Beginning of the End

So yesterday was Valentine's Day and I decided I would "give" my girlfriend the gift of quitting smoking.   I'm almost 21 years old and I smoked for three years. I have tried on multiple occasions to quit smoking using different methods - nicorrette gum, the patch, electronic cigarette - but none of those ever seemed to do the trick. Inspired by a friend, I decided to quit "cold turkey." But, I thought writing about it would help me stick with it this time around and serve as an outlet when I have those cravings these first few days, weeks, and months to come. 


What has worked so far is actually looking at a timeline of what is happening to my body after I quit. What is actually going on inside my body and my brain?


Here's what has happened since my last cigarette on 2/13/12 at 10:30 pm:


20 minutes 

• My blood pressure dropped back to normal
• My pulse dropped back to normal
• And the temperature of my extremities rose back to normal

8 hours (the next morning)

• Carbon monoxide in my blood drops back to normal
• Oxygen level increase back to normal

24 hours (next day)

• My chance of having a heart attack decreases

48 hours (right now)

• Nerve endings start growing again
• Ability to smell and taste start to come back

So here I am, made it through my first two days of being an ex-smoker. I've had several cravings throughout this time, mostly when I see or do things that I strongly associate with smoking. Coming home, I usually have a smoke before I head up to my apartment so I am weary of the front porch. Same with driving in the car or after class or as a study break. The key to getting through these cravings for me is to ask myself: "Why do I want a cigarette right now?" Usually the answer is: "Because that's what you always do at this place at this time with these people." It all boils down to visual and psychological cues. If I can understand why I am having a craving, I can bring it back down to earth and sit with the craving for a few minutes and breath deeply. Soon, I know, the craving will subside. If I can forget about smoking, it's easy. But when I get it into my head, the wheel starts turning and I think the only way for the craving to go away is to go and buy a pack of cigarettes and smoke. 

Anyways, I guess next time I will talk more about the reasons I smoked and the reasons I quit. Until then, keep up the good work.