You can do this, @chime! Welcome to the train. 5 days without smoking is AWESOME!
I used the patches (and lozenges/gum) until I built up my other quitting “muscles.” I was a very heavy smoker and needed to quit asap without lead time to prepare mentally, so some extra reinforcement helped. I ended up accelerating the step-down to get off of the patches because after a few weeks it became clear that the NRT was prolonging my withdrawal discomfort. (Plus they were driving my skin bonkers.) But by then I had developed other coping skills to lean on to make it through that final withdrawal. Wasn’t pretty, but I made it… and 2+ years later am a very grateful nonsmoker.
Everybody’s strategy is unique, you’ll figure out what works for you. Every quit that sticks is a good quit!
Stay close to the forum, let us know how you progress, and learn all you can about addiction. Knowledge is power and the community here is super supportive.
Glad you found us!
