What to Expect When You Quit Smoking

"Quitting smoking is the easiest thing I've ever done. I've successfully quit smoking over 100 times." - Mark Twain

I dislike the term 'quitting' for such an engaging process. Smoking isn't a job or a goal, and any person wanting to be a quitter is about as ridiculous as Harry Potter wanting to suck. You quit a job. You quit a sport. You quit when you want to give up. With smoking, you let go. It's liberating.

One day you decide to let go. Hooray! No more empty pockets, smelly fingers, rancid tongues, achy teeth, headaches... notice I didn't even get to cough yet. Or the amount of time spent smoking only to feel hassled and tardy.

Weeks after liberation you may have dreams about smoking, and you wake up yelling, 'No! Don't have that cigarette!' Through these signs, your body and your subconscious ask for your support because you have entered a new stage of quitting. Speaking of stages, I've outlined the main 5 phases of liberation. These may change order or skip for some people, but it helps to know what to expect.

1. Withdrawal:  Withdrawal is where you do the hard work of kicking the habit, with the faith that the feeling has to end - and it will. In the meantime: acupuncture, herbs, and your willpower can see you through the first 7-14 days. (Frequent detox acupuncture treatments during this time have eased the withdrawal symptoms of many of my patients. Find out about the NADA protocol and its benefits.)
2. Rush:  After the hard work has been done, it's easy to feel cocky. And perfectly okay! Just remember that you're not invincible. Be prepared to rest when your energy levels start to normalize.
3. Plateau:  It's easy to get bored and complacent here. Celebrate your victory now that you have put some miles on quitting. How can you celebrate in a way that keeps you in touch with your body and how it has transformed - something just for you? In fact, this is the perfect time for a follow-up acupuncture treatment.
4. Dip:  Somewhere along the line, life happens. Beware the holidays, stressful projects at work, and other seasonal activities for the first year. Plan accordingly, and take care of yourself. By now you are receiving acupuncture on an "as-needed" basis, so don't forget to check in when you're nearing a dip!
5. Forget:  You know you're finally over it when you forget about smoking for months and then remember that hey, you used to smoke. No more crazy dreams, no more waking up at 5 am, no more morning cough. Not only are the yucky things missing, but you also have your own special reason for staying smoke free. Money in your pocket? More time to spare? Better sleep? Look around you and appreciate everything you have now because you let go of the habit.

In all of this, there's one or two things that you'll absolutely love about "quitting" - it's your job to find them and hold on to them. The first two weeks are the groundwork for the next few months, which depend on your stress levels. If you drink or use other substances, you are likely to make unbalanced decisions at a bar or party. Only you know when it is time to return to those environments with confidence that you can remain smoke-free.