What nicotine does to your brain's receptors, why cravings arrive as waves, and why cutting down gradually feels steadier than stopping dead.
A craving isn't a steady pull — it's a wave. It typically builds, crests within three to five minutes, and then fades on its own, whether or not you vape. Knowing the shape of it in advance makes it easier to just wait it out.
Source: NHS — quit smoking timeline
Nicotine works by binding to receptors in your brain that then expect a steady supply. Cutting down gradually gives those receptors time to adjust rather than reset all at once, which is why a taper tends to feel steadier than quitting cold.
Source: NHS — quit smoking timeline