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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you smoke cigarettes?

117 replies

monroeagogo · 14/02/2022 22:51

I'm an ex smoker. Been 20 years. Get a craving now and then but wondered how many people still smoke?

So, do you smoke?
If yes, how many?
Why don't you stop?

OP posts:
MuchTooTired · 15/02/2022 07:06

I’ve smoked pretty much for the last 20 years. Gave up for ivf and my pregnancy, restarted when my DTs were about 8 weeks as I was so exhausted I thought I was going to die and wanted to.

I gave up 4 months ago, had a relapse of a couple weeks and am now on day 5 of just vaping.

I smoked about 10-12 roll ups a day, and quit due to health concerns. I don’t want to stop smoking (I love it, the smell, the time out from the day, the stress relief etc) but I love my kids more and don’t want to die earlier than I have to due to smoking.

(The above is zero judgement on anyone who smokes btw, there’s growing family and personal medical shit going on which just isn’t compatible with smoking! I’d still smoke if I could).

JustBlethering · 15/02/2022 07:12

I smoked from teenage years until I was 25, I was up to over 20 a day sometimes.
I started smoking briefly again when we were buying our first house and planning our wedding but only for a few weeks.
Occasionally had a menthol when drinking after that.
Haven't had a cigarette for a few years now, I think it would actually make me vomit if I tried plus I'm still breastfeeding my youngest so wouldn't anyway.

My dad died of lung cancer in December 2019 and it's truly an awful death, I'd really encourage anyone to stop. Think about how your kids will feel watching you die well before your time.
I know it's hard to stop Thanks

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 15/02/2022 07:14

I started smoking at 11 😳😳 (I would go apeshit if one of mine smoked at that age!!) finally quit 8 years ago with a vape. I still have my vape now and my mum and sister followed me and both vape too.

I would never go back to smoking. The smell makes me feel sick and they are so expensive now.

I can't think of anyone irl that still smokes.

ivykaty44 · 15/02/2022 07:19

I used to smoke, not many

I stopped in 2007

Don’t miss it, not had urges to smoke again. I went cold Turkey & joined a gym. List weight & got fit, hav the looked back

dudsville · 15/02/2022 07:30

I started at 13 Sad. I've taken year-long breaks several times, I've taken months off, many a day and a few weeks, and I've always been a light smoker, usually only a few of an evening, not during the day, etc, but it still adds up to a lot and it's something I'm embarrassed about in my mind it's adolescent behaviour. I've never had a cough or struggled with breathing, cancers don't run in my family, and I enjoyed it, so motivating to quit properly had been non existent. BUT I quit yesterday. I haven't told anyone because I also quit for a lot of the pandemic, though I always said that was temporary I don't want to seem wishy washy. Because of the nature of my routine it's likely no one with ever know I stopped, purple were always surprised to hear that I did, apparently I don't "look like a smoker". I don't know what that means but apart from my hair I'm told I look young for my age. So I'm quietly giving up, just for myself.

ClariceQuiff · 15/02/2022 07:34

Yes - I roll my own and smoke up to 20 a day.

I don't stop because I enjoy smoking.

purple were always surprised to hear that I did, apparently I don't "look like a smoker"

I get told this all the time. I've always been a social-distancer (long before Coronavirus) so I guess no one gets close enough to smell it on me.

PotatoGoblins · 15/02/2022 07:37

Yes I do.
I’d say 7 or 8 roll ups a day.
I could stop quite easily - I stopped without any trouble each time I fell pregnant. I just don’t want to stop now. I enjoy smoking. It’s 5 mins outside, on my own to gather myself.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/02/2022 10:43

I think a big part of the 'craving' is the ritual of rolling and smoking, more so than the nicotine sometimes, which is why the vape/inhalator doesn't always scratch the itch

Also the hand/mouth action thing, which is why - although it doesn't suit everyone - vaping works for many of us

And I know what you mean about the enhanced taste/smell, @Andouillette, but don't worry about it being a bit much. It'll soon settle down and what you've got now will become your "new normal"

Ohmnomnom · 15/02/2022 10:51

I like the odd joint. I never got the point of smoking only nicotine as it doesn't really change how you feel. A glass of wine or joint will alter how you feel quite a bit. Is it more a habit thing than actually feeling different after a fag?

mjf981 · 15/02/2022 10:53

Aside from the odd drunken teenage cigaretts, I've never smoked regularly and am happy about it. I know very few people here in Australia who smoke, and none of my friends do. Maybe due to the extortionate cost of cigarettes. It does appear to be rapidly dying out in the western world anyway which is only a good thing. I can't bear the smell.

