First of all let me just say hello and thank you for creating this resource for people to use. Nicotine addiction is a horrible, life-altering thing and it's nice to see that there is good information available (for free) that is helping people quit.
I have been nicotine free for 6 days, and I feel great about it.
I have had asthma since I was a child. However, for some reason, this was not enough of a deterrant and I began smoking at around age 13 because of peer pressure (my inability to resist it). By the time I got into high school I was hooked. I somked all through high school and most of college. I got married in 2002, during which time I quit (using the patch) for approximately 2 years. After the divorce, it didn't take long for me to start up again. I have been off and on in the years between then and now, using various NRT methods (mostly gum) and oral tobacco products (Snus, etc) to try and get off the smoking, under the false assumption that the smoke is bad, but the nicotine is not. I found that I was so anxious when I was chewing the gum instead of smoking, that it would ultimately lead back to me buying a pack and starting up again.
Thankfully, I happened across this site, and began to read some of the information about exactly how nicotine effects the brain (chemically and psychologically), and I decided that I was probably so anxious on the gum because of the nicotine, and that it was actually hurting my chances of quitting instead of helping them. So, last Monday, I smoked my last cigarette and decided to see how long I could go without smoking, and what it would be like to withdraw from nicotine cold turkey. I am happy to report that, for me, with the help of all the great information on this site, it has been MUCH easier. Now that I understand that everything I thought I knew about smoking and nicotine has been a lie, I know that I can not allow myself to smoke another cigarette or ingest any nicotine ever again. Something clicked for me, and I am confident that I can keep this up. I still have moments where a cigarette sounds like a good idea, but I know that it is not, that I will not enjoy it, and that it will ultimately lead to my demise if I give into that feeling. I had my first "smoke dream" the other night and woke up severly depressed and angry with myself, but was quite releaved when I realized that it was just a dream.
Anyway, sorry for the long post. I will try to update with my experiences as the process continues. Now that I have made it through (almost) one week I am more confident in myself and am looking forward to taking on new challenges. Thanks for reading!
I have been nicotine free for 6 days, and I feel great about it.
I have had asthma since I was a child. However, for some reason, this was not enough of a deterrant and I began smoking at around age 13 because of peer pressure (my inability to resist it). By the time I got into high school I was hooked. I somked all through high school and most of college. I got married in 2002, during which time I quit (using the patch) for approximately 2 years. After the divorce, it didn't take long for me to start up again. I have been off and on in the years between then and now, using various NRT methods (mostly gum) and oral tobacco products (Snus, etc) to try and get off the smoking, under the false assumption that the smoke is bad, but the nicotine is not. I found that I was so anxious when I was chewing the gum instead of smoking, that it would ultimately lead back to me buying a pack and starting up again.
Thankfully, I happened across this site, and began to read some of the information about exactly how nicotine effects the brain (chemically and psychologically), and I decided that I was probably so anxious on the gum because of the nicotine, and that it was actually hurting my chances of quitting instead of helping them. So, last Monday, I smoked my last cigarette and decided to see how long I could go without smoking, and what it would be like to withdraw from nicotine cold turkey. I am happy to report that, for me, with the help of all the great information on this site, it has been MUCH easier. Now that I understand that everything I thought I knew about smoking and nicotine has been a lie, I know that I can not allow myself to smoke another cigarette or ingest any nicotine ever again. Something clicked for me, and I am confident that I can keep this up. I still have moments where a cigarette sounds like a good idea, but I know that it is not, that I will not enjoy it, and that it will ultimately lead to my demise if I give into that feeling. I had my first "smoke dream" the other night and woke up severly depressed and angry with myself, but was quite releaved when I realized that it was just a dream.
Anyway, sorry for the long post. I will try to update with my experiences as the process continues. Now that I have made it through (almost) one week I am more confident in myself and am looking forward to taking on new challenges. Thanks for reading!

