There are two parts of a cigarette addiction that you have to deal with when you quit:
- 1) The physical addiction to nicotine;
2) The habit of smoking.
There was a moment sometime in the second or third month of my quit when I realised that I finally understood what Health Canada had been trying to tell me when they warned that smoking was "habit forming". I used to laugh at that one - it just seemed so ridiculously obvious, and of all the things that they were going to warn me about, that one struck me as a waste of their time and mine...until I actually understood what it meant around weeks 7 and 8 of my quit.
I remember those two weeks distinctly because they were probably the hardest part of my quit. I got so frustrated because my brain kept popping in and saying "Ok time for a smoke!" and I'd LOSE IT. I was so committed to my quit and doing really well, but then my brain would chime in randomly (& consistently) with the "Ok, Smoke break!" It was incredibly frustrating and all I could think was "Oh! My! God! STUPID BRAIN! WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? GET WITH THE (*ahem*) PROGRAM!!!"
It was then that I understood what they meant by smoking can be habit-forming. It's a such a frustrating pain in the *butt*, that habit forming aspect. Therein lies the battle (and the process), and it’s a completely mental one. Your new ex-smoker brain has to beat out your old smoker brain. It really is just a matter of mind over mind.
Remember when you "crave" you are not actually physically craving. You have to talk yourself out of that feeling. It’s just your old, well-trained smoker's brain that you (YOU) are fighting. It takes time and consistency… It’s A PROCESS.
You must:
Decide to believe you will.
Commit to the process;
Commit to your quit.
A year ago today I embarked upon the most incredible journey. The journey continues... Onward to the 80% club...
CM's 2 Year Milestone
