@p @xue

> So I figured it was like that with any drug. On the other hand, first time I started smoking, I didn't stop.

Oh, smoking, is that all? It is the most addictive thing I encountered, except that 25 mikes of fentanyl they give for outpatient procedures. It works so much better than oxycodone, and no itching. Very dangerous.

I have barely smoked in over 10 years (just bumming one over a beer if someone has menthols), but picked them up and put them down so many times I got to where I could go from pack-a-day to zero and sort of enjoy the edge.

Best way to try quitting is go somewhere by yourself where you're far from the nearest smoke and can stay a few days. The physiological component is largely gone in 3 days; after that it's psychological. Switching to vaping is a good stepdown tool.

Then, if you start again, don't worry about it. Just keep doing that, maybe trying to stretch the smoke-fast periods. I think you can get to quitting that way.
If you can take a week, then do the three-day or more quit, then some substance, then stay for another day or so.

> When I drop the nicotine, I feel like shit, I have trouble focusing, and then I get irritable and say terrible things to people I like, and people I like are noticeably relieved when I resume smoking.

That's why you do the quit alone.

> Here's this thing, it sometimes just immediately cures nicotine addiction: I'd like to try that rather than yelling at people for two weeks.

Sometimes. Don't bank everything on a miracle cure. Use substances as helpers.