Hi brat and WELL DONE on 164 days........
I'm way behind you too but I do feel the desire to smoke stays with each person way differently. I've read too much on here to think any different. Everyone that has said anything about it here has had different lengths of Quits. In addition, I have a Bro-in-Law that hasn't smoked in 25-30 years and he says he still has fleeting thoughts about it. My Son has been smoke-free for 10-12 years and still has a thought or two.
I look at it this way..........If I had been a bike rider and rode every day as much as I was able.........I mean pushing myself to my full limits.....really enjoying it........and then all of a sudden....unable to anymore.....for whatever reason.
At first I'd think about it all the time....every thought would be wanting to ride again.....I would see reminders of riding everywhere....
...but eventually I'd begin to think about other things.......and biking would only come up occasionally. Over time, I would not spend near as much time and energy thinking about and remembering the biking. I would change my life.
But I doubt I would ever completely forget it! There will always be too many reminders!!!!.......
I think in our own times we'll each put smoking thoughts further and further behind us. I'm not sure that any of us will ever totally forget. The addict never goes away completely and he sees/hears every word, ad and paragraph ever written/spoken about it. I think we'll just spend less time dwelling on each of those.
I'm proud of me for having control of my life now and for beginning the road to being healthier. I'm gonna keep that as my mantra for now and just keep saying N.O.P.E. I'll be optimistic and say the thoughts will fade in time and I'll fill my thoughts with other things to keep the addict at bay.
Not an answer for you but it's how I get through the tough thoughts and move on to something else. Keep The Quit.
Good Luck finding your answer.
huggggggg
Bob
My Milage:My Quit Date: 1/27/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 63
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,890
Amount Saved: $264.60
Life Gained:Days: 13
Hrs: 5
Mins: 29
Seconds: 54