While smoking in the UK has reduced overall, 15.8% of people still smoked as of 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Every year, people try to quit on their own, and every year, only a few are successful. Quitting alone almost never works, which is why many people employ therapies such as hypnosis to repel the cravings. Knowing how the body heals also helps some people put away the pack for good.

While every person’s process is different, the following is gives you an idea of some of the symptoms and experiences that are often encountered in the weeks, months and years after cigarettes are gone.

Approximately 9 million adults in the UK smoke cigarettes which equates to 19% of men and 15% of women. Of these, two-thirds started smoking before the age of 18. 

Despite these somewhat alarming figures, smoking rates across the United Kingdom continue to fall, showing a sharp decline since 2010 among younger people, In 2016, 15.8% of all adults smoked, down from 17.2% in 2015 according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

If you would love to quit smoking and feel held back simply because you have been smoking for most of your adult life or because you are over the age of 65, take heart; research shows that it never is too late to quit, and that big benefits can be reaped from kicking the bait.

One recent study, published in the scientific journal of the British Geriatrics Society, has found that current smoking increases frailty in older people, but having smoked in the past does not have the same effect.

Some people struggle with mood swings when they decide to quit smoking.

The feelings of anger, anxiety or frustration can leave you wondering if quitting is even worth it at all, and before you know it you are back on the cigarettes.

If you want to quit smoking, but are struggling to deal with the unwanted emotional side effects of stopping, then read on to find out our top tips for dealing with them.