Quitting smoking is difficult

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Quitting smoking is difficult for most people addicted to nicotine. The withdrawal symptoms and cravings can be as strong as those experienced by heroin addicts. In addition to the physical withdrawal effects of quitting smoking, such as headaches, nausea and dizziness, the National Institutes of Health studies have found that anger, mood swings, tension and depression were the most common withdrawal symptoms experienced by smokers within the first week of quitting. While the severe withdrawal pangs subside over time, the psychological addiction may continue for longer periods, sometimes up to a year or more for some people. Stop smoking support groups can help smokers maintain their motivation, find ideas and tips that worked for others and have a place where they can air their feelings without judgment.

When smokers make a commitment to a group of people that they will refrain from smoking, they add another layer of commitment to their own personal desire to get healthy. Groups can be informal among friends, through health care facilities such as the American Cancer Society or a local hospital or through a therapist or counselor. The most important aspects of a support group are that it meet regularly and offer a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere of recovery.