I'm sorry I ran across your post. You might be sorry too. I have been smoke free for two days shy of six months today. The cravings are hard, all day, every day, every hour. At six weeks, I actually felt really good. I had some up days that were unbelievable. For some unknown reason it started to spiral down. The last four months have been a constant replay of day one. No, Day one was probably easier. Everyone is sick and tired of me. I'm sick and tired of me. I'm tired of wanting a cigarette. Tired of seeing people smoking and wanting to mug them for their pack, or even a butt.
I hate this. I am almost a recluse because when I go out I look at the sidewalk and the gutter eyeing every butt on the ground fighting the desire to pick it up and smoke it. Taking the dogs for a walk is a hard thing for me. All that temptation.
I just want this to go away. I want the craving to go away. I want the thoughts to go away. I want cigarettes to go away. Sometimes, in the darkest hours, I confess, I want the quit to go away. I quit because of some serious health issues and they will never go away. Some others have cropped up. My dentist told me years ago to quit smoking because the lining in my mouth was being damaged. Now it's shredded because of excessive chewing on gun both NRT and sugarless and endless hard candies.
Yet, I have not had a cig. Not one. It can be done even when you don't want it to be done. I am healthier. My cough has gone completely, my resting heart rate slowed. I am infinitly better off.
To answer your question, maybe it is normal to crave after a long time. I haven't seen anyone after a year or two still craving. I'm hanging my hat on that one..
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/27/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 178
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,340
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,780.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 30
