If you smoke, can I ask why?

[KrayKray00]

I am currently standing in the rain having a cigarette.

I quit for 4 years and was never a heavy smoker. But I have found myself wondering and waiting to have my next "fag".

It started about three weeks ago when I started getting my youngest to sleep in his cot after 2 years of co-sleeping. After about an hour I of getting him to sleep I would then go outside and have a cigerett once he had finally dropped off. Almost like 5 minutes peace and chill out. My children don't know I smoke as I never do it in front of them but I smell, I know I smell horrid, I hate It.

Before if I had been on a night out drinking I could smoke and it wouldn't bother me the next day or whatever it would just be for that night but I have now found myself unable to stop.

Once the children have gone to school or Nursery's I go out for one, if I am a at uni or work I long for one. I have had 6 today and will probably have another one later on.

I am rather fit and go to the gym 5-6 times a week and I even want one when I come out! I have noticed my throat is sore when I wake up too.

I don't feel well I ke I have have been smoking long enough to seek help from the GP and I do not like vaping. But when I do smoke I get like a break is that makes sense? I feel so disgusted in myself and feel like I have let myself down. It doesn't bother me if other people smoke at all but I feel terrible.

If you smoke can I ask you why? Is it habit? Addiction? A release? I want to quit before I get into a deep hole but do not know what to replace it with?!

All 3 I suppose. I've been a 20 a day smoker since I was 14, I'm 30 this year and really want to quit but it's so hard. I really enjoy a cig too, it relaxes me, and I'm not sure how I would ever "wind down" after a hard day without one.

Smoked since 15. Gave up fully throughout both pregnancies and this time round I didn't touch a cig for 4 weeks after, then I had a really bad day and had one and now I'm back to smoking. It's my wind down. My 5 minutes peace to myself. I enjoy it x

I started working at a proper shit job. You were allowed a 5 minute break every hour if you smoked. Stupid and unfair on the others really but I started because a girl I was always in shift with smoked too. Gave me 5 mins outside, away from losing my mind in a job I hated. I was only 17 at the time so I thought it was 'cool'.

Started smoking young (like 20 a day) and gave up when I was pregnant. Haven't smoked since and the smell makes me want to gag now. I wouldn't have stopped for any other reason tho. I could afford it (even though thinking about it now, spending £10 a week on backy makes me want to be sick!)

Quit cold turkey from 30 a day to zero 14 years ago now and I still miss it. I've had the odd spate of social smoking but have managed to not re start proper.

Why do I miss it? Smoking is bloody lovely. I miss is the 'sitting in the garden in my dressing gown with a cuppa' fag and the ' pissed as fuck' fag 😂

I've never smoked, but my parents did. Their older siblings are still around (non-smokers) and my parents are gone. Both from smoking-related cancer. Lung cancer - a long, stressful death in my mum's case because she felt the sensation of drowning for about 6 months before she died. Diazepam only just took the edge off tge constant panic attacks. Mouth and throat cancer in my dad's case. I do feel they might have lived another 10-15 quality years as they were fit otherwise. A long life isn't everything - it's how you live it too.
I can't see anything good about it - the smell, stained teeth, poor lung capacity, prematurely aged skin. Not to mention the expense that could be used for travelling or something else you love. Nicotine must contain a delusional drug, as yet undiscovered and unnamed, for people to view smoking as their friend.

The only reason people smoke is because they are addicted to nicotine.

As the drug nicotine leaves you body, you feel a genuine craving... The only way to make the feeling go, is to have a cigarette. That reinforces the positive feeling of smoking; it feels like it did something for you that was good.

The problem is, only smokers experience this feeling.

The best analogy is that it's like doing your shoes up really tight, so that you can enjoy taking them off.

The good news is that the physical withdrawal from nicotine only lasts three days. After that time, all the nicotine has left your body and any hankering for a cigarette is only in your mind (because of the aforementioned illusion).

Give up when you can.

It's a waste of money, but you know that already.

There are much more interesting drug habits if you have money to burn.

I would just add, that with the above in mind. You are just as addicted after one, as you are after 10000. You just need to understand the trap, and it's really very simple to quit.

Three days without and then you are clear forever.

