Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco contain a powerful, addictive drug – nicotine. If you smoke, your body and brain get used to nicotine.
Once you’re addicted, having nicotine in your body feels normal and going without nicotine doesn’t. When you don’t have nicotine, your brain and body start to crave it. It feels like a need to keep smoking. You feel irritable and uncomfortable and the only way to feel normal again is to smoke. No wonder people find it hard to quit!
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, but they don't last forever. There are ways to cope . You can talk with your doctor about nicotine replacement therapies and quit smoking medications). They can reduce your symptoms and make it easier to quit.
