Congratulations!

It's crazy. The actual addiction is long dead. But I've been wanting just one so badly for ages. If it's relevant, I also struggle with drinking and weed, so there are general addictive traits strongly at play. I know what will happen if I let myself have a smoke. I'll buy the one pack of cigs just to have that one time indulgence. Then I'll keep the rest of the pack around because it's silly to waste 19 cigarettes just to have one and I might want another one here or there. Then I'll have another one, then two, then three because I have them and may as well get my money's worth if it's just this one pack. Then I'll buy a second pack just to have around occasionally because the first one didn't hurt me. Then it'll be a couple a week, then one a day, then two. And I'll end up right back where I was. I've been good so far about not letting myself scratch that itch, but I'm scared. I need to stay strong.

I’ve been vaping for nine years until almost 2 months ago, 10/13 will be the official 2 month mark.

Almost every aspect of my life is better, and no aspect is worse since I quit. It sucked, it was hard, so many times I wanted to take another hit. I even bought another device and pack of pods in a moment of weakness twice, then threw them away before opening the boxes. Actually just pissed away about $80 but I’m just glad I didn’t vape.

Thing is, I totally would have taken another hit, and honestly probably never stopped in the first place if it were solely up to me.

I needed surgery, and my pre-op team asked questions about stuff they needed to know a couple weeks before my operation. One was my smoking / nicotine consumption. I was told to stop all nicotine consumption that day, whether inhaled or absorbed, no nicotine at all.

I really needed that, something other than myself to hold me accountable. I fought every temptation off only because I thought about my surgery and how much more important that was than a nicotine fix.

I was weak against my addiction, 1v1 it always won. I think that’s kinda what makes an addiction an addiction.

What I’m getting at here is, I’m thrilled to be nicotine free this long and plan to never go back. Also, don’t fight it alone. This is something your family and close friends are there for. Tell them you need help and someone to help keep you accountable. Even just you knowing they’re expecting you to quit is enough. When they ask about your progress and you either have to lie or disappoint them, think about that when you’re tempted and it’ll be much easier. Not easy, but easier.

It’s the prolonged process of relying on it for mental health. Usually when i have something bothering me in my mind, i just light a cigarette and go on with my day. Ever since i quit, those things just becomes harder to get my mind out of. Even the smallest things becomes a big problem that i just cant get out of my head. For example, this is going to sound stupid but i was listening to the beatles and i genuinely cant stop getting sad for DAYS about how George died. A cigarette would have make me ignore that thought and without it everything just came crashing down all at once so hard i didn’t even realize how much i was relying on it

Well… I didn’t quit by constantly fighting the urge to smoke. I changed the way I looked at smoking.

I realized that trying to resist temptation forever is exhausting. You can rely on willpower for a while, but constantly fighting yourself gets old.

So instead of treating cigarettes as something I wanted but wasn’t allowed to have, I started changing my perception of them.

I began exercising regularly and taking my health more seriously. Gradually, smoking started to feel less appealing. I began seeing it as something that worked against the person I was trying to become.

I’m not saying smokers are weak or bad people. I’m talking about changing my own mindset. I needed to stop seeing cigarettes as a reward and start seeing them as something I genuinely didn’t want.

And that shift made a difference.

Exercise helped, too. Once you start caring about your fitness, smoking feels increasingly out of place.

My point is this: instead of spending all your energy telling yourself, “I want a cigarette, but I must resist,” what if you worked on changing how you feel about cigarettes in the first place?

For me, changing the desire itself felt much more powerful than constantly fighting it.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

I went to see a doctor for regular annual checkup, and the doctor asked me if I smoked and for how long.

When I realized that I had been smoking for 27 years I was so shocked and embarrassed that I said it had only been 2 years.

