Ever remember seeing that when buying a hat or gloves and you put them on and they're either too large or too small. Quitting smoking is just like that. One way does not fit all.
We all have different theories about big tobacco has increased the nicotine content in cigarettes and that's why they are so addicting. It's the drug companies are behind the push for NRTs. Some believe that you are to simply put them down and never pick them up again and quit cold turkey. Some swear by the latest things out there on the market, let it be strips, nasal sprays, whatever.
Well, I'm going to tell you that this is not fun. It's not a pleasant experience, but it will not last forever. Opiates take 3 days to be removed from your body. Nicotine takes anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks. A great article that I always referred to when I was physically battling this was : Smoking Withdrawal & Relapse - Cessation Treatment - Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine. I kept the link on my computer way back then because I'd refer back to it to make me stop and think.
Some people believe that overthinking your triggers is not necessary. I say in the beginning of your quit, it's imperative. It only takes about three seconds. Wham, craving hits you, STOP, am I hungry, tired, lonely, angry? Am I doing something that I've always associated smoking with or I've always smoked doing it? Write it down. Later on in the day, look at that list. Now, think to yourself, what can I do instead. There two great articles on here, /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke and Additions to The List of 100 Things to Do Instead of Smoke a Cigarette. Some really good suggestions in there.
Now, in my case, I woke up, stuck a cigarette in my mouth and that continued for the rest of the day. The first two weeks when I quit, I chewed gum like it was going out of style. I changed my morning routine. You see we all have rituals that we perform every single day. We drive a certain way to work. We brew our coffee first thing after getting up or taking a shower the first thing upon arising. It's like autopilot that we perform these things. We don't even think about them. Now when you quit smoking, you associate some of those rituals with a cigarette. I'd say for about a month you have to retrain yourself to perform different rituals to remove the smoking memory (association) with the thing that you are doing.
It just takes a little willpower and a lot of conscious effort to change things up. You can make this quit your last quit. Do some research. Learn about what's going to and is happening to your body. Learn about what nicotine does. Just plain take the time to learn of nicotine dependence if addiction is too strong of a word. If the substance wasn't addicting, it wouldn't be so hard to stop............
