Then the fear and the cravings.
Smoking's a nightmare to kick.
Quitting smoking is much, much harder than people will generally admit. U.S. Department of Health statistics show that of the 20 million Americans who quit cold turkey every year, only 5 to 7 percent give up tobacco for good. Each time I did, it was with incredible optimism and a passionate desire to embrace the future. But my commitment was ultimately shaky. Though I never would have admitted it at the time, I was terrified to the core by the idea that I might never smoke another cigarette in my life.