Hi Peteg01. Every time I tried to go cold turkey I had major sleep problems. Since I have bipolar disorder, not sleeping is a no no. A lack of sleep brings on manic episodes. This time, I decided that I had to quit anyway that I could. No particular method is any better than any other. I used the gum, partly to keep my mouth busy, partly to easily control the amount of nicotine I got, and partly to withdraw more slowly than I would cold turkey. By the time week five came around I was only chewing a piece a day, and I decided to lock myself in the house one weekend and detox from my one piece. I had no sleep problems. You have to figure out what works and usually what works is a combination of different things. If you haven't yet, be sure to go through 'My Program' near the top of the page. Also, clicking on 'Support Group Options' on the right hand side of the page will take you to a page where you can setup your stats, so that we can help follow your progress. One last thing, most of us put together some type of quit kit: sugar-free candy and gum, veggies, fruits (Be careful; they are loaded with sugar.), and lots o cold water will help flush out the toxins and speedup your metabolism. You might find exercise to be really helpful, too, in helping you to relax and in helping you to keep your weight under control. If you use a NRT, do so under a doctor's supervision or follow the directions on the box.
My Mileage:
My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 492
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 13,776
Amount Saved: $5,854.80
Life Gained:
Days: 55 Hrs: 10 Mins: 4 Seconds: 59
