Remember that as your body is going through withdrawal you will experience cravings when your body needs something, as in necessities. Feel the need for a smoke? When was the last time you ate? Are you hydrated? Is it time for bed?
You got this!
this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2024
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Self Improvement
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those first cravings are some of the hardest.
i will hit 4 years free in February. among many other tactics, when i would get a hankering, one of the moves i did was look up the benefits-over-time (example) to take stock of what i had accomplished and what i could look forward to next).
i also remember reading that the desire for a drag fades away over a few minutes if one can distract oneself in the short term.
also, for the record, it gets much easier once your sense of smell+taste fully returns and you've washed all those clothes / vigorously cleaned old smoking areas.
my last year of it, i pushed myself to try and hide the habit. no smoking at work, in my car, or out in public. no more bumming from strangers even when anxious/awkward (hard!). only hidden/outside in my back porch, in the late evening and only in shitty home-only clothes about to be washed. and all lighters/papers/etc would have to be put away after. i would make myself brush my teeth / mouthwash afterward. i have no doubt all the extra rigamarole helped me finally stop for good, because jesus what a hassle.
anyway, good luck. it's one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
ty!
The biggest thing that helped me quit once upon a time was someone telling me that the chemical addiction to smoking lasts 72 hours, everything after that is habitual. If you can kick the 72 hours, the rest is in your head.
Having that information let me constantly remind myself it's bullshit habits in my head and made it significantly easier.
No idea how true. But that doesn't matter if it worked.
This and having a replacement habit for the hand to mouth action is how I got free.
Good on you!
I am trying not to start it even though I've never smoked, I feel like I need it badly every time I see someone smoke. I don't know why it attracts me so much, I keep reminding myself that it's much easier to keep away now than it will be for me to cut it in the future.
It's a garbo addiction. I've been smoking for over 10 years now and I'm a daily smoker, even though I cut back a lot (went from a pack a day down to 6 cigs a day) it just got to the point where I never felt anything anymore from smoking. Plus it kills you. I don't want to end up with a stroke or heart attack or like my dad in heart failure later on, bad enough my heart flutters a lot and I'm afraid to go to the doctor's over it.
My grandma smoked most of her life and now gets winded walking 20 feet and has to take like a dozen medications.
Inside you are two wolves, and they both love and support you. 
If you need a quick fix, chipotles in adobo or simmering roasted foods in oil can get you some smokiness.
Some paprikas are good for it too!
Here we FUCKING GO
I know it's a cliche but the beginning really is the hardest part. This December I went from inhaling as much hash as air to none at all, and honestly the first week felt like diet opioid withdrawal. Sweating, shakes, chills, nausea, crushing depression and boredom, and of course the cravings. Several times I just had to take sleeping pills to knock myself out, no shame in using whatever tools are at your disposal. You've got this, and even if you stumble it gets easier.
This is gonna suck big time but it will be worth it, if only for the extra money you will have! What did it for me were carrot sticks for the oral cravings and junk food for the pain
https://www.amazon.com/Habitrol-Nicotine-Lozenge-Flavor-Lozenges/dp/B00UO1G2AM/
These are pretty solid for quitting. They don't taste terrible like gum, last a couple hours, and work well enough.
when I quit I got a lot of mileage out of toothpicks, I think they helped
It's good to see you keep trying. Keep it up!
well done! I quit about 4 years ago and its much easier after a few days. if it gets bad just find something to chew on, gum, toothpicks, sunflower seeds, even fake smoking through a pen tube. it's so much better to have lung capacity and being able to smell and taste things
you got this
Heyo congrats!