LoLo,
You did it girl! You got through that temptation even if it meant smoking a little and getting sick. You didn't light up another one. I know how you feel in the hubby department. My husband is a smoker and plans to quit after I do. My first three days were miserable for me and torture for him and the kids because I wasn't myself. I was dazed and confused. His patience and understanding ran out about day 2. He started getting insecure that my feelings were changing in our relationship even. I wish there was a way to go somewhere for the time it takes to quit and dry out. I wish it could be understood that nicotine is just as addictive and bad as alcohol, cocaine, and heroine. But, it seems that people are not as sympathetic to someone trying to quit smoking in our society. They look at us like it is all in our heads and we should be able to control ourselves. But, let me share with you what I have found through research.
When you smoke the nicotine goes to the "pleasure center of the brain." This pleasure center gives us a feeling of satisfaction from cravings from cigarettes, food, sex, and other pleasurable experiences. When we smoke a cigarette this center produces large amounts of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that affects mood and coordination). Too much dopamine has been found to be the cause of schizophrenia, too little dopamine results in Parkinson's Disease. This is how important this neurotransmitter is to our lives. So, when one has smoked for 20 years and has gotten used to having that extra dopamine in our systems that has affected our personality and mood all these years, it's not just the nicotine withdrawals, it is adjusting to a normal level of dopamine and getting to know ourselves drug-free. It takes around a month for our brains to adjust to the new dopamine levels. And, Chantix helps us adjust to those levels, but doesn't stop the withdrawals completely.
So, all drug addicts withdrawing from drugs have to deal with dopamine depletion or acceleration depending on what drug they were using. It's not all in your head sweetheart. Just remember that even if your closest relations don't understand what is going on with you physically, psychologically, and emotionally you can still get through it.
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