe everyone can do this: you just have to want to never smoke again. If you don't really know / believe that then don't give up smoking just yet. You'll just upset yourself and make yourself think that giving up is horrible and so be less likely to do it next time if you fall off the wagon.

To the recent post "it is total nonsensical rubbish", that's just your point of view. People shouldn't be scared to give up. It can be easy.

"I would contend, as would millions of people who have easily quit smoking, that practically all physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are manifest as a result of the psychological dependence on nicotine. The actual physical symptoms of withdrawal are very minor, like feeling a bit empty, hungry or a bit insecure or nervous."

What utter and complete rubbish. Thanks for nothing.

Most likely, anyone who quits without much trouble over the first several days did not smoke much at all or for a long time. Thus the physical withdrawal effects will not be significant. But rest assured,( or not at all, like us suffering through this nightmare!) nicotine withdrawal is a very real physical/biological readjustment of the body and mind, which can, to be sure, cause all of the severely unpleasant effects listed above. The first comment posted here should be deleted, as it is total nonsensical rubbish. It is amusing to think all quitting smokers experience the same psychologically induced physical effects. Science has demonstrated, without a doubt, that nicotine is a very physically addictive drug, with very real and intense withdrawal symptoms. It is a bit of a stretch to compare it to heroin, but it is close. I am at about 72 hours right now, and I, like the others who have commented have gone through hell the last 3 days. Very little sleep, high irritability, flu-like symptoms, tight chest, depression, etc... I am currently drinking myself into a stupor so that i may sleep more than 2 hours tonight, with the hope that the worst is over and tomorrow will be the beginning of a new beginning. I suppose my point is, nicotine withdrawal is very real and very intense, and the first few days are not "just in your head" as was suggested above several times. So, be prepared for a battle!! It will pass after a few days! Don't give in! look at more online info, it helped me greatly!! good luck!!

I have been a smoker for 3 years. I am 20 years old and I recently quit about 3 weeks ago. The really strange thing is that the first 72 hours weren't that hard at all. But as the first week ended I started getting really dizzy and my limbs would get very tingly and my chest would get tight. Just about 10 min. ago I had this sensation and it was so intense I thought I was having a heart attack. But I don't know If this is my mind playing tricks on me or not. I do get anxious still and I sleep way to much. I just don't understand why I am getting physical symptoms 3 weeks after I quit. Is it cause I am so young still? Or should i see a Doctor

The most important thing you can do to ease the distress of quitting is your mindset. You must decide 100% that you do not want to smoke and are not going to smoke. This is different than deciding you want to quit. Withdrawal symptoms are minimized this way, as you don't have an internal conflict where you want to quit but part of you also wants to smoke. Don't give up, no matter what, even if you have setbacks. The proper attitude is everything.

I'm on day three and as of this hour I've reached 72 hours. It's been hell and very uncomfortable. I slept two hours Sunday night, not a minute Monday night, and finally got a sleeping pill for last night.

I felt like a zombie yesterday and like I was having this awful out of body experience. Weird thing is, I haven't wanted a cigarette. What I want is to never forget how awful and real withdrawal is. It is a huge physical jolt to the system, but well worth it.

the first few days are absolute hell, i screamed and swore at my little sister because she made one rude comment the first day. The second day i yelled at my girlfriend for being late for a date. Throughout the first week i was constantly hungry, followed by nausea and diarrhea. On top of all that even with ten hours of sleep i still feel exhausted. I've been using nicorette but still experience all of these symptoms, it is in no way minor.

Quitting smoking is like an exorcism. The first 72 hours are a nightmare. The worst is the first night trying to sleep. It is so hard to describe what I felt. Let's just say I felt all the symptoms all at once. After that I would generally experience symptoms individually. Like dry mouth, or tight chest. It really is a powerful addiction. I wanted to scream at my coworkers the minute I got to work. My sister told me it is all in my head. People just don't know the nicotine withdrawal horror!!!

I take it you aren't/weren't a smoker. What you wrote sounds real nice. It's just not accurate. Nicotine is a very physical substance, and it can generate very physical withdrawals. It is true that withdrawal is also a mental/emotional process, and for me personally, that's the hardest part because it's the longest lasting; but to say the physical withdrawal is very minor is ridiculous.

I would contend, as would millions of people who have easily quit smoking, that practically all physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are manifest as a result of the psychological dependence on nicotine. The actual physical symptoms of withdrawal are very minor, like feeling a bit empty, hungry or a bit insecure or nervous. It's when this feeling is coupled with the belief that the smoker needs a cigarette for that feeling to go away that the smoker begins to crave a cigarette. Using will power to try to prevent themselves having a cigarette combined with the belief that there really is some kind of benefit to smoking/chewing, is why many smokers have cravings many years after quitting. This is because they feel they make a genuine sacrifice when they quit.