I'd like to introduce you to AWL, a member of the support forum here at About.com Smoking Cessation. At four weeks quit, she is already keenly aware of the entrapment that comes with nicotine addiction and the change of mindset that brings lasting freedom.

• Seeing Through the Smokescreen

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us AWL, and congratulations on your quit!

More Reading:

• I Will Survive!
• The Seduction
• From Loss Comes Strength

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Distract, distract, distract!

When you first quit smoking, it may feel as though your day is one long, continual urge for a cigarette.

• 5 Minute Craving Busters

If you pay close attention though, you'll notice that most cravings last 3-5 minutes. They tend to come off the blocks strong, and decrease gradually until they're gone.

The First Week of Smoking Cessation:

• 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoking

• How to Manage Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

• One Full Week Smoke Free - A Personal Account

Current Forum Discussions:

• Welcome May Quitters

• Angry at One Week Smoke-Free

• A Farewell to Smoking

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Your commitment to quit smoking permanently will be much easier to sustain if you have strong, positive support around you. Friends and family can be helpful, but they may not understand the depth of what smoking cessation means to you, especially if they've never smoked.

Use the support offered at our Smoking Cessation Forum here at About.com. You'll meet people from around the world who are going through what you are, or have been there and can offer constructive advice.

Your resolve will be bolstered more than you can imagine just by being around others who have the same goals you do. Stop in and browse as a guest, or register (free) and join the conversation.

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Nicotine addiction taught me a lot of things...none of them good.

Smoking changes us, and those changes happen gradually, over a long period of time.

• Don't Settle for Less in Your Life

In fact, the personality shifts we experience due to nicotine addiction are so subtle; most of us don't realize our cigarettes are responsible for them.

Related:

• I Quit Smoking Because...

• The Pros and Cons of Smoking

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