Stay on icanquit
Having spoken over the years to smokers that have started again after long quits there seems to be two triggers. One is a traumatic event and the other is " it was offered so I took it "
For me it seems that I will always have the propensity to nicotine addiction but one day at a time I am not indulging. This seems to work. I also make sure I stay close here on icanquit even though I may not contribute daily.
The early days weeks and months were trials and tribulations and painful but not fatal.
Dobbin, you really are the patriarch of this site. Well done, I have an immense amount of respect for you.
Just 1 day at a time ,
letting go of the comfortable (unhealthy) lifestyle we once had,
The doable....is achievable.
So now its all about maintenance on our great achievement.
"one day at a time I am not indulging." - well said! I am just very weary of that 'dramatic event' day. Worried, in advance..
Hey Dobbin,
I don't want to smoke again but I know it would be so easy to start. I actually had a series of the most traumatic events of my life a few months after quitting smoking. Since all my chips were down at that time, the thought of succeeding and continuing to stay off nicotine and cigarettes gave me some self worth. So, my story is about quitting smoking through a crisis. I know that if left to my own devices I would be able to find any excuse for a cigarette. One of the detractors in my trauma tried to falsely convince me that I am a person who likes to play the victim which I found out through discovery to be so untrue. Someone playing the victim will go back to smoking and blame others for doing it. I've only got myself to blame if I pick up that first cigarette. Thats because I am now a mature adult
Ive previously given up for a good length of time on 3 occasions. The first time was just over 6 months. I quit smoking because I needed an op and the surgeon said 6 months smoke free and I will operate. I did and he did, I also took a packet of cigs to hospital with me. Second time I gave up was over 2 years, then I started a relationship with a smoker. Third time was around the 5 months time frame and I had been deliberately anti-social to avoid the usual triggers. So I went to a BBQ party. there were smokers, I had a couple and bought a packet on the drive home.
Basically the siren song of nicotine will always be with us. 1 cigarette is 1 too many for us. Although I will probably always enjoy standing down wind of smokers like I used to in my smoke free days