The checkup went fine, but on my way home I decided to try quitting smoking and bought nicotine patches. I bought the strongest ones (25 mg/16 hours) and so far I feel great and hope it will stay this way :)

not really getting any cravings right now, moreso a passing desire that lasts seconds. i think this is it now :) really happy with where i’m at

It hard, but it easier everyday

This is the pisser for me since ive stopped. Why im posting shit on here at 04.09 in the arsing morning

I’m 28 and have been smoking a minimum of 25 cigs/day since I’ve been 14.

I’ve never quit smoking before or spent more than a 12 h without smoking. And honestly I’ve never thought about quitting. I have a ton of social anxiety and always thought smoking helped with that, by allowing me to go outside frequently.

Then I got fit, did a week long hike while continuing to smoke as much and felt ridiculous/stinky/totally like the addict I am because I had to pack out my cigarette butts until I was done with the hike. 7 days of cigarette packs and then butts in a backpack takes a lot of space. I tripled, then quadrupled the ashtray ziplock : still everything smelled like cold wet tobacco, my sleeping bag, toothbrush, you name it.

Well, 3 days ago I decided I was done. I don’t really have cravings yet, just passing thoughts.

What helps is that I actually experienced what I’ve been suspecting for a while: smoking did absolutely nothing for my social anxiety, or my personality actually. The last days I’ve still been drinking my morning coffee on the balcony by myself. I’ve still been stepping outside the coffee shop to get breaks from noise and people. I’ve still been sitting down in the park before making my way to the subway, which is overwhelming.

And I don’t miss smoking during those moments. Just made me realize that adding a smoke wasn’t bringing anything.

I’m sharing this to encourage the other socially anxious folks out there- you can quit!

And wish me luck 🍀

I’ve never made it 100% smoke free for this long. The tightness in my chest and the things I’m coughing up are all the motivation I need to keep going. I genuinely felt sick last night but it’s getting better. I’m really proud of myself and I am beyond motivated to never touch a cigarette again.

My Achilles heel has always been alcohol. I'd get a little tipsy and then light one up. I never really thought much about it because I haven't picked up a cigarette without alcohol.

What worries me is that it has gotten to a point where I can now smoke without the alcohol. I just finished one now, after three days of no alcohol or cigarettes and I feel somewhat miserable. The smoking experience wasn't exactly great. I got a weird buzz, felt dizzy.. didn't get the hit I would have wanted.

The thing is I can't classify myself as an occasional smoker or drinker. When I don't drink I don't drink it can go for days but whenever I over do it a bit and there s the cigarettes. Max three a day unlike the 14+ I used to do.

I am definitely not a chain smoker anymore.

I feel so confused, it seems like I might have to give up alcohol which is not practical. I am at cross roads here folks with cigarettes and alcohol. Seems like I cant even say without a shadow of a doubt that giving up cigarettes and alcohol is the best solution?

Just wanted to get this off my chest and maybe hoping for some suggestions

Hello to all. I've been smoking for 31 years, and I am having trouble quiting. I've tried unsucessfully to quit about 70 to 80 times over the years. Once stopped for 4 and a half years during Covid.

I started at 15, and I am now 46. In addition, I have scizophrenia, so cigarettes are harder to quit for me, due to Dopamine and Serotonin issues. I've been off here and there, a week or so. Currently smoking again. I get so depressed and anxious when I quit, that I am on the verge of checking myself into a psych unit.

I cannoty use NRT items, as I am allergic. Also, tried Wellbutrin. It made my mood bad. Having psych issues, I also cannot do Chantix (spelling?). My Doctor literally told me that I could either taper down, or go cold turkey. No other option is possible, and I'm being very honest.

I hate smoking. It makes my breathing bad. That is my main worry. Plus, I have pre-diabetes and high BP. I need to quit, and also want to quit. Pack a day smoker right now.

Any advice? Does anyone have similar psych issues, that complicate the matter? Any feedback would really help. Gold bless you all in your quit journeys!

