Cami,
Life will be what you decide it is going to be after nicotine cessation. I have been quit for almost four years after actively feeding my addiction for more years than your current age. I do wish I could for just one day allow people in the process of trying to control their addiciton to nicotine to first hand see how much better my life really is without using cigarettes to deliver my druig of choice. I wish I had a DVD that documented my progress, challenges, victories and realizations how much better off I am today than I was just under four years ago. I don't have those wishes to let you look at. What I do have is just my testimony of how it is. I can honestly say without any hesitation I would never even consider going back to actively feeeding my addcition. There is nothing I miss that isn't so much better today than it was prior to 31 December 2001. All the activities I do today are done in comfort without using nicotine. You see Cami, it wasn't smoking that made things fun. The bottom line is we tricked our addcited mind into believing everything was fun while we smoked. In reality, the only reason we smoked is because we needed on a regular basis (every 20-30 minutes) to replenish our blood serum with nicotine to keep us out of constant withdrawal.
Keep in mind any discomfort you are feeling or perhaps will feel is not at all what it is like to be a comfortable x-smoker. The symptoms of withdrawal, both physiological and psychological are temporary. They go away. I won't lie to you and say they go away instantly, it does take a period of adjustment.
I can however make you a promise. If you continue one day at a time, there will come a day not so far in your future you will look back and realize any discomfort you may or may not have felt does not over shadow the comfort that will start to surround you as long as you allow the healing to continue. By that I mean, each day make the commitment to go one more day without nicotine.
If you haven't already done so go to the following link Freedom from Tobacco and read how it is for the members there. Continue to educate yourself regarding your addcition to nicotine. Freedom as well as WhyQuit has the information you'll need for that.
Joel has covered your other questions in depth. I just wanted to try to help you realize there is life after nicotine.
Believe in yourself. You can if you think you can.
Roger
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