Stress, withdrawal symptoms and other factors can derail an attempt to quit smoking, in spite of the many health benefits involved with quitting. Avoiding hurdles that threaten your resolve to quit is crucial to improving your chance for success. Identifying potential stumbling blocks can help you develop a plan to address temptation before you try to stop smoking.
Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine, a chemical found in cigarettes, is an addictive substance. Nicotine use creates pleasant feelings that make a smoker want to smoke more, reports the American Cancer Society. Because nicotine’s effects start to subside after just a few minutes, smokers need to light up another cigarette to experience those desirable effects again. Quitting smoking can lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that might make it difficult to give up smoking. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, diarrhea, constipation, restlessness, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating and restlessness. Withdrawal also can affect your moods. When you quit, you might feel depressed, angry or anxious.
Social Factors
Giving up smoking can be difficult if everyone around you still smokes. Avoiding places where you know smoking will take place can mean avoiding friends and family members. Limiting time spent with smokers will help you avoid temptation, but the stress of making the change without the support of your friends or family can make the process harder. Asking another friend to quit with you can help you feel less alone when you stop smoking.
Weight Gain
Weight gain after quitting smoking can be a concern for long-time smokers. Smoking cigarettes can cause you to burn calories slightly faster than a nonsmoker. Smoking also reduces snacking that can lead to weight gain. Although weight gain can happen, smokers who quit usually gain an average of 10 pounds or less, reports the Weight-Control Information Network. Weight gain can occur when you increase the amount you eat because you’ve gotten used to the feeling of having something in your mouth when you smoke. Choosing healthy snacks can help you avoid weight gain while you adjust to quitting smoking.
Stress
The pleasant feelings that nicotine creates in your brain make you feel less stressed when you smoke. Cravings and withdrawal symptoms can increase your stress level and weaken your resolve to quit smoking. The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention at the University of Wisconsin Medical School notes that 63 percent of current smokers report that they are reluctant to quit because of concerns about stress. The timing of stopping smoking might play a part in the success of your attempt to quit. Trying to quit when things are already stressful at home or work can reduce your chances of success.