I've smoked for 40 years give up often. Last time I gave up was 10 April this year. I've managed to stay stopped so far. It is delusional, your mind plays tricks, just one won't hurt etc. Feeling healthier but fatter

Completely with you OP. The sheer, complete, satisfaction and joy of smoking a cigarette is impossible to replace. Along with those things others have said. A comfy rock with a lovely view on a nice day. Leaning on a wall watching the world shoot by. Tottering along steaming hanging on to your friend with one hand and fags in the other. Lovely. I always enjoyed it and never hated myself. I vape now, it's a compromise.

@saveforthat

You sound doomed... "I've managed to stay stopped so far".

This is because you used the willpower method.

You were already quit when you didn't have a cigaratte for three days. Pat yourself on the back for quitting and get on with your life now.

Three days without and then you are clear forever

Biggest load of bollocks going.

Did you read my thread before yours where I said I'm still craving cigarettes after 14 year

I smoked because it was sociable (smoking room at work, breaks for smokers etc when I was younger); gave me a break from the children / noise at home; made me feel less stressed.

I gave up mostly because I didn't want to have to buy packs of 20. Although the illnesses/cost/smell were factors I was aware of, I was less bothered about them.

Funny what makes you quit something

Primarily due to addiction.
I enjoy it (always did, from the first one. Like the smell. Used to all but drool over the scent of smokers when temporarily smoke free for pregnancy).
Enjoy the social aspect.
And having smoked since I was 11, cannot imagine life as a non smoker.

Tbh it's mostly because I'm addicted.

Palomb.

It's all in the mind

The sooner you understand the trap, the sooner you will be free. It's embarrassingly simple.

Think about the shoe analogy.

If you do your shoes up really tight, there will be some genuine enjoyment from removing them after a long time. It's a relief.

How enjoyable is a wee when you've been hanging on for a while?

It's the same reason that cigarattes are more enjoyable after a while... After a meal, first one in the morning etc. Those are the longest periods of abstinence.

If you accept this, then you will be clear after three days. I promise.

After that time, all the nicotine has left your body and any hankering for a cigarette is only in your mind (because of the aforementioned illusion).
So you mean psychological addiction? Like that's so easy to overcome

Grandad was a 60 a day Park Drive smoker. He quit before I was born. So 30 years ago. He says on a summers day with the BBQ and a glass of whiskey he could kill for a smoke. But knows if he ever has 1 it'll turn into 60 a day again.

I can't get my head round people quitting through their pregnancy, and for a month after, then starting again.

Why?

After 10 months of not smoking, it seems so bizarre to go back to it.

Apart from when I was pregnant, I smoked 20 a day for 34 years. I bloody loved it. I finally admitted to myself that spending nearly £300 a month was ridiculous and utterly selfish. I now vape and though the first couple of weeks was hard - standing outside a pub in the first week with everyone around me smoking - I felt like grappling one of the blokes to the floor for a fag... but I didn't.

I'm 2 months in and gradually lowering the mg of nicotine. I've tried to stop many times and this is the first time I feel like I've cracked it. Everyone has commented on how much better my skin looks and I no longer have the revolting cough.

Do you not think that nicotine addicts and alcoholics might not be aware that what they doing is not good for them? In most cases it's the psychological addiction that's hard to beat and you don't beat that with some bulshit quote about shoes.

No-one can be free from "all in the mind". If only it were that simple.

I used to smoke 20 a day then gave up when I had my first child 20 years ago. Smoked intermittently between next two pregnancies.

Took it up again when my marriage failed.

They gave up 7 years ago and smoke as and when I feel like it now - prob about 5 a week - more if I drink.

I always figure we are here for a good time, not a long time.

Similarly to others, I started as a social smoker (i.e. When drunk) then I started a job where my close colleague smoked so ended up starting so we could hang out in her fag breaks. VERY stressful job so they kept me sane-ish.

Now I'm addicted (10 a day). I haven't had a drink in years but I have the occasional spliff of a weekend.

Can I ask those of you who smoke(d) do you do it in the house?
My mum is a smoker, the house stinks and my dc does not like going because she smells so bad when she leaves and it's obviously quite unpleasant when we are there.
My mum just doesn't get it and thinks we are unreasonable.

Never ever smoke in the house and never let anyone else either.

It's disgusting.

My best friend does in her house but I always go outside.

Never have, and never would.

Just watched my 58-year-old godmother die the most horrific death from lung cancer. What an absolute shite way to go, and entirely avoidable.