5. Allowing use memories to fade

Think about the huge pile of use memories created during the thousands and thousands of times that you complied with your addicted brain's need for more.

The final and longest layer of recovery is rooted in the time needed to move beyond the influence of old use memories. But how?

Like a blanket of new fallen snow, new nicotine-free memories are being created each and every day. At times, it may be super hard to appreciate that the amount of time devoted to thinking about wanting to use diminishes with each passing day.

Then, it happens. A day arrives where you go the entire day without once wanting to use.

After your first wanting-free day, such days gradually become more and more common, until it becomes your new sense of normal.

But, how long before their tease wanes? How long before that first wanting-free day? And can we shorten the time needed to reach Easy Street?

The answers are within and unique to you.

Why be tormented by the lie that each use memory tells you, that use is the solution to wanting? Clearly, it’s the opposite.

Also, why continue to be teased by a biological need to feed that’s gone within 2-3 weeks of ending use? There would be no "aaah" satisfaction sensation, as nothing was missing and nothing was in need of replenishment.

Conscious thought fixation

Unlike a less than 3-minute cue triggered crave episode, we can consciously focus on any thought of wanting to use nicotine for as long as we're able to maintain concentration.

Instead of trying to hide from thoughts of wanting, why not place each under honest light?

Flavor? If use is about flavor, then why can't you simply substitute and continue using the flavor from a non-addictive source?

Which is normal, to swallow flavors or to inhale them?

There are zero taste buds inside our lungs, the place that most of us inhaled and briefly held all nicotine flavorings.

"Just one" or "just once"? For us nicotine addicts, one is too many and a thousand never enough.

See and treat nicotine dependency recovery as if it were no different from alcoholism. See a bright line in the sand.

Why debate wanting "a" nicotine fix? Instead, ask yourself how you'd feel about having "all" of them back, about returning to your old level of nicotine consumption or greater.

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