You cannot cheat
I had quit for 4 years, no dramas. Always knocked back the temptation, as one drunken cigarette would in reality set my smoke-free streak back to square one. I knew I couldn't cheat. But then an extended holiday saw "harmless" (in my mind) cigars consumed. That was 3 years ago. I'm currently on day 5 of my new smoke-free journey.
You cannot cheat. If you've been, say, 4 months smoke-free, one drag on a smoke sets you back to zero days.
If you never cheat, you can't relapse.
Hi tahranger. Stories like yours reinforce the fact that relapsing is just one cigarette away. I am 3 1/2 years smoke free. I think the danger after that amount of time is that somehow one can forget how addictive the habit ever was. It is reminders like yours for some of us that are so truly appreciated. Nothing like a true story... Wish you well as you move further away from day zero.
Yes, one puff is all it takes to be at square one. Been there done that. Done it twice as a a matter of fact. Not one puff ever from now on for me. Good luck Tahtanger.
Good for you for quitting again. Although my quit was easy, compared to others, I intend to keep coming here to remind me of how lucky i was, how disgusting the addiction was and of course to support others in their wise decision to quit. Its been 4 weeks today for me and although i don't crave it at all, i do think about it being on this site, and would lie if i hadn't given thought to a puff. NOPE not ONE puff ever!
Thanks for that important reminder for all of us. Good luck with your quit again. You know you can do it.