3 Months, been waiting for this day!

I have arrived at the 3rd "3's". I have to say that the past month (from month 2 to 3) was extremely challenging! I was having more frequent and more severe cravings than the first month that I quit. I originally bought Allan Carr's easy way to quit in digital format when I first quit and it helped me tremendously. It was amazing how easy the first week was after reading his book. 3 days ago I decided I would buy the hardcopy to refresh and reload my ammunition against smoking. (I prefer the hardcopy to mark certain spots and since it helped me so much I wanted to give another contribution to his foundation).

Since starting to read again I have found the cravings have subsided! One of the most stand out messages that he gives is to retrain your brain to know that you are NOT giving anything up. If you feel like you are giving something up you feel deprived and that leaves you constantly thinking that it is something you want. After 3 months of having zero nicotine I am no longer physically addicted, it is 100% a mental craving. The hardest part of quitting is to undue all the brainwashing smoking has done to us. Smoking has rewarded us for years by facilitating the release of dopamine every time we are stressed and we then deliver nicotine to the brain. Unfortunately every time we get that hit of nicotine that gives us the dopamine it fuels the next withdrawal attack. I believe it is going to take an entire year of being smoke free before the majority of the brainwashing is gone. I keep telling myself that as long as I get through another day without smoking it doesn't matter if I "accomplish" ANYTHING. The most important thing I can do for myself right now is to ensure I stay smoke free.