I quit smoking TODAY.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,193
Likes: 0
From: Denton, Texas
Congrats on the good choice! I quit several months ago and have just run my first 5K.
Interesting that most exsmokers do not like the smell of smoke. I havent quite figured out why but it is something I still like. To paraphrase Colonel Kilgore from the movie Apocalypse Now " I love the smell of smoke in the morning. Smells like hot sex and cold beer"
Interesting that most exsmokers do not like the smell of smoke. I havent quite figured out why but it is something I still like. To paraphrase Colonel Kilgore from the movie Apocalypse Now " I love the smell of smoke in the morning. Smells like hot sex and cold beer"
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 17,163
Likes: 4
Your brain has done two things to make it hard on you to quit.
First, it's down regulated the amount of dopamine you are producing and so when you do not smoke you feel tired, down, lethargic, etc. It is assuming the nicotine will come and trigger dopamine release. Second, it hasn't down regulated, or removed, the number of dopamine receptors, like many other addictions do. Rather, it has upregulated the number of receptors. Hence, you will never need to take more than 1 drag to feel good (whereas someone deep into, say, alcohol or heroin, would need ever increasing amounts to get to a certain level).
Just consider the fact that what you need to do is sort of undo the changes in brain chemistry that you've grown accustomed to since beginning your habit. It's going to suck, but just know that it's all based purely on a lack of this or that chemical. Instead, try other reward inducing behaviors, like jogging and working out. Eventually your brain will realize that nicotine is not coming and so it will equalize the number of dopamine receptors and bring dopamine production levels back up to. You can do it!!
First, it's down regulated the amount of dopamine you are producing and so when you do not smoke you feel tired, down, lethargic, etc. It is assuming the nicotine will come and trigger dopamine release. Second, it hasn't down regulated, or removed, the number of dopamine receptors, like many other addictions do. Rather, it has upregulated the number of receptors. Hence, you will never need to take more than 1 drag to feel good (whereas someone deep into, say, alcohol or heroin, would need ever increasing amounts to get to a certain level).
Just consider the fact that what you need to do is sort of undo the changes in brain chemistry that you've grown accustomed to since beginning your habit. It's going to suck, but just know that it's all based purely on a lack of this or that chemical. Instead, try other reward inducing behaviors, like jogging and working out. Eventually your brain will realize that nicotine is not coming and so it will equalize the number of dopamine receptors and bring dopamine production levels back up to. You can do it!!
