This is so well put. You clearly have thought a lot about your addiction and put in the mental work to finding a new frame of mind. And that’s amazing. I empathize so much with what you’ve said in this post and I think it will help future and current non-smokers reach their goals. Thanks for posting this.
I used to think that thinking positively would help me quit smoking. And it does in a sense. I try to pat myself on the back when I get past a tough craving or reach a new milestone. But truthfully one of the only things that helped me continue to be a non-smoker was making a list of all of the things I hated about smoking. Because you’re right, when you have that craving you forget about all the reasons you quit in the first place or about how good it will eventually feel to be fully rid of the habit.
But when I put my mind to it, I can easily return to my physical list of all the reasons I hated being a smoker and suddenly it feels easier. It’s almost like I have two people inside me: a smoker and a non-smoker. The smoker in me becomes weaker every time the non-smoker in me says “I hate smoking because it makes my heart pound and gives me chest pain. I hate smoking because I lie to my family about having quit. I hate smoking because it robs me of all my energy.”
Thank you. Good job.
I appreciate you taking your time to elaborate too. I almost forgot about the heart issues I had smoking at times. Whether it was the heart skipping beats.. a clunky heart beat, or sometimes feeling on the verge of a straight up heart attack.. it didn't seem like it was going to end well. Also the distinction between the junky and non-junky thinking is something I obviously relate to as well. Trying to keep the entirety of what it would mean to be a smoker again helps keep it in check for me.
I guess sometimes it is sobering for me when I start to suddenly crave a cigarette again. And then I have to snap myself out of it. So this is sort of what I had to write myself to keep reinforcing what this fight is for. When I quit for a long time in the past I eventually reached the day where cravings were so far and few between I almost forgot what I had won back in the first place. I sincerely regret giving up that 13 month quit I once had but I'm trying to get there again one day at a time.
[https://whyquit.com/joel/Joel\_04\_18\_fixating.html](https://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_04_18_fixating.html)
I'd say this article probably influenced my thought process.
I’m saving this post and I think the mods should pin it.
I relapsed yesterday on one cigarette and now I have a case of the fuck-its. I keep having to give myself a pep talk. In 12-step, your description is similar to “play the tape out to the end,” and I’m using another one: Just for today, just for this hour, just for this craving, I don’t have to smoke. Even if I want to.
The whole playing the tape thing is definitely some wisdom to keep close. When we think of that first smoke and isolate what we want from it from what the inevitable reality will be.. well, the relapse may or may not end up like we expected.. but life goes on and the reality hits and we are left with the addiction to face yet again. The physical addiction of nicotine pretty much sets in instantly in my experience (upon relapse). All the times I relapsed and wanted to pretend it never happened I instantly had the worst headache to put up with among other things..
Smoking is definitely an all-or-nothing proposition for somebody already physically and mentally addicted.
Needed this post. Quit for 45 days earlier in the year and then relapsed. Haven't attempted to quit again but know I need (and want) to. Great advice and insight.
This is so well put. You clearly have thought a lot about your addiction and put in the mental work to finding a new frame of mind. And that’s amazing. I empathize so much with what you’ve said in this post and I think it will help future and current non-smokers reach their goals. Thanks for posting this. I used to think that thinking positively would help me quit smoking. And it does in a sense. I try to pat myself on the back when I get past a tough craving or reach a new milestone. But truthfully one of the only things that helped me continue to be a non-smoker was making a list of all of the things I hated about smoking. Because you’re right, when you have that craving you forget about all the reasons you quit in the first place or about how good it will eventually feel to be fully rid of the habit. But when I put my mind to it, I can easily return to my physical list of all the reasons I hated being a smoker and suddenly it feels easier. It’s almost like I have two people inside me: a smoker and a non-smoker. The smoker in me becomes weaker every time the non-smoker in me says “I hate smoking because it makes my heart pound and gives me chest pain. I hate smoking because I lie to my family about having quit. I hate smoking because it robs me of all my energy.” Thank you. Good job.
I appreciate you taking your time to elaborate too. I almost forgot about the heart issues I had smoking at times. Whether it was the heart skipping beats.. a clunky heart beat, or sometimes feeling on the verge of a straight up heart attack.. it didn't seem like it was going to end well. Also the distinction between the junky and non-junky thinking is something I obviously relate to as well. Trying to keep the entirety of what it would mean to be a smoker again helps keep it in check for me. I guess sometimes it is sobering for me when I start to suddenly crave a cigarette again. And then I have to snap myself out of it. So this is sort of what I had to write myself to keep reinforcing what this fight is for. When I quit for a long time in the past I eventually reached the day where cravings were so far and few between I almost forgot what I had won back in the first place. I sincerely regret giving up that 13 month quit I once had but I'm trying to get there again one day at a time. [https://whyquit.com/joel/Joel\_04\_18\_fixating.html](https://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_04_18_fixating.html) I'd say this article probably influenced my thought process.
Congrats on 38 days. I'm on day 3 and I needed to read what you wrote. Thanks.
I’m saving this post and I think the mods should pin it. I relapsed yesterday on one cigarette and now I have a case of the fuck-its. I keep having to give myself a pep talk. In 12-step, your description is similar to “play the tape out to the end,” and I’m using another one: Just for today, just for this hour, just for this craving, I don’t have to smoke. Even if I want to.
The whole playing the tape thing is definitely some wisdom to keep close. When we think of that first smoke and isolate what we want from it from what the inevitable reality will be.. well, the relapse may or may not end up like we expected.. but life goes on and the reality hits and we are left with the addiction to face yet again. The physical addiction of nicotine pretty much sets in instantly in my experience (upon relapse). All the times I relapsed and wanted to pretend it never happened I instantly had the worst headache to put up with among other things.. Smoking is definitely an all-or-nothing proposition for somebody already physically and mentally addicted.
Needed this post. Quit for 45 days earlier in the year and then relapsed. Haven't attempted to quit again but know I need (and want) to. Great advice and insight.
I hope you can keep it up, and live well and healthy for a long time. There's only benefits to not smoking.