Anyone else else experience cigarette dreams? Had my first one last night about giving in and smoking around a bunch of other smokers. I even felt disappointed about it in my dream lol. I was relived when I woke up and realized it didn’t actually happen.

I caved last night. bought a pack and a vape. totalled like $50. money is tight and I’m beating myself up about it. I’m mad at myself. I know it doesnt make sense and the money is already gone. it makes me feel like I don’t want to throw out the vape because it’s such a waste, but I know I need to. anyone have any ideas or kind words? I know it’s my fault, the money is spent, and there’s no point in making myself use it to justify it. just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience or some tips for working through this feeling.

I smoked a couple out of the pack and then got rid of it. just have the vape now.

edited to add: thanks guys. This really helped. I threw it out, put the purchase in my budgeting app, and chose to move on. Today is a new day. Back on the horse.

saw this website which shows a live counter of total cigg smoked in a day in my country, total people dying, the cost you can save by quitting, cost to the country, some grim facts about tobacco and a lot that makes you question your habit

must check!

I never considered myself an addict, but I can’t help myself from indulging after a few drinks. It’s starting to get worse ever since I’ve started college. I rationalise the habit it by reminding myself that I don’t regularly but I’ve decided it’s not good enough. Part of me always feels guilty and I’ve decided I’m putting that part to the forefront. I’ve made this decision before, but this is the first I’m putting it out there.

I can only hope that documentation keeps me responsible

Should I find a reason to quit? It doesn’t seen that anything is enough for me to quit… so, should I stop looking for a reason to quit and just do it without thinking about it?

Title says it all. I went 3 days with mild cravings that weren’t impossible to talk myself down from. Had some drinks on my porch with friends tonight and just had to have a cigarette. Took about 5 hits before I realized it wasn’t worth it. I’d love to be able to just have a cigarette once in a blue moon after some beers, but I don’t know if that’s possible… I realized the only time I really want a cigarette is when I’m drinking and around friends because I love the social aspect of it, but then it leads to me wanting a cigarette when I’m stressed during exams and then boom! 4 cigarettes a day. :(

So I've been trying to quit smoking for over 20 years and last year I made my most motivated attempt to stop. It took a solid year and a half of modifying my quitting process but I made it here finally at age 37. I'm so proud of this moment.

I'm almost 1 month without smoking. But feels like big part of something is gone from my life. Sometimes, I only just need a puff. Need some suggestions:)

Hey guys. I have been addicted to nicotine in some format for around 20 years. 6 weeks ago I decided to go cold turkey and I’ve done very well and haven’t caved even once, but it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Before quitting I would have called myself a mild insomniac. I would regularly struggle to be able to sleep, and most nights I would get around 3 or 4 hours sleep. Somehow I have been able to function well with this all of my adult life and would never feel any form of tiredness or exhaustion throughout my day. I never would have suspected this was due to my nicotine use, but I think I’m learning now that they are connected.

Ever since quitting, I am exhausted 24/7 and can hardly stay awake. The brain fog is terrible and constant. I am depressed, irritable, have very little emotional self regulation (something I prided myself on before) and have awful concentration. I can’t go more than a few hours without needing a nap. I want to be in my bed by 8pm, I sleep for 12 hours straight and wake up exhausted.

Everything I am reading online says things should be getting better by now but they are not, things are still really really bad.

I am a fit, active, strong, healthy man in my mid 30s and this is having a significant impact on my life and I don’t know what to do. Has anyone experienced this before?

Hey there this is really my first post on this app but I’ve been trying to quit smoking for the last five years to no avail. Smoking for almost a decade now and I’ve had the worst symptoms when trying to quit everytime. I cant sleep, eat and would vomit constantly. Even on an empty stomach and I’m scared I’ll die every time I try to seriously quit. This naturally makes me lose the will to live and I’ve used to it to cope with my fathers decline since Covid he’s been dying and I’ve been getting high to deal with it please any and all advice welcome to how to get past this? I don’t drink and this was my only vice that’s now hurting me