Lets just face the truth. Nicotine is a drug and smokers are addicted to it. With this addiction there grows an overpowering dependence on it. Once we have the courage to admit that we are addicted to a drug called nicotine the next step is convincing ourselves that we have to break the addiction.
Quitting is no easy task even for the strongest of minds. From experience both ways I found that quitting cold turkey was the most effective way of me quitting. Before I had tried patches but they only proved to be an alternate source for my nicotine addiction. They just kept the drug in me, which gave me a good feeling about myself of not actually smoking, but in reality I was still getting the drug, I was still hooked.
Cold turkey is not to be taken lightly. Be prepared to lose all your friends. Be prepared to put yourself in agony and to be tormented as your body demands a fix. Yes, at this point you are really suffering and then you know that you really are an addict.
Here is what separates the quitters from the rest of the crowd. You have to have a strong mind that will take control of the body and force it to quit. The patch helps you to quit smoking by reducing your nicotine withdrawal symptoms but you are still getting the drug. To me logic says that a patch only prolongs the physical dependency. That's why most people give up and fail. Simply put, the process takes too long and the body is weak and nicotine has a long memory. It's presence will stay with you and tempt you every chance it gets.
Now we're back to mind over matter. No matter which way you decide to quit, you have to stay focused and force yourself to quit. Either way it's going to be a long and hard row to hoe and it boils down to how committed you are in quitting.
I have been quit for two (2) YEARS today and I have no regrets and yes, I did get back the friends I lost and lost the weight I gained and gained my life back and that makes me a winner.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/28/2004
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 730
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 21,910
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2920
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 136 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2
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Quit Meter
$29,755.05
Amount Saved
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Quit Meter
Days: 10523
Hours: 13
Minutes: 9
Seconds: 38
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
45777
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
91,554
Cigarettes Not Smoked
