So I'm a smoker. Smoked tens of thousands of cigarettes and enjoyed most of them.
And why wouldn't I? Within 10 seconds of inhaling the smoke, nicotine has reached my brain. Once there, it has no trouble crossing the blood-brain barrier and going to work on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. It increases the activity of these receptors, leading to the release of adrenaline which promptly increases my heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and the amount of glucose in my blood.
Mean while, in the reward circuits of my brain where feelings of pleasure and ephoria come from, dopamine levels are rising. This is what makes me feel good, and what has kept me lighting up cigarette after cigarette. Or, as some who like to use big language call it, Addiction.
But the other big thing, perhaps in some ways even tougher than the addiction, is the habit. There are certain times when you simply light up. Hop in the car, start the engine, pull away and reach for the smokes. Eat a meal, have a smoke. Find yourself outside with nothing in your hands, light up a smoke.
I find that when quitting, the addiction combined with the habit is a very tough combination to break. The addiction causes withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, anxiety and nicotine cravings. I find I always start looking forward to a smoke a few minutes before I have it. The habit dictates I light up as soon as I start moving in the car. As I'm grabbing the last few things to head to work, the cigarette I'll have when I leave has already crossed my mind. Finishing lunch, I'm looking forward to that smoke. Combine this with feeling shitty because of the withdrawal symptoms as you walk inside Chevron to pay for your fuel, and why wouldn't you quickly add "One pack du Maurier Light please" ?? It's a lethal combination. A cigarette doesn't increase your chances of lung cancer for at least 20 years; I'm pissed off and feel like crap NOW; I'll feel better after a cigarette and things will be back to normal again! Quitting will be easier tomorrow...
So this time I'm trying it with the patch. First I'll rid myself of the habit, then I can worry about slowly knocking down the nicotine addiction.
I've got high hopes this time. Of course I'm only on the tail end of day #1, but this time it's different. I have a pack of smokes sitting right here. I have a lighter. There's nothing stopping me from lighting up right now. But I haven't and I won't. I've never had this kind of control before! The other times I quit I simply couldn't have any cigarettes even remotely accessible. I'm not ashamed to admit that even week old cigarette butts stuck in the sand of my ash bucket would tempt me...
Sure, the thought still crosses my mind as I sit here. Just now it feels like it's time to wander outside with a cigarette and see what the weather's doing. Inhale that smoke, admire the stars and the moon, I would really enjoy one right now... But I can tell myself I'm already getting the nicotine I need, so having a smoke wouldn't do much anyways. The patch is keeping the reward centers of the brain happy and I just have to get used to not lighting up all the time. It feels kind of funny, not taking a break for a cig, but I'll get used to it...
Again I was impressed by the honesty and integrity of a company called Gemini Logic Inc.
I ordered an updated version of one of their products yesterday to go with our updated accounting software. This morning I received a phone call asking whether I was aware of the new features to be found in the updated accounting software which rendered the Gemini Logic program unnecessary to us.
Sure enough, the functionality we required was in fact buried in our accounting software and I was able to cancel our order with Gemini Logic.
When a company goes out of their way to save me money at the cost of their own revenue, especially when I'm a one-time customer, I'm impressed. Two thumbs up for them.