I've tried to quit before with NRTs, but am at the end Day 3 cold turkey. If I've learned anything from all this it's to recognize the craving as it hits, acknowledge it, and turn my attention to what's going on in front of me. It's so easy to freak out about quitting smoking that I think all the build up has always caused me more trouble than good. I am undergoing a physical change, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, etc. but all I can really do is just ride it out. A friend of mine (who just started the patch) and I went out for coffee this afternoon and we were all over the place. Happy, sad, optimistic, bitchy, but in the end I realized that I have nothing to worry about. I am 39 and have been a smoker for almost 25 years. I've been a smoker all of my adult life. This change is unsettling, uncomfortable, but necessary for me to move towards my goal of no longer being Nicotine's bitch. I really want to see this through, even if the road is kinda bumpy right now.
