Post #460197 by tiki mick on Mon, Jun 8, 2009 2:22 PM

The ironic, horrible thing about this is that it is the second time I am doing this.

In 2000, I quit after many, many years of chain smoking. I went all the way from 2000 to 2007 just fine, no cheating, no back sliding.

Then in 2007 (don't laugh!) I went to Vegas for the first time! Well, walking the strip one night, and drinking in every casino I could find, I passed by a cigar stand and I don't know what possessed me, but I bought an expensive cigar and smoked it.

What a disaster! The very NEXT day I went and bought a pack of cigs, and it was like I had never quit. I was totally and immediately hooked again.

Imagine that! I went through all the mental changes during those 7 years, to the point where I actually could not remember smoking anymore, what it felt like, the desire, the allure....I had gotten to the point where I was cured 100% and then totally blew it!

I learned an important point: You can't go back. Once you are done, you are done and cannot cheat, or dabble, or anything. Once an addict, always an addict, and once you quit it has to be forever.

So, exactly 75 days ago I came to the conclusion that I was a smoker again, no and if's or butts (Pardon the pun!) about it, and decided to try and quit again.

This time I am learning from past experience. There is no "safe" time. You can't have a puff 4 years from now and think it won't be any big thing. It will, and you will be hooked again.

I don't want to go through this again. Quitting is hard and unpleasant. It's like you have the hayfever and anxiety at the same time, x100. It's like having an arm chopped off, a crutch taken way...never to be replaced.

But if you go long enough, the cravings come slower and are quicker to pass. At first, it's like every 5 minutes. But they start coming slower and slower, and as long as you can make it through each craving without caving in, then you are good to go!

One thing that helped the first week was that I drank up to a gallon of water a day, and tried to go to bed and sleep as much as possible. Less time awake = less time you are awake and craving (or actually smoking).

The first 24 hours are actually not too bad! There is a pleasant, light headed feeling (That's your circulation improving and the carbon monoxide leaving your system) but the 3rd day until about the end of the first month is the hardest part. Steel yourself for that: You will be in for a rough ride, but it does get better!!