Then the person only needs to live through the first few days, one day at a time. Physical withdrawal may be rough or very mild. The symptoms will be overcome by making it through the first few days without taking a puff. Within three days the physical withdrawal will peak and by two weeks will cease altogether. But the real obstacle is the psychological dependence to cigarettes.
Most smokers are convinced smoking is essential in performing many normal daily activities.
The only way to overcome this perceived dependence is by proving to oneself that all activities done with cigarettes can be done equally well without cigarettes. Just living through the first few days and functioning in normal required roles will prove that the smoker can survive without cigarettes. It may be difficult, but it is possible. Once the initial quitting process is overcome, the rest is simple. Sure there will still be times when the ex-smoker wants a cigarette.