Cold Turkey

My first job was in the food industry. As many people know, chefs, cooks, waiters, nearly all the staff will more than likely adore smoking. Already being an occasional smoker, my friendly co-workers gradually got me to follow them out on most of their breaks. This carried over onto my next 2 jobs stocking in grocery stores. Although smoking less than half a pack a day, and typically only at work over the 4-year span my body and mind were letting me know of the consequences. It climaxed once I was dating a woman who smoked more than I did, encouraging me to smoke more, and outside of the workplace, too.

Nearly the entirety of my immediate family are ex-smokers. The only way they've ever quit was cold turkey. After fully realizing my fragile mental and physical state as a result of smoking, I ripped my last pack up and tossed it. 

Although I had not been smoking as heavily or as long as others, quitting cold turkey was still a massive challenge, but very achievable. Ultimately it came down to immediately forming new, healthier habits to replace the smoking habit (i.e. eating a healthy snack on break instead of going out for a smoke, exercising, especially running/cardio). If you do not immediately give yourself a positive action to replace the act of smoking, I can see how it may be unbearably difficult.

I surprisingly had very few withdrawl effects, other than low energy and low mental stimulation for the first week or so. A newly-adapted healthful diet and exercise definitely began to reveal its positive effects in full bloom shortly after the first week. It is crucial to focus on the change being positive, and constantly reassuring your mind of the beneficial effects you may feel, rather than the act of "missing out" on something. 

However, I have not felt cravings until just recently, just a bit over a month from my quit date. I have had many dreams involving myself smoking (which is certainly normal, and also a good sign), which hints at the mind organizing, "digesting", and subduing the patterns of the nasty habit.

While quitting cold-turkey may not be the easiest, it is worth the initial pain. It is very much a mental challenge, in which, very deep-down, you have to believe yourself in your quitting. And trust yourself as well. Without that foundation soundly set, it can be certainly a daunting task. I believe it is the only way to quit. There is no use in continuing to feed your body the harmful chemicals in smaller increments. Although patches and gums may lead to a more "comfortable" state of quitting, going cold-turkey can be very transformative and result in a beautiful learning experience of ones own body, and how one should truly love their body and mind.