My husband is on day 64 of his indefinite smoke break, and I am very proud of him. He is managing fairly well; he still doesn’t use the word QUIT, but I did hear him say that he will not go back to smoking.
The other night he asked me if I still get cravings and I knew what he meant. We had just finished watching an episode of Shameless, and one scene had been very intense. The young actor’s face was shown in a closeup, a cigarette slightly hanging off his lips James-Dean-style when he slowly exhaled. I haven’t smoked in so long and I could almost taste it; I can just imagine how much more intense it must have been for my husband.
I find the smell of cigarettes disgusting these days, so how could the TV scene look tempting?
I felt like a fly looking at a spider net. I know the spider net is deadly, and it would be highly stupid to fly into it but for the blink of an eye, it looked beautiful and fascinating. Just a few seconds later I look at the spider net and see it for what it is, a deadly trap.
How can this be? I am smoke-free since over two years and I am happy as an ex-smoker. Then, how can it be that I get cravings like that?
Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes, sugar and pills, our demons might have a different look, but we all have one thing in common, getting our “fix” has been the central focus of our lives and we panic when we all of sudden realize, we can never have IT again. Forever and ever sounds cute in a fairy tale, but it seems like a damn long time if you have to give something up.
We take small baby steps at the beginning of our quit-journey because the thought of giving something up forever is just too overwhelming. Then one day -after weeks and months of living without the addictive substance- we realize that we can live without it and we start to think long-therm. That’s when some of us get doubts, and we feel sad about letting our “comfort” go. It seems like we are grieving and we wonder, “What is there possible to grieve about?”
Someone once said, “Grief is not about forgetting, but remembering with less pain,” and it makes so much sense to me.
I think we all react differently. For some, it seems to be so easy and for some of us, it is the fight of a lifetime. We have different demons, different personalities, different lives and different circumstances, BUT in the end…we all want to be “free” and we find our way.
Cravings are just that…cravings. The last a few seconds and poof they are gone!
Craving
I gave up nearly 2 years ago – on and off – it doesn’t tempt me, I hate the smell – but – I miss smoking! I loved smoking and miss that enjoyment but don’t understand why!
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I felt that too, but then I realized that associated smoking with some of the great memories I have.
I loved to smoke too, so I know what you mean.
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I’m sure you’re right – I associated smoking with entertaining, partying and having a sit down break – I gave up having tea breaks – couldn’t see the point in having one without a smoke! Have a good weekend 😊 x
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Congrats to you both for sticking with it! My problem is sort of the opposite. I KNOW there are things I should be doing for my health (like exercising and drinking water) and it’s a constant battle with myself to do those things. I would like to have your conviction! Maybe next week. 🙂
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I never drunk enough water. Then, I started to mix my own fruit water and loved it.
Now I drink too much (water). 🙂
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It’s good for your skin! 🙂
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‘Forever and ever sounds cute in a fairy tale, but it seems like a damn long time if you have to give something up.’
This is a fact to anyone trying to quit or rehab from anything
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Smoking isn’t my demon. Sugar is. It’s a battle I fight every day. Some days I win. Most days I don’t.
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That’s great. Keep the encouraging going
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Do you vape with or without nicotine?
I love my smoke and addiction free life, just sometimes -like yesterday- I feel a short craving that lasts for a few seconds.
I would not got back to smoking EVER.
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I hate to burst your bubble. Nicotine is an addiction, you wouldn’t vape it if it wouldn’t be. Don’t lie to yourself, you still need the fix.
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I am quit smoking blog, I don’t believe in replacement therapies. Either you quit or you don’t.
I condemn vaping as much as smoking, so you might not like what I have to say about it. Just to give you a fair warning, maybe you should come back to my blog when you are ready to quit for good???
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I stopped abot 20 years ago and for me it is no longer a theme. It does not bother me, do not even feel like lighting up again. I never really felt healthy when smoking and feel much better now, although I have other health problems. My other half seems to thrive on them, no quite perhaps, but has absolutely no problems. He is 8 years older than me. Must be in the genes I supposed. I have given up, he smokes because up to now he sees no reason not to smoke (with his 77 years). Who am I to disagree 🤐
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I am very happy that my husband quit as well. I always hoped he would but didn’t pressure him in any way.
I feel like I am reliving my own quit when I watch his right now -does that make any sense?
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I quit smoking over 25 years ago and still get cravings on occasion, though they are very rare now…
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It almost makes me smile when it happens. It’s like a memory of something that has been.
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