Hi TooYoung,
Too Young to die? I think we all are and none of us deserve to be a victim of this dreadful addiction.
I'm at a similar stage to you in the quit (ie a newcomer on the Beach). I believed that I have learnt the following about quitting:
People often say that there are 2 factors in quitting (habit and addiction). I believe that there are 3.
If you quit with patches, you beat the habit first, then deal with the addiction factor as you reduce the nicotine level stage by stage. Quitting cold turkey involves beating both at once: too tough for me, but some people (Allen Carr included) prefer the Big Bang approach.
The third factor is related to rewards, often discussed here. There is a thread 'Rewards, Nicotine and the Brain' that is well worth the read.
After about 9-10 weeks on the patches, I finally went 'naked', so after a few days, had no nicotine left in my body. So why the continued 'cravings' from time to time? Problem is that before the NicoDemon departs, he has left a little message with the Brain, which reads 'Where's my reward, it's time for my reward, I want my reward!'
As 90, 100, 110 day quitters, we feel we've made a great effort to get here and have had enough of the NicoDemon. He's even talking to us after he's gone! This is why I think some people experience negative feelings at this stage of the quit.
If we can all understand and accept what is going on here the 'voices' will have little or no effect. Our brains are adjusting to a new life, at this stage a piece of fruit, a cup of coffee, whatever, are scant rewards for the 'real thing'. However this will gradually change as we live our lives more fully and forget the old addict self.
I'm looking forward to my 6 month, 1 year, 10 year quit anniversaries
Mr Ed :8|:
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/13/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 111
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,334
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] �832.5
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53
