Readers Respond: Do You Think You'll Always Miss Smoking?

At the same time, we hate smoking, and we worry about what it is doing to our health. Is it any wonder that long-term smokers often develop anxiety issues?

If You Want to Change Your Life, Change Your Mind

Do the work to change what cigarettes mean to you and you will gain the permanent, true freedom from nicotine addiction you seek.

What Do You Think?

A Bit, But Cravings are Easy to Control

Mark Twain said quitting smoking is easy, I've done it a thousand times. Maybe I didn't quit a thousand times but I'll bet it was close. Tried every method known. Ended up in the hospital with blood pressure near maxed out. Probably genetic for the BP, but they said I would have to quit. Well, I didn't like being in the hospital for four days while they got the BP down. Cardiologist said I am lucky I have a good heart and didn't spring any leaks (stroke), but I had to quit. I made up my mind to do it and I believe the meds they had me on in the hospital to keep the BP down helped. Finally, success, so far. It has been nearly six years now without a cigarette. Yes, I still miss smoking, but the craving is easy to control. I enjoyed smoking the 30 years or so I smoked (less countless quits). Quitting was an agony, especially if I sneaked one. I will never smoke again, no withdrawal 4 me. Also, 5yrs free I M amazed how bad smokers smell 30 minutes after they butted out!

—Guest Roebear

Done with the Slavery at Last

Everytime i lit up a cig i wished to god i could quit. So everytime now as a non smoker i get a fleeting thought of wanting to light up, i remind myself how much i hated it really when i did smoke! I also hated the stigma and embarrassment of being a filthy smoker, all of my friends either quit or were non smokers and i started to feel very disgusted and ashamed with my filthy habit. I've been quit 2 months now and its the best thing i ever did. The hard work and determination was definitely worth it and i don't have to spend my whole life planning my next cig, it ruined so many what should have been enjoyable times having to nip out for my drug addiction and relieve my nicotine withdrawal. Do glad all of that's over with, phew!!!!

—Guest susiesue

Heck No We Won't Go!

Well let me put it this way - I am one week sober from that disgusting filthy drug...I want it but I simply don't need it and don't feel the anxiety much anymore however my chest does give me minor ache and discomfort off and on I was told however this is my body cleaning and restoring itself - is this true? And also, if so how long did it take everyone for there symptoms to dissipate? Just curious of everyone else's experiences I am one week and counting staying strong god bless all of you :)

—Guest One day at a time

No!

No! When I first began my journey to freedom from the killer drug nicotine I did think I would always miss smoking. I've been a non smoker for a little over five years now and I was about four months into my non-smoking journey when I realized that I didn't miss it anymore. I wasn't thinking about it every day the way I did in the beginning. Oh, the freedom from smoking is so very wonderful. I enjoy everything in life so much more than I did when I was addicted and a slave to cigarettes. I will never ever again smoke. I am 100% sure of that!

—Nahn

Thank you

Reading this just made me feel a lot better about my chances of quitting. I haven't smoked in exactly 7 days, minus 1 hour. I want one so bad but I don't want to start the process over again. I feel like I'd never quit if I smoke just one more. So thank you for this answer. It put my mind a little more at ease.

—Guest Bobby

No More Cigarettes!

I've been a smoker for 14 years, sadly I also started young as some on the forum. I'm 27 now and a multiple time quitter. I have failed at all the attempts I've taken so far and now I've gone just days so far without cigs or any form of nrt after about the third day and I think I've got it! I decided the nicotine gum is just a way to replace one addiction for another and realized that's where I usually failed in the past when it came to quitting. Although most smokers would agree that quitting has a ton of physiological effects, addiction is mainly a disease of the mind. My mind is made up.

—Guest Ladali

No Way

I quit 9 days ago and instead of freezing outside trying to choke down a smoke and stinking I'm cuddling on the couch, snuggling my 5 year old and warming in front of a lovely fire. I do have terrible cravings from time to time but this is NOT the same as wanting to smoke! I never want to light up again and I definitely don't and will never miss smoking. It ruled my life for too long and simply doesn't fit into my life any more! Thanks to all of you who are helping me and telling your stories!

—Guest Happy Mom

About Time

I made the decision months ago that I was quitting by the new year. The night before new years I quit. It's been 5 days and so far so good. I have my triggers... food, driving, telephone. So I have limited all these things. I text instead of talking, and eat reallly slow. I keep finding myself wanting to bite my nails but have yet to do so. It sucks that you get rid of one addiction and just replace it. My mother died of lung cancer and so did all four of my grandparents. I refuse to let cancer get me. I am 29. The things that led up to me quitting... no one wanting to date me because of it, the nasty smell on everything, the cost is so high, and the worst part maybe the idea of dying because of it.

—Guest Lilly

Psychological Attitude

Telling yourself "I want one, and I CAN'T HAVE ONE" gives you a sense of deprivation - you feel DEPRIVED of something you WANT. Instead, tell yourself "I CAN have one... but I DON'T WANT one!" It's the slight difference in the two attitudes that makes the big difference in your successful quit.

—Guest MarkD

I Hope Not!

I hope not! I hope this feeling doesn't last forever, in fact I hope I never WANT another cigarette ever. Smoke free for 8 days after a 30 year smoking history. One minute,one day at a time is getting me through so far, trying not to think to much into the future focusing on the here and now.

—Guest quittersalwayswin

Feeling Healthy

It's been almost a year and I'm really chuffed I've gone this far. My partner still smokes but instead of envying her I now feel sorry for her. What helps is finding an alternative like getting fit and going to the gym. Seriously, it works. I'm 42 and I can't remember feeling this healthy before. Good luck.

—Guest Deano

Not Likely

I just want help everyone I can to quit. It's been two month for me. I was told I had lung cancer -- thank god they where wrong. I cant even begin to tell you how it feels when someone tells you are going to lose your right lung at best. You don't even want to go there, trust me. Quit NOW! I am very lucky to get a second chance. I HOPE everyone will LISTEN THANKS WE CAN BEAT THEM TOGETHER.

—Guest Tim

Find Your Motivation

Six weeks and one day smoke free for me. It's been hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. Difficult to explain. My doctor really motivated me when she said she wouldn't want to see me on oxygen some day. I could see that happening too. Someone else on this forum said exactly what I've been saying, that smoking again is not an option

—Guest Guest

In Bits and Pieces

I quit in February after smoking for 28 years. It was one of the hardest things ever. However, I can now say that I don't have the urge to smoke on a daily basis anymore. The time that I I think about wanting one is after doing some sort of project at home. If I were to organize all my closets today (which ain't happening) I would probably think about wanting a cigarette upon completing the task. It is not intense enough to act on though. Also, a couple weeks ago, my husband and I went out to the bars. It's not the drinking that made me want one because I have a few at home on the weekends. It was because I probably haven't gone out to bars in months so I haven't had a chance to deal with that situation yet. It wasn't that I really wanted one, it was that for a second or two, I forgot I quit. I shook it off and didn't act on it. I still had a good time. Also, I'd like to mention that I didn't wake up the next morning with the smoker's hangover.

—Michelle.quit

I Am Done

I had been smoking for 13 years and this is my 2nd month after I quit. It realy feels great not be a slave of cigarettes. Kudos to all on the forum for your help. It really helped at times when I felt the urge to light up.

—Guest hussain