Hey Phillip- I know what you're saying. Hell, I sort of got called a purveyor of doom and gloom because I refuse to have someone tell me I'm not having a crave, when I am. I think I know what having a crave is, but apparently not!!! LOL
And really, who cares?! It's not worth arguing about.
I think that understanding addiction, in general, is a relatively new area of research; say anything about nicotine, in particular. I don't think we have much to go on.I think there is such a great deal of complexity in the level of addiction and the long term affect on our neurophysiology, that to draw some generalizations such that beyond x days one can't be having a crave is somewhat naive, and unfortunately sort of condescending to the recipient of such sage advice....especially the recipient having said crave! I'm sure it's not meant to be like that at all. Afterall, the person offering such advice, who hasn't experienced that in their quit, is probably frustrated that people DO experience it...makes no sense...why are they doing this to themselves?...sort of thing. Good intentions.
I'm sorry, but quotes from self-help books and other such things don't do much for me. And least they don't cure me of myself. I don't think I like to wallow in my pain, though....although, who knows. MAybe I have some deep seated fear of success or need for negativity in my life. Strange, since I'm a pretty successful guy, but hey, you never know.
I don't know why you, I, Lady, and others here seem to have a more troubled time of it than others; but I DO think it has a lot more to do with a much more complex thing than nomenclature, memories, or whatever.
In reality, I suspect that a lot more people have a lot rougher time of it and either relapse and leave the site or don't talk about it (for a variety of reasons), because honestly, I don't think we're that unique. If this seems like a negative thing to post; I apologise but I tend to look at it as realism, not negativity. Of course, that assumes I'm not unbalanced!
Forgive me for stealing your thread, Phillip. Just wanted you to know I get it; or at least some of it. Don't apologise for being yourself.
:blush:
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 126
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked