Holiday Quitting- Staying Quit
My husband and I quit on a long family holiday - One Month and 2 days quit. We started smoking again 5 years ago after being quit 10 years. Yep - one smoke and I was hooked again. We hide it from our teenagers. 2 packets of 20 a day. We quit on a long overseas holiday - it was relatively easy on vacation- away from stress and routine. But we got back 2 days ago and it's hard and cravings are strong. My mind is playing games on me - I drove to a supermarket to buy a packet and turned around without them. When will it feel better? Why am I thinking about it so much again !?!? When did every one get to the point where it isn't always on their minds? I guess I'm just coming here looking for shared experiences.
Hi and welcome back @Istaysee 👋
Coming home is often way harder than quitting on holiday because all the old routines and triggers come rushing back. What you’re feeling is completely normal and it does get easier.
The fact you drove to the supermarket, felt the urge and still walked away without buying a pack is a huge win. That’s getting stronger not weaker.
Most people on here say that the cravings and constant thinking start to settle again over the next couple of weeks as your brain relearns your “home routine” without cigarettes.
You’re just in a tough patch that almost everyone hits after a big routine change. Keep doing what you’re doing, take it one urge at a time and please keep checking in with us.
Community Guru
Perhaps instead of thinking about why you might always have the craving on your mind, push it away and think about the positives of being quit those many years. Remember how nice it was to have the extra money, not to worry about where you could have your next fix (remembering it is an ADDICTION AND YOU ARE THEREFORE AN ADDICT ALBEIT A LEGAL ONE. Remember how much of a slave you were to it, having a smoke before, during and after each task and telling ourselves that it was a reward rather than facing the truth that we were too intimidated and weak to fight it.
Congrats to you and your partner for regaining the courage and for wanting to set a better example for your teens. You did it once, find the right mindset and do it again.
