What is cold turkey? It is not a leftover turkey meat on your refrigerator! or to kill a turkey and leave it in a cold place. In a cigarette smoking term it is simply a method of quitting to smoke a cigarettes abruptly without any means of help and facing its consequences (head on!). This method takes a huge amount of will power as others say "a superhuman powers". The term holds to all types of addictions.
The derivation is from the idea that cold turkey is a food that requires little preparation in the kitchen. So to quit like cold turkey is to do so suddenly and without preparation. It is also boosted by the image of the pallid flesh of a cold, dead, plucked turkey. In the state of drug withdrawal the addicts blood is directed to the internal organs leaving the skin white and with goose bumps and thus resembling a turkey." (http://www.allexperts.com/previousqv.asp?QuestionID=2633904)
The next question is, "is it successful?". If you have a superhuman will power it is, but judging from a smokers point of view it very difficult but can be done!. The success ratio I think is very small although the term itself is very popular, few individuals are successful in this method. The good thing is that this method is free! and you can try it anytime you want. Tried it once and I failed (need some superpowers , LOL!).
What to expect in this drastic solution:
the withdrawal symptoms - you're cravings will be at highest level!
irritated
can't relax
can't think straight
Here are some ideas to overcome the difficulties:
Do something to make you busy
Chew a gum
Take a walk when craving comes in
Always divert you're attention, when you feel like smoking a cigarette.
It is a simple term but a difficult process. I myself is not ready for this ( I do a gradual decrease method) have more success with it but not yet 100%.
If you got what it takes to quit cigarette smoking with this method then do it now!
