Smoking Cessation: The First 3 Days

"The big picture is trying to figure out why people smoke. There are a lot of health risks, and the majority of smokers already know what they are. They want to quit but can’t. It’s not because nicotine is a potent drug; it doesn’t induce significant amounts of pleasure or euphoria. Yet, it’s just as difficult if not more difficult to quit than other drugs.” - Matthew Palmatier, assistant professor of psychology at Kansas State University.

November 2008

On the second and third days after quitting, the headaches set in. My headaches had little to do with nicotine withdrawal. On the second day, shortly before midday on, my head pounded. I took to the sofa, hoping a fifteen minute nap would alleviate the symptoms, to remember that I hadn’t yet made an instant coffee. Normally I’d be up to my fourth or fifth cup of coffee at midday. My old self would have taken the easy route - sneaked to the tobacconist, paid for a fresh packet and regressed for the twentieth, thirtieth...(Who am I kidding when I’ve lost count?) time, get stuck in a routine that would see feeling like crap each morning, to venture out and experience commuters avoid sitting next to me on the bus.

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