The Fragile Time - Know Your Enemy

The start of week two and so far all is well. Common opinion puts the the length of time that Nicotine cravings remain a problem at between 5 days and 3 weeks. This is the fragile time, the time when an acute craving may sway the recent non-smoker back to the old and dark ways. This is the time that you need to know your enemy, which is of course Nicotine.

Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs known to man, some studies have shown it to be more addictive than Heroin or Cocaine, yet Nicotine escapes the public outrage shown at these other drugs. Nicotine gives an almost immediate "hit" when ingested and then starts to leave the body very soon after, creating a craving for the drug all over again. Over time increasing quantities of Nicotoine are required to satisfy the craving leading the "casual" smoker to increase their intake over time. It is this very addictive quality that the recent non-smoker must remember and take heed of whenever an acute craving takes hold. It is easy to believe that having just one cigarette will be okay, you have come this far, and surely just one will do no harm. Alas just one will do harm, the cycle of nicotine addiction will start all over again and the smoker becomes trapped as they were before.

Ride out the fragile time, it doesn't take long, there is NEVER just one.