So, what is one to do when experiencing extreme withdrawal from quitting smoking cigarettes cold turkey? How can one prepare for these extreme levels of withdrawal? The best thing that you can do in order to prepare yourself for extreme withdrawal symptoms is to be aware of what it is to come. Sounds corny, I know, but it is something that you really need to do. Being conscious of the conflict you will be facing ahead is a whole lot better than going the route of naiveness and getting blindsided. You see, when you know what problems are ahead of you then you can properly prepare for them, and when you do experience extreme withdrawal and cravings it won’t be as much of a “slap if the face”.

Now, as far as actual actions to take in order to combat the effects of extreme withdrawal there are a few key things that you can do. Your main goal when it comes to combating withdrawal is to just get through and not succumb to the drug, nicotine. If you are able to get past intense feelings of cravings and withdrawal then you have one the battle. However, in order to really win you need to be able to do this on a regular basis. So, in order to get through intense cravings and withdrawal associated with quitting cold turkey, you should be planning out how you will deal with specific instances of both. Do you get extreme cravings when you are stressed out? Is it normal for you to reach for a cigarette after eating a nice meal (or any meal for that matter)? Is it uncomfortable for you when you are in a social situation with smokers and aren’t smoking yourself? These are the types of things that you need to think about when you are properly planning out how you will battle extreme cravings and withdrawal. You need to identify certain situations that set you off and then you need to figure out how you will get by during that period of intense withdrawal.

Remember, your own will power is your strongest asset when it comes to not giving into cravings. So, it is always a good idea to practice telling yourself things like, “This craving will go away in a few minutes” or “I don’t need to smoke. I am completely fine without a cigarette”, whenever you are triggered. It is basic affirmations like these that can really help in the long run if you actually stick to them and make it clear to yourself that they are indeed true, even if you don’t believe them at first. With that said, we all know of the extreme power of nicotine and how it can bring pretty much anyone to their knees. It’s because of this that you need to try and find something more physical that you can do in addition to using mental techniques, whenever you experience extreme withdrawal. Most people feel on edge when they are jonesing for a cigarette and a simple way to cope with this type of feeling is to chew on some gum. It keeps the mouth occupied and it’s an almost soothing repetitive motion. Another idea would be to try and talk to someone whenever you are feeling extreme withdrawal. The thing is, it really doesn’t matter what you do as long as it’s something that works for you. So, work on finding out different things you can do to combat more extreme withdrawal and cravings and then implement them regularly in order to make it a routine.

A Little Nudge Towards Smoking Cessation

Above all, the keys to successful smoking cessation are commitment, motivation, and will power. These 3 things are a must for smokers who want to successfully kick the habit. These things cannot be avoided or replaced. It is a very simple fact – if you aren’t committed from the beginning, motivated to quit, and you don’t have the will power to push yourself, then you aren’t going to get very far.

However, there are things to make the process easier such as stop smoking aids. Stop smoking aids are meant to make the process of quitting more bearable by lessening the effects of nicotine withdrawal and nicotine cravings. So, the idea is that you are able to deal with cravings and symptoms of withdrawal much easier when you are using something like a stop smoking aid. Basically, you’ve already got the drive to quit and the aid makes effects of quitting less apparent, which means that you are going to have an even better chance at making it through the journey of quitting. So, if you want a little extra help with your smoking efforts then considering the use of a stop smoking aid is definitely worth a shot.

Quitting Cold Turkey Offers Benefits Other Methods Don’t

I guess one of the biggest upsides to quitting cold turkey is the fact that there is no fooling around. This stop smoking method is black and white entirely. There is no in between here. You either totally cut off your supply to cigarettes or you don’t cut off your supply to cigarettes. That is just how it works when you decide to go cold turkey. A person who wants to go cold turkey usually is at the point where they really to quit and they want to do it now meaning that they probably aren’t going to be interested in nicotine patches, nicotine gum, smoking aids, medications, hypnosis, or any other methods/products that assist you in smoking cessation.

The reason why this approach to quitting, not fooling around with other products or methods, is a good one is because it brings the smoker right to the point of quitting and that is quitting. A smoker going cold turkey decides that they want to quit and so they stop smoking cigarettes. They do not prolong the situation by feeding their bodies nicotine through nicotine replacement therapy, they do not simply cut down on cigarettes, and they do not dance around the problem. A cold turkey quitter is taking quitting head on and dealing with the worst of it from the start. And this is why in some cases quitting cold turkey is the best way to quit.

The truth is that the worst of nicotine withdrawal symptoms are over within the first few days. Now, this isn’t to say that a smoker won’t experience withdrawal or cravings after the first few days, because they sure as heck will, it’s just that it is a whole lot easier to cope after making it through that initial period. Taking this into account, if a cold turkey smoker can make it through the first few days then they can probably deal with the rest of their days as a non-smoker. There is a catch though. Smoking cessation is hardly a cut and dry science, especially when it comes to quitting smoking cold turkey. What this means is that different smokers are going to experience different levels of withdrawal, some smokers will be better than others at coping with cravings, and most importantly quitting will not be the same for all smokers! This is something that is extremely important to realize.

So, what does all of this mean? Basically, it means that quitting smoking cigarettes cold turkey can be a great way to stop smoking but it is also one of the hardest ways to quit. It offers the most amount of gains for the smoker but it also requires a ton of work. In the end, though, it is definitely worth it to commit to going cold turkey. A smoker quitting cold turkey needs to be aware that it will be difficult, be ready for the withdrawal and cravings ahead, and learn how to use effective coping strategies. Keeping these things in mind, a smoker really can stop smoking without the use of any aids, products, nicotine replacement therapy, or anything else for that matter.

What you need to realize when it comes to quitting is that if you aren’t there from the beginning in terms of your commitment, you aren’t going to end your addiction. You might be able to go a few days or even a few weeks but you aren’t going to get as far as someone who is committed. As silly as it may sound as you read this article, it is the truth. If you’ve decided to quit cigarettes out of thin air or you haven’t given it much thought as to how much you really want to quit, then you are just setting yourself up for failure. You can say things like, “Oh man, I feel disgusting for smoking cigarettes. I think I’ll quit.” or “I really need to stop smoking.”, but if there isn’t any substance to your wanting to quit then you aren’t going to get very far on your motives alone. If you didn’t already know, your motivation, will power, and drive are the key factors in determining whether or not you will be able to quit.

I hate to be a broken record, but this is something that you need to take into full consideration. The thing is, if you aren’t genuinely committed to quit smoking then you mine as well not try at all. Yes, smoking cigarettes aren’t good for your health and yes they can potentially cause health complications. But, if you are someone who doesn’t have a strong enough reason to quit that will keep you going when the going gets tough and you really do enjoy smoking cigarettes, then don’t cause the internal conflict of giving a so-so effort towards quitting and always failing due to not being committed. It just isn’t worth it. The fact of the matter is that someone who has experienced the death of a loved one due to cigarette smoking and started smoking due to outside pressures, and another person who genuinely enjoys smoking and hasn’t experienced anything negative first hand, are going to have completely different outlooks on quitting smoking and therefor entirely different levels of commitment. So, when trying to quit you first need to ask yourself if you are truly committed to doing so and if you truly want to quit.