How long before the craving to smoke is just habit and not physical?

Answer 1

I will answer that in a bit of a different way. I started to smoke when I was 16 and found out that it helped me relax and concentrate more on my studies/essays to write at the time.

Was not a question for me to belong to a clique or "look cool" either..Did not fall nor believe in that one.

(there are some medical facts which actually point out that nicotine helps the brain to function..am thinking of an old book I have "John le Fanu, doctor in medecine..correspondant for the Daily Mail for many years..used to anyway"). Others might disagree.

At the time it was a habit. I did not crave cigarettes. Heck I did not smoke at all during the day and was not missing them a bit. And I was also smoking in my bedroom hiding from my parents at night..I think the craving started about 6 months afterwards though when nicotine went through the blood. And got addicted.

Much latter on, I spent a week in hospital, the craving was bad for the first few days but then it went. I remember coming home not feeling like having a cigarette at all but took one nonetheless - out of habit -......and the rest is history..

Maybe I should check myself into a hospital again ?? :-)

My two puffs :-)

Answer 2

I did it, instantly. This is the only and the best way. Not little by little, not 1 cig/day. There is an illusion. I was smoker of 1/1.2/2 pack/day depend til 2007 (from approx 23 years) And one day I said NO. You need 2 thingsto happening in the same time. Wanted TO NOT touch ever a cigarette and the AMBITION to resist, to stay away from. And not drink coffee anymore because "it's calling" a cigarette along. It's not at all easy, you risk to take few pounds because having not what to do with the hands and the mouth, also because the cigarettes cut the apetite, you'll eat more than before . Must resist also awail to this. In this point, me I wasn't too strong, because I like chocolates, but it's possible. The hardest is for the week 2 and 4. Most the same importance: NOT GOING WHERE IS SMOKING or in company of smokers . Ask to all others to help you to keep you away. My boss threatened me (like joke) to hit me if I start again, he's still a smoker . It's possible, I did it, and I'm still stand. But I'm still dreaming smoking. But is worth it.

Answer 3

The answers of 10-14 days I'm sure are true, but a couple of months after I had quit I had 2-3 days of dizziness which what I was told was the oxygen getting to my brain. I sure didn't like that feeling but the feeling that I was depriving my brain was and is even worse; so if I even think about smoking for any reason again I think about that and it helps. I have been told by a few ex smokers that they get cravings even after 10 years or more. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

I don't know how long it actually takes, but I have not smoked for almost 2 years and I still crave it. Especially when I am around smokers or when I am stressed out... I don't know if the cravings really ever go away whether they are habit or physical.. Although I believe that if you truly want to quit you can..Good Luck!

Answer 5

Like what others said, I believe the nicotene should clear out within weeks, but 'withdrawals' may continue for months. Not to discourage you, but I have heard that some level of craving will always be there...if you manage to stop for 10 years, you can restart quickly as if you had never quitted. It's a sobering thought that prevents you from being overconfident.
But I have to believe that with so many years of not smoking, its addictive grip on you, though it never disappears, will weaken. As you replace smoking with other healthier activities, your mind and body will learn more productive and healthier ways to address why you were smoking in the first place (esteem, security, stress, etc.)
CONGRATULATIONS on taking this step and keep up the good work!

Answer 6

I remember I tried to stop smoking many times before I finally stopped for good. I remember it got easier after 3 days. Those first three days are the worst. If you can go a week without smoking I think you might have it under control. What helped for me was to imagine your lungs all tarred up with holes, and cancer growing in them, not being able to breath, gasping for air, dieing a slow death. If you really put that image in your mind and thought deep and hard about that I'm sure you'll want to quit smoking. I quit when I was 24 years old, when my daughter was first born, I'm 42 now and haven't had a cigarette since then. My dad has emphysema, he's on oxygen at all times so that he can breath. It's not a good sight to see your family members suffer like that because of smoking. He can hardly do anything without gasping for air. If you've never seen anyone with lung problems like that, I suggest maybe you go to a nursing home or hospital and see first hand what smoking does to you. Maybe that might help you quit to.
Good luck

Answer 7

I've always heard that nicotine leaves your system after 3 days. If that's true,then the physical craving is over in 3 days. Habits are hard to break.Good luck!

Answer 8

I've read that the physical nicotine addiction and cravings are over in 3 days, after that it's psychological. That's the part I can't seem to beat but I keep trying.

Answer 9

In ten days, you will be "physically free" of all cravings of nicotine.

Mentally, it could take months! Or, even years! Depending on what type personallity you are... Type A's have a harder time, then type B's, because A's are more "driven" and B's are laid back.

Each day you dont smoke, certain things start "coming back", like taste, sense of smell, your lungs start to clear up..(that one takes about a year), your fingers get thier feeling back, and etc...

So, keep up the good work, and May the LORD be with you!

I wish you well....

Jesse

Answer 10

I don't know. I never had a physical addiction to cigarrettes, but I was addicted to just the habit. All the cigarrette chemicals should be out of your system within 14 days.