Withdrawal symptoms begin as soon as four hours after the last cigarette, generally peak in intensity at three to five days, and disappear after two weeks. They include both physical and mental symptoms.
Physical Symptoms
During the quitting process people should consider the following physical symptoms of withdrawal as they were recuperating from a disease and treat them accordingly as they would any physical symptoms:
-Tingling in the hands and feet
-Sweating
-Intestinal disorders (cramps, nausea)
-Headache
-Cold symptoms as the lungs begin to clear (sore throats, coughing, and
other signs of colds and respiratory problem)
Mental and Emotional Symptoms
Nearly every moderate to heavy smoker experiences more than one of the following strong emotional and mental responses to withdrawal.
-Feelings of being an infant: temper tantrums, intense needs, feelings of
dependency, a state of near paralysis.
-Insomnia
-Mental confusion
-Vagueness
-Irritability
-Anxiety
-Depression is common in the short and long term. In the short term it may mimic the feelings of grief felt when a loved one is lost. As foolish as it sounds, a smoker should plan on a period of actual mourning in order to get through the early withdrawal depression.
