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Going Cold Turkey

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Probably one of the most popular, and arguably least effective means for giving up cigarettes is simply to go cold turkey. I've known literary scores of people who have gone cold turkey, but I can't say that I've known a single one of them that has done it successfully for the long haul. Why? Because going cold turkey means withdrawal symptoms that can do a number on even the strongest person. I've known people who have nic fits - shake violently; and I know others who simply can't bear it. It's not really pain, per se. But it is painful. Your concentration is lost; you can't focus on anything; your irritable as hell; you're short fused; sometimes you can't sleep and sometimes you can't stop sleeping; you feel empty; and worst of all, people who go cold turkey tend to spend much of their time imagining what a cigarette might taste like. It's hard to keep your mind off of smoking.

But, I do know that cold turkey does work for some people. I am reminded, in fact, of a scene in the John Updike Rabbit, Run series, in which the lead character (a long-time smoker) simply decides one day, before playing a game of basketball, to chuck his cigarettes into the trash can and give it up forever. It makes a great story, for sure; but it's rare. However, cold turkey seems to work best when you've got a powerful incentive to quit; whether it's your health (and it often takes a major scare to get people to quit) or an ultimatum from a loved one, or an just a really powerful resolve. Folks who don't have this kind of resolve, however, shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed. Hardly anyone does. And the best way to avoid relapsing is simply to admit it to yourself and try a method where the withdrawal symptoms are not so intense.

The great thing about going cold turkey, however, is that it's free!

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