Can You Quit Smoking Cold Turkey? 6 Consequences Of Choosing This Method

If you have made the decision to quit smoking cold turkey That is, without the help of medications, therapy or nicotine replacement products, you should know that you have chosen the harder path. Although there are cases in which this strategy works, the reality is that it is undoubtedly the most complicated method to achieve it. In fact, the consequences of quitting smoking cold turkey can affect our mental health.

People are not tobacco addicts by chance. The reasons for having this behavior have three components: physiological, psychological and social. The physiological ones are due to the nicotine contained in cigarettes. Nicotine is a drug that only exists in tobacco and is responsible for addiction. When the smoker maintains a certain level of nicotine in the blood, he becomes dependent on it, so quitting suddenly causes him to suffer nicotine withdrawal syndrome.

Psychological factors refer to the true onset and maintenance of the smoking behavior, as well as the famous relapses. Maintenance occurs by associating smoking behavior with other daily behaviors, such as after eating, it is associated with a cigarette, a conversation with friends, or tackling a difficult task to give yourself a break. Therefore, smoking is due to both physiological dependence on nicotine and behavioral dependence, since tobacco is linked to pleasant situations, acting as a habit reinforcer.

What are the consequences of quitting cold turkey?

The problem faced by people who follow this method is withdrawal from tobacco, more precisely from nicotine. The main consequence of quit smoking cold turkey is that it increases anxiety, irascibility and reduces the ability to concentrate, which can affect various facets of our lives (emotional, work, etc.).

When a person stops smoking with psychological help or gradually, effects of quitting smoking They can be dimmed, which means more chances of success. On the other hand, people who choose this abrupt way of quitting smoking may suffer the symptoms of quitting more intensely. Among them, we can find the following:

1. Anxiety: One of the symptoms of quitting cold turkey What intensifies the most is the craving to return to the recurring dose of nicotine. This produces cravings, which means our brain is deprived of dopamine, a hormone that is released in our body to ‘feel good’ and is associated with nicotine. Typically, these cravings last five to ten minutes. But, people who have this nicotine deficiency and suffer its effects usually experience a lot of distress because of it.
2. Weight gain: Another of the consequences of quitting cold turkey It’s weight gain. This happens because nicotine triggers a release of glucose (sugar) in the muscles and liver, which alters our response to insulin. Therefore, one of the effects of quitting smoking is to experience a drop in blood sugar, which means that we will feel the need to consume carbohydrates, sweets and other foods to satisfy this sudden hunger that occurs due to tobacco abstinence.
3. Sleep disorders: Sleeping problems are another of the effects of quitting cold turkey Giving up nicotine has effects on our sleep routine and in fact, can cause insomnia to the need to sleep more during the day. These symptoms of quitting cold turkey are also related to the deregulation of dopamine, since this hormone also participates in the regulation of sleep.
4. Persistent cough and flu-like symptoms: The people who They propose to quit smoking suddenly They tend to experience this symptom more persistently. In this case, abstinence from tobacco can produce more cough and even fever as a response of the body to a different state than usual due to the effects of nicotine. In fact, choosing these methods to quit smoking can make these kinds of symptoms worse.
5. Stress and mood swings: Irritation, mood swings and stress are another of the consequences of quitting cold turkey that get worse when following this method. These symptoms of quitting smoking are caused by deregulation of the endocrine (hormonal) and central nervous systems. In fact, this can also mean experiencing memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and dizziness. Furthermore, people who suffer from tobacco abstinence very severe (as can occur when quitting smoking suddenly) they can suffer from disorders such as depression and anxiety.
6. Constipation: In addition to the lungs and the brain, another of the consequences of quitting cold turkey It is precisely experiencing alterations in the digestive tract. One of the related effects of quitting smoking is constipation, which can last between one to two weeks.

In addition to these consequences, this method can also cause an increase in heart rate, difficulty concentrating, and excessive restlessness. Quitting smoking cold turkey is dangerous It causes the withdrawal syndrome and the consequences that we have detailed. In fact, studies show that between quitting suddenly or gradually, there is a much greater chance of success if you choose the second option. In many cases, the best help to quit smoking is with a professional psychologist.

What is the worst day after quitting smoking?

It takes our body three to four days to completely eliminate nicotine and all its derivatives. For this reason, the first days are the worst since the desire to resort to tobacco will be very intense.

How long does abstinence last when quitting smoking?

According to research, the strongest symptoms of tobacco withdrawal syndrome They last two to three weeks. Therefore, you must prepare to take it on during this period of time. Even so, as these weeks pass, there are also risks of returning to the habit if there is not a good mentality.

How to quit smoking cold turkey?

If you opt for these methods to quit smoking there are a series of tips that you can follow to try to reduce the symptoms related to tobacco withdrawal.

• Adopt the mindset: To quit smoking cold turkey It is important to mentally prepare yourself to deal with the distorted thoughts that may arise during withdrawal. For example, one of the effects of quitting smoking is usually having intrusive thoughts like “A single puff won’t hurt” among others that encourage you to return to this habit. In order to overcome these types of symptoms, a good idea is to write down the reasons why you decided to quit smoking. This way, you can quickly access this list when these types of thoughts arise.
• Prepare to suffer the symptoms of quitting cold turkey: As we have indicated tobacco abstinence It will cause you to experience a lot of discomfort. However, it is important to prepare yourself to face them and think above all that this phase of abstinence is temporary. If you prepare yourself and prepare yourself for all the consequences of quitting cold turkey, you can increase your chances of success.
• Avoid temptation: When you decide a day to quit smoking cold turkey, one of the first actions you can do is get rid of everything related to tobacco. Additionally, it may also be a good idea to discuss this with friends or fellow smokers so that they avoid inviting you to smoke with them.
• Find support: It’s much easier quit smoking cold turkey if someone joins your plan. Although it is sometimes difficult to find someone with the same intentions, family and friends can support you in achieving your goal. Furthermore, another option that will help you the most is to go to a professional psychologist.
• Create new habits: Habits are another of the challenges that people who want to face must face quit smoking suddenly or little by little For example, instead of having a coffee with a cigarette, you can choose to change the cigarette for a fruit. Or go for a walk or listen to a song that motivates you in moments of rest instead of turning to tobacco.

Although it is possible to get out of this habit like this, we must emphasize that there are easier alternatives than quit smoking cold turkey In fact, your chances of success will increase if you do it with mental health professionals or if you gradually reduce the dose.