UnsuitableHat · 15/02/2022 10:58

I smoke very occasionally but am put off by the cost and the fact that not many other people do it nowadays. Guess any reason not to do it is a good one.

Wlifebalance · 15/02/2022 11:06

Yep i do gave up cold turkey twice for both pregnancies but always started again mainly to shift the weight but then can't stop. Plus DH smokes so it made me want one. I hate the smell of it but I cant stop. I feel it incentifies my day. Clean bathroom/ bedrooms do a load and then I get a cig. I definitely use as a reward and it breaks up my work day. So all in all I probably have about 8 a day. When I gave up I was miserable.

LaBellina · 15/02/2022 11:22

Yup I used to smoke for years. Up to 30 cigarettes per day during stressful days.

So happy I quit, it wasn’t easy but I’m glad I did it. I quit cold turkey. At the same moment (I decided to do all the suffering at once) I blocked my ex that I was in a very toxic unofficial relationship with after we had broken up already and started with a diet to lose 10 kgs. It was hard but I managed to stay away from my ex and cigarettes and lose all the weight as well.

MaxCrashtappen · 15/02/2022 11:26

I smoked from 16 to 39. I loved smoking for a long time until I didn't anymore. I hated "having" to smoke. Plus I knew that statistically if I were a smoker at 40 i would more than like my be a smoker at 50. I stopped after going in an Allen carr course and that was 12 years ago.

Tomeeornottomee · 15/02/2022 12:02

Started smoking as a teenager but I gave up a couple of years ago. Lasted for 6 months. Got pissed one night at beginning of lockdown and went and bought a packet of cigs... took me straight back to smoking a pack of 20 over 2 days.
New Years resolution was given up again. I got myself a vape pen and smoked my last cigarette on 4th jan. the vape pen has helped but I’m still craving a proper smoke... I’m determined this time but it is hard and I wish I had never started smoking 😞

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 15/02/2022 12:04

No.
Never have beyond a couple at high school parties.

LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee · 15/02/2022 12:27

3-5 a day and no motivation to stop even though I know I should. I hide it from the DC (7yo) and realistically I won’t be able to hide it for much longer so I know my smoking days are counted.
I don’t really drink though.

blyn72 · 15/02/2022 12:47

Lovely, 3-5 a day is not much at all so don't worry about it. When I smoked, I smoked quite a lot and am glad I gave up but wouldn't have, had I only smoked three a day.

thisplaceisweird · 15/02/2022 12:49

Smoking is becoming fashionable again.

I have about 5 a year socially.

AryaStarkWolf · 15/02/2022 12:50

I'm off them 6 weeks, hopefully this will be the time I stay off them!

AryaStarkWolf · 15/02/2022 12:52

@Tomeeornottomee

Started smoking as a teenager but I gave up a couple of years ago. Lasted for 6 months. Got pissed one night at beginning of lockdown and went and bought a packet of cigs... took me straight back to smoking a pack of 20 over 2 days. New Years resolution was given up again. I got myself a vape pen and smoked my last cigarette on 4th jan. the vape pen has helped but I’m still craving a proper smoke... I’m determined this time but it is hard and I wish I had never started smoking 😞
I tried with a Vape last time and I never felt properly off them because of it. I'm gone cold turkey this time and I think it's the best option for me if I want to stay off them (I hope)!
Whammyyammy · 15/02/2022 12:53

I've been stopped many year's, saw a lighter on the kitchen side last weekend (oh had used to light a candle) and thought "I'll go for a cigarette in a minute" ????

Bran21 · 15/02/2022 12:57

Stopped smoking 12 years ago. If I walk past someone smoking I love the smell. Always feel one day I'll give in and start again even after all this time even though I've never even had a puff in all that time.

MrsMiddleMother · 15/02/2022 13:15

Yes I do, one night when the kids are in bed. I gave up just before and during both pregnancies and then started again. It's my little 5 mins relief, noone other than my husband knows though. Everyone else thinks I quit for good years ago

PaulRuddsWife · 15/02/2022 13:33

Smoked since I was 14 on and off (I'm now mid forties). Even during the times I'd given up, I couldn't have a drink with mouth wanting a cigarette.

Switched to vaping about 3 years ago and haven't had a cigarette since and even prefer it to smoking. The only problem is that I vape much more than I ever smoked but can't seem to give vaping up (much as I'd love to).

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