I quit smoking over a year ago (smoked 13 years, quit April 2002). My experience was way different. I used the patch, made sure that I continued to go out and drink (only not smoke) etc. The rational was that I was to continue to live life how I was, just without Cigs. I felt like using the patch gave me enough nicotine to do the normal things I did, w/o smoking, and therefore allowed me to get used to doing those things with out seriously altering my life. I tackled the psychological first, and then the physical. Now when I go out or am around smokers, I haven't had 1 weak moment, not one. For me it worked, your mileage may vary. I'd swear by the patch though.
$0.02

-Bt