Smoking is an addiction that is connected with both your body and your mind. Your body will start to detoxify itself shortly after your last cigarette.
Nicotine increases the levels of pleasure inducing chemicals in your brain. It also acts as a central nervous system stimulant, and increases both your blood pressure and your heart rate. Once you stop smoking and stop the nicotine doses, your body responds with severe cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms try to convince you that you need to light up a cigarette. Your physical withdrawal will last only a limited time. The long-term cravings are due to the psychological dependency.
Many smokers avoid quitting because they are afraid of what will happen to them when they stop. Common withdrawal symptoms from nicotine include restlessness, inability to sleep, weight gain, constipation and lack of concentration. These symptoms are short lived, with the most extreme symptoms disappearing after three to four days. During this time period, you can treat yourself the same as you would if you had the flu. Take it easy, get plenty of rest, and maybe take some time away from work. It will pass, and you will feel...