While I was spinning around on my chair this morning with the oncoming panic that is “deadline” day I remembered that it was time once again to update the smoking blog.

The blog got a bit lax last week, a culmination of post holiday blues and catching up with my work and for this I apologise.

But stay tuned as if you’ve ever wondered what coming off heroin’s like, I can tell you.

A bout of insomnia last night resulted in my Googling the withdrawal symptoms of giving up smoking. Turns out nicotine’s as addicting as heroin.

For the record, I’m no wuss. While my colleagues may not describe me as noble, gallant or belligerent, I’m definitely not a yellow bellied toad.

As I look through the list of withdrawal symptoms I mentally ticked off most of them including: irritability, anger, hostility, anxiety, panic, poor concentration, depression, fatigue, fearfulness, sense of loss and coughing.

This is what the newsdesk has been subjected to for the past three weeks.

I enjoyed the anger, it entertained me (if not the drivers of Redbridge) the anxiety and depression which lasted for more than a week I could have done without.

The worst thing about it was the fatigue and inability to concentrate which has been driving me to distraction.

So, some facts about nicotine according to the good people at the University of Minnesota:

• Nicotine is as addictive as heroin as a “behaviour altering agent”

• It is 1,000 times more potent that alcohol

So if you know anyone out there that is giving up, say something nice to them and keep your distance.

This is the fourth week of reporter Amanda Nunn’s blog on giving up smoking for Stoptober. Did you give up this month? Send your experiences to amanda.nunn@archant.co.uk.