I'm right there with you, Chico. I loved to smoke and I really don't believe anyone who says they didn't. If cigarettes grossed us out so bad, then quitting wouldn't be so difficult. I think we have to demonize it(the "nicodemon", for crying out loud) and/or associate it with really nasty things just to enable our minds to get around the idea of quitting something we really have enjoyed.
However; One could argue that I only loved 5 or 6 of the 40 I smoked a day and therein lies the problem and the reason we have to quit.
I wish I could smoke 6 a day, but I can't. I don't need a cigarette, I need 40.
After 2 months, one would think I would be at peace with this quit, but I still have intense craves. It is better than in the beginning, but I'm more tired than in the beginning so the quit becomes relative. Statistically, we have a not so rosey hurdle to overcome.
But people do it and I would like to be one of the folks who get a 2 year quit behind them who have a [b]huge[/b] statistical advantage of never smoking again- almost that of a person who has never smoked. Not to mention all the health advantages.
Take a deep breath, try for 6 months because that seems to be when people begin to acknowledge a real freedom from the battle. In the mean time, it really just is a day to day thing.
Hang in there, Bob
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 63
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,537
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $567
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6