Reset button
I had some cigarettes, felt like a loser, discouraged and so angry with myself. I decided to ‘stop feeling sorry for myself’ and wrote down why I had smoked. I was stupid enough to visit a friend that smokes, (thought I would be ok with it, in hindsight probably ‘overconfident’. Even though I didn’t smoke with her the next day I bought a pack. I remember sitting in my car outside the supermarket saying to myself “you don’t want cigarettes”. You guessed it, I came home and smoked (not the whole packet). It was like a bizarre dream, I couldn’t believe I did that. So, I’ve pressed the reset button to get back on track. Anyone else experienced this?
Hi Zen Calm. I totally agree with the sentiments of Soul & Heart. I understand where you are coming from. So easy to think we have beaten the addiction and can take our foot off the pedal. Even after nearly 5 years quit, I take notice of those who thought they were made of steel and bullet proof and erred. Having been a smoker for 45 years I must stay quit. NOPE. Suggest you find the best way to do the same.
Its an insidious problem. Is it addiction or habit?
Some of us here think that Consuming Nicotine(in any form) is what makes it so hard to give up and Quit for good.
I wonder if anyone knows how long it takes to be no longer be addicted to that NICOTINE?
Is addiction to nicotine harder to break than the habit to smoke?
before the invention to NRT products, our previous generations wouldnt need to know. Those who Quit lived happily a little longer than those who carried on smoking.
we can choose to smoke or not to smoke.
time to choose using NRT or no NRT also.
An interesting question PuffNoMore. Which is hardest to quit? While like alchohol and an alchoholic, nicotine is just as much a drug and addiction that will always be off limits to stay free of its clutches. The act of smoking is habit in a sense and habits can be broken, and stay broken and takes about 21 days. How many habits are broken over our lifetimes, from sucking a pacifier, our thumbs, biting our nails, bad etiquette, bad eating and the list goes on. Once we break them, they no longer pose a problem. It is the psychological acceptance of quitting which we have trouble dealing with. Its like giving up our security blanket we loved as a child. We are upset at first, but realize that life does go on and we do not need it. Once accepting the new reality, we go on and put it in the past. We need to do that with smoking. The correct mindset allows you to move on much easier and faster.
Forgive yourself Zen Calm as we do not get everything 100% the first try. What is important is how you feel about it. It seems you are disappointed in yourself. Good. You know you can do better and we do too. Enough said. Keep on going and achieving all the best in life.
Hi Lia, thank you for your comment. Yes, I agree with you, really finding a way that works for me. Am not giving up on myself.
Hi happiness. Agree the psychological acceptance is the one to crack. I feel that is what hit me. The physical cravings were going and I hadn’t been on the patches for weeks.
Hi puff no more. I like your comments. Especially about nrt. I had stopped the patches a few weeks ago and felt that the physical cravings had become tolerable and not as intense. The slip is over, I did try a patch and it made me worse. So, I feel I need to stop the nicotine and learn the deal with the mental stuff. As you say time to choose nrt or not to choose nrt. Thank you for your support.