I quit smoking 2 years ago after over 35 years. It was not as hard as some make you believe it might be. Yes, I had attempted to quit several times before (that was just practice!) and it was hard, but i leaned that the 1st 2 or 3 weeks are the hardest so I was prepared. Lots of water, and LESS caffeine during that time helped. Caffeine is anxiety-provoking and smoking is an anxiety-reducing activity. In fact, my anxiety increased and about 3 months after I quit I started using Xanax once in a while.

I hope you'll think about becoming a non-smoker. It's a great feeling of accomplishment and you feel sooo good, clean, smart when you don't smoke.

There's a link to 'becoming a non-smoker' here at one of my favorite sites: www.guidetopsychology.com. I haven't looked at it because I found the site after I became a non-smoker, but it is a really good site so I feel comfortable suggesting it.

Besides drinking a lot of water, concentrating on really super nutritious food and cutting my coffee with decaf to lessen the caffeine so I wouldn't have caffeine withdrawals at the same time, two other things helped me. I did not look at it as giving something up; I saw it as being a non-smoker. I liked the positive and healthy sound to that. Also when I went on breaks at work with several friends who smoke I would take something to drink, hard candy to suck on, or would just stand with my arms folded because that helped with the feeling that there was something I should be doing with my hands. I guess in short, having plans for those times I knew might be difficult helped. And, walking some every day helped too.

I wish you loads of luck in whatever you decide to do!