You will hate yourself if you pick up even one cigarette.
I don't have a hint or a tip. I had gone seven months without a cigarette. I had had cravings but I had always gotten over them. This time in October almost 7 months to the day I had quit I decided to give in. I don't even know what made me give in. I kind of knew for days I was going to.
Hi Goodland,
7 months is an amazing achievement ! I wouldn’t beat yourself up for relapsing or slipping - whatever it was. Just get back on track if you are serious about stopping smoking. Stress is the big one really it’s the main trigger for starting up again in my own experience. Maybe write down what makes you feel stressed and then see what else you can do to bust through tough times. It’s a really hard thing to commit to for everyone. There have been many times so far in my own quit journey where I’ve been practically dying for a cigarette. Sometimes all ones reasons seem pointless but that is the nicotine demon talking not really what you want.
Hello Goodland, I agree with Cuba,.. it's not the end of the world and you can get back on track. It happens. Many of us, including myself, have had to have MANY "dress rehearsals" before it actually stuck. So set that new date and go for it again. 7 months is huge. You are now more educated about quitting. You will learn from the 7 months. Get your mindset in the right spot and quit again. You have proven that you are serious. Get back on that horse and ride again to the road of freedom. Have your last cigarette, make up your mind and quit. Just do it again is all I can suggest. Best,...
It sounds like you regret lighting up again and ruining a wonderful milestone of 7 months, but really it is not about time, it is about how you FEEL about smoking. Has this experience changed your mind on how you feel about smoking? You have shown that you have the capability of taking charge of your life again are you ready to relinquish that ?
Make up your mind that you enjoyed being a non-smoker. Wasn't that freedom wonderful? Wasn't the extra money in your pocket nice?
You felt proud of your achievement, even if it may have been just marking time.
You can do it again and make it permanent. Choose life and freedom.
Happiness, Nope, Robn and Cuba:
Thank you for your kind and wise words. I really do feel great NOT SMOKING and the bizarre part about it is that I only crave NICOMAN for moments before the craving passes. I did succeed before. I will succeed again.!
I am glad that you decided to pick up Allan Carr's book and enjoy the book while you smoke and learn where you went wrong. Never give up giving up!
This is such a great community of people. I check in here every day in the early days of giving up nicoman, and the support is incomparable. It's like a global nicotine anonymous meeting. This time I will continue to post even though the urges pass. Nicotine is the most addictive drug there is but there are no "nicotine anonymous" meetings where I am. I'll just remind myself that when I stopped checking in with this group, the old addiction reared its head. People are able to do a great deal more in a group than they are by themselves. I'll just continue to remind myself of that.
Allan Carr's book certainly changes our perceptions about smoking and quitting smoking. Thank you for recommending it and re-recommending it.