ChickenStix,
I'm so sorry you're having a rough day! I really wasn't trying to throw your words in your face before... but you had so many different things that I wanted to address that I wanted you to know which one I was addressing so you didn't get confused. OK, this time, I won't do that.
First of all, many people choose not to quit because it's hard as hell to do it!!!! Many people don't have the courage, discipline or strength that you have!!! So many people wish they were in your shoes right now!!! They WISH they had 24 days on their meters!!! Instead, they're wasting their time, money and energy on something that will KILL THEM!!! You, on the other hand, are improving your life with every second that you don't smoke! Please don't become one of those people who wishes they had 24 days on their meter... be the one who is very close to having 25.
Yes, the nicotine IS out of your system, but that doesn't mean that your brain has figured it all out yet. The nicotine is gone in 2 days, but we smoked for so long that it's going to take more than 3 days, or even a month, for your body to get used to the major change that's happening. I'm going to bump Rusty's 10 things to do on a rough day thread (or something like that)... I think that thread will help you out a lot today.
Yes ChickenStix, you are on the roller coaster of your life!! And it's full of ups and downs and twists and turns... but in the end, you'll be glad that you took this ride.
OK, I said I wasn't going to do it, but I have to... "Things that I usually tell others about smoking are the things I am again telling myself." GREAT!!! What a wonderful thing to do! If you need to tell yourself these things, then by all means... tell them to you! That's not a bad thing at all!
As for the broken heart, you had a love affair with cigarettes for many years. Yes, it's completely understandable that you are sad, depressed, lonely and have a broken heart! That stick was with you everyday, through thick and thin... but it was also stealing your money and robbing you of your health. BUT, it's still normal to feel sad, like you miss it. That's OK, but just don't think that smoking again is going to solve all of your problems because it won't.
I promise you that this WIL
