Quitting Smoking

[Run the ball]

I found week 3 was my biggest test of all and it was smooth sailing after that.


Good luck guys and keep it up!!

 

[nvanprooyen]

I'm looking forward to not counting the days and simply not thinking about it (outside of a random craving I would imagine in certain situations).

 

[nwfisch]

Talking about nicotine in my drugs class now :jackson:

The prof just said that big tobacco is good at recruiting new smokers.

 

[Ares]

I have smoked cigs once in a while on/off since college, though I have not for the last 6 months or so.

I do smoke hookah like once or twice a week at times, though not in the last 2 weeks.

Sometimes I will go without smoking anything for many months at a time.... so I do not think I have any nicotine addiction, how long do you guys feel it takes to become addicted to the nicotine to a point where you will need to detox?

As some of you know I had a ton of surgeries when I was 10, 12, then 16-18 and I was heavily addicted to pain killers several times purely due to length of time I had to be on them and I broke the addiction on like 4 different occasions until college when I broke it for the last time and stopped using them entirely.

I am wondering if my addiction tolerance with nicotine is different because of having broken substance addiction in the past? Or am I just not using tobacco often enough for my body to become addicted to the nicotine?

 

[nwfisch]

So apparently if you suffer from depression...pick up a cigarette.

 

[Run the ball]

I'd say your nicotine intake is low and inconsistent, so your dependency or cravings would be much milder than lets say a pack a day guy. His cigarette has a daily routine, as smoking 25 cigs or so a day is a task that requires lots of focus and attention.

I would think that your previous "addictions" gives you an advantage of sorts but also a disadvantage too IMO.

 

[nvanprooyen]

I'd say your nicotine intake is low and inconsistent, so your dependency or cravings would be much milder than lets say a pack a day guy. His cigarette has a daily routine, as smoking 25 cigs or so a day is a task that requires lots of focus and attention.

I would think that your previous "addictions" gives you an advantage of sorts but also a disadvantage too IMO.

Yep. A lot of the smoking dependency is formed around habits....habits formed over years of smoking. In my case almost 20. The "drive to work" smoke, the "after meal" smoke, the "I need to get away from my desk" smoke, the "I'm stressed out smoke", the "I've accomplished something tough" smoke, the "I'm pissed off / irritated" smoke, the "I need a reason to get away from people and have a few minutes of silence" smoke, the "I'm having a beer" smoke, the "I'm bored" smoke....and on and on and on.

Every one of those things is a trigger, so you are literally conscious of it all the time when you are trying to form new habits. Couple that with the physical addiction to nicotine and you have a habit that's pretty tough to quit.

Still going strong! Not one slip up. Even went to a bar Saturday night where everyone was smoking and got fairly hammered. The temptation was definitely there, but managed to dodge that bullet.

 

[onebud34]

Yep. A lot of the smoking dependency is formed around habits....habits formed over years of smoking. In my case almost 20. The "drive to work" smoke, the "after meal" smoke, the "I need to get away from my desk" smoke, the "I'm stressed out smoke", the "I've accomplished something tough" smoke, the "I'm pissed off / irritated" smoke, the "I need a reason to get away from people and have a few minutes of silence" smoke, the "I'm having a beer" smoke, the "I'm bored" smoke....and on and on and on.

Every one of those things is a trigger, so you are literally conscious of it all the time when you are trying to form new habits. Couple that with the physical addiction to nicotine and you have a habit that's pretty tough to quit.

Still going strong! Not one slip up. Even went to a bar Saturday night where everyone was smoking and got fairly hammered. The temptation was definitely there, but managed to dodge that bullet.

Did you ever have the "I just woke up at 4AM to have a smoke" smoke?

That was a nightly occurrence with me

 

[Run the ball]

Are you coughing up some nasty shit yet?? I did for a couple months probably, lol.

Keep it up man, you seem to have the right focus needed for this fight!

 

[Run the ball]

Did you ever have the "I just woke up at 4AM to have a smoke" smoke?

That was a nightly occurrence with me

I worked graveyard shift some for years, and yes I would often wake up around 1pm and have a smoke and then go back to bed.

 

[nvanprooyen]

Did you ever have the "I just woke up at 4AM to have a smoke" smoke?

That was a nightly occurrence with me

Sorta. But it was more like the "****, I can't fall back asleep" smoke. Those were pretty rare for me though, maybe once a month.

 

[nvanprooyen]

Are you coughing up some nasty shit yet?? I did for a couple months probably, lol.

Keep it up man, you seem to have the right focus needed for this fight!

A little bit the first few days, but not that much now. Maybe more will get hacked up later?

 

[onebud34]

Sorta. But it was more like the "****, I can't fall back asleep" smoke. Those were pretty rare for me though, maybe once a month.

If that's the case...I'll say...you can do it!

 

[onebud34]

I worked graveyard shift some for years, and yes I would often wake up around 1pm and have a smoke and then go back to bed.

It was odd...it was like my own body had that alarm clock...

okay...have a cig...then go back to sleep for a few more hours

 

[Crystallas]

A little bit the first few days, but not that much now. Maybe more will get hacked up later?

Depends on how well you stay hydrated. But you'll have bits of phlegm directly related to the smoking habit show up on occasion for months. You never fully heal from smoking, it gets close, but not entirely. Pores and walls of tissue have repaired themselves around already made damage. aka: scar tissue. Then add the fact that smoking increases acid reflux, so you'll even cough up balls of dead tissue to go along with the rest.

ANYWAYS... I wanted to ask you this. My favorite part about quitting.

Are you at the point where you can smell the ashtray in EVERYTHING you own yet?

 

[nvanprooyen]

Depends on how well you stay hydrated. But you'll have bits of phlegm directly related to the smoking habit show up on occasion for months. You never fully heal from smoking, it gets close, but not entirely. Pores and walls of tissue have repaired themselves around already made damage. aka: scar tissue. Then add the fact that smoking increases acid reflux, so you'll even cough up balls of dead tissue to go along with the rest.

Nice. That sounds lovely. I drink a ton of water (probably more than a gallon a day on avg)...so should be fun.

ANYWAYS... I wanted to ask you this. My favorite part about quitting.

Are you at the point where you can smell the ashtray in EVERYTHING you own yet?

I'm not sure I understand the question. I've never smoked inside my house and I wash my clothes I can smell it in my car a little bit...stale, but not that overpowering (I always smoke with all the windows down). But I will say this - I can smell a cigarette from a mile away now....either burning or put out. Someone in the office put an extinguished butt in one of the garbage cans and I smelled it as soon as I walked in the room from like 15' away.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I'm a ****** pussy who caved after the basement flooding. Getting a refill on the Chantix soon.

 

[nvanprooyen]

Check out that book PB. Some good stuff in there.

 

[botfly10]

It's been pretty easy for me too. Last few times I tried I was a fucking maniac. I think it's a combination of maturity, really wanting to quit and having the e-cig around for backup. Cool that 3 people here are all on the path within a few days of each other. Also will check out the red wine thing. I enjoy it from time to time anyways...usually when I'm making steak.

Same for me. I was a fucking maniac. I am afraid of quitting, tell you what. I just order that dumb ass book you linked after hearing about it completely randomly from like 3 other sources.

 

[nvanprooyen]

Lol. Well, you coulda got it from "other" places...but I think you'll find it gives you value for what you paid for it.