Relapses after long quits?

[Mysticcat]

So I have a question. Why do you suppose long time quitters relapse? What makes them take that 1st puff? I’ve heard of people with 10-15-20 years quit relapsing.  I mean right now I would never consider smoking. The thought of is completely gone. But Can addiction be triggered so easily? Why can it be triggered so easily? 

[PastTense]

Only speaking for myself here;  I threw away a solid quit with JUST ONE.

"JustOne" is the most dangerous cigarette out there.  It's never, ever JUST one.  Eventually, there will be another.

Again, speaking only for myself; the key ingredient to picking up JUST ONE was opportunity.  The cigarette was a available and I found a way to justify it ("just one won't hurt me").  A month later I had another "just one".  Then I started seeing opportunity everywhere and BAM; another good quit bites the dust.

I think it's possible that when you get some distance from your quit, you forget how awful it was going through it.

Keep the quit

PT

[Cyn7077]

I quit for 10 years . Hit a stress point , fell into a huge depression . I hated doing it , have lots of regrets now . I know I can quit this time . I not only want to , but for health reasons , I have to . I will succeed .

[sweetplt]

I am not sure.  I think everyone is different...Except with all of us who quit an addiction, we must always be vigilant.  The reason we say, “we are one cigarette away from a pack”...NOPE has to be the motto...Mysticcat it is a great question and I look forward to other responses...Happy Friday ~ Colleen 410 DOF 

[Barbscloud]

Many of us have not changed a mindset when we quit and felt like we were sacrificing something.   When stress hits, that might be easier said than done.

Barb

[Sootie]

I agree with Barbscloud‌

I am now 10 years quit and I don't worry about EVER smoking again...depressed, happy, stressed.....whatever. But this is because of the mindset I have now about smoking/quitting. 

In my first long quit.....I blew it after 13 years because of exactly what Barb said.......I felt sorry for myself for 13 years and I felt "jealous" of people who were still smoking.....why weren't they worried? So----even though it was a long quit...it was doomed.

It is the mindset. If you feel sorry about quitting.....if you feel you are missing something.....if you let yourself romanticize what it was REALLY like to smoke......then you are in danger of relapse. If you stay honest...true to your quit...remember honestly how much you always wished you were not a smoker.....your quit will be a forever quit.

Stay Strong

[YoungAtHeart]

Drinking alcohol!  It reduces your ability to think clearly and can make that "just one" seem like an OK idea.

[Mysticcat]

Good point. I do you remember when I was single and I would go out socially drink and smoke.  Waking up with the smokers hangover was the worst; heavy lungs and nicotine breath ugh! Yet I’d do it over and over I can’t see myself doing that again. 

[green1611]

Spot on.

Good to avoid alcohol consumption...if at all..want to consume alcohol, not to mingle with smokers.

[Pookweencess]

This is SO TRUE I almost lost my 6 month quit last week because I had just enough alcohol to make me  want to smoke.  I went through my house searching for that just one thankfully did not find it and could not drive because I don’t drink and drive.  It was a big wake up call.  I thought I was ready to enjoy some wine safely apparently not so alcohol is off my table right now.