Not everyone

[Naniinoneya]

I just want to put out there as my own personal experience. When I did my 3 months without a cigarette I had no withdrawals whatsoever and I want to remind you that I smoked for 20 plus years. I emphasize this because they tell you how difficult the withdrawals may  be and often scare people off or build them with concern and anxiety. I feel that from my experience that proves that not everyone will have those reactions so don't be so afraid give yourself the opportunity. I agree some people may have those withdrawals but don't let it be your fear to not quit because it does not I repeat does not happen to everyone the same way.

[indingrl]

Thanks for sharing YOUR experience strength and HOPE- gentle hug.

[Mandolinrain]

I hear you. I have a good friend that used to smoke and she said the same thing for her when she quit. I was pretty jealous. We both smoked about the same yet she barley craved or had ANY craves EVER. So your 100% correct. I'm just glad that phase of my quit is long over , as I never wanna go through that again, ever!

I would like to add that MOST folks do have craves and it truly is extremely hard for them to quit. I was one of those. I have also HEARD that folks who dont understand the addiction, the 'whys' of how they became addicted , often fall back and smoke at a later date. I am not one to gamble with that option, so learning about it was the BEST WAY FOR ME. 

[YoungAtHeart]

Thanks for sharing your experience.  We have a saying around here:  "Take what you need and leave the rest."    We can't possibly know everyone's background and experience; we just share our truths as we know them.

Nancy

[Naniinoneya]

Correct MY experience... But not to make light of anyone else's, just sharing that it does not work the same for all... Thank u as well oX

[Naniinoneya]

Correct we just can share our experience and hope that others CAN relate does not mean all do... I am trying this at a level that can work for me and sharing my experience and hopes to help others that are similar to me. And though there may be different experiences and outcomes we are all here trying to do the same thing.something that might work for someone else that does not work for me might still work for someone like them right... Sharing is caring  

[Naniinoneya]

Im proud to know someone with such strength God bless u on your journey. We can do this!!!

[sweetplt]

If you had no withdrawals why did you go back to smoking ? A choice ? Colleen 146 DOF 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

there are two kinds of withdrawal. Physical; and psychological.

I know nothing about your 3 month quit as to if you were using anything or went cold turkey but, unlearning smoking is a heck of a lot more time consuming than getting off nicotine.

[elvan]

I did not use anything, any NRT's but I did not go through a physical withdrawal unless it happened when I was so sick that I didn't notice it.  The psychological part of the journey was challenging to me but after more than five years of freedom, I would tell ANYONE, that it was worth every step.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

[Naniinoneya]

It was definitely a choice... Bad but choice... I was doing great not even thinking about it... And I had a long road trip I was in family drama and I ignorantly told myself Just smoke one or two on the ride 3months after being clean of any... A regret I am now determined to fix... Just because someone does not go through withdrawals does not mean that they themselves can't choose to go backwards. It may be a stupid decision but it happens it doesn't always have to be that you were craving it or that your body felt it needed it sometimes it's just you telling yourself one won't hurt. I mean if I did three months and I didn't even think about it as much as I thought I would why would one hurt. Yes in the beginning I guess you could say as they call it psychological withdrawal I kept feeling like I needed something in between my fingers not quite the cigarette just a habit of my fingers so for about 2 weeks I carried around a tube in the shape of a cigarette and I blew air in and out of it. After breaking that finger habit I didn't think about my hands so much anymore. what I say about no withdrawals I guess since it's necessary to make it clear is I wasn't sick to my stomach I wasn't in dire need of smoking a cigarette it was a lot easier in that moment then what I had anticipated again that doesn't mean it goes that way for everyone but in my case I felt relieved that I did not go through that extent of withdrawals. Hope that explains enough for you... Just a plain ol bad choice... 

[Naniinoneya]

Cold turkey... And you are correct... That is my point in it simply being different for everyone. Some are more able and some struggle more... But I continue to say it is possible... We can do this... Regardless

[Naniinoneya]

What was it like psychologically if I may ask Elvan

[elvan]

I had smoked for 47 years and I had stuffed all of my feelings into cigarettes so I was emotionally stunted.  I did not think it was acceptable to feel anger or sadness or stress, I did not think I could handle grief without the aide of nicotine.  I had more than one quit that I lost...not because of the physical withdrawal but always because I felt like I was consumed with thoughts of smoking.  I was convinced that those thoughts would never end and that I was never going to be able to handle life on life's terms.  It clearly took me a very long time to quit...I did a LOT of damage to my poor body and now I am reminded of it every day when I cannot catch my breath, when I am so tired that I cannot possibly explain it because I really did not do that much.  COPD steals your breath and your energy and eventually, your life.  I blamed myself for a long time for smoking, for the time I stole from my kids when I would leave the house to go smoke, for the time that will be stolen from them because my life expectancy has been dramatically reduced.  I have learned to forgive myself and to forgive others who still smoke.  I had to learn that feeling angry was absolutely normal, that feeling sad is normal, stress is normal, grief is normal.  Even happiness was difficult to accept, I felt I needed a cigarette to reward myself whenever I completed a difficult task.  THAT was all part of my psychological withdrawal.  It was worth every uncomfortable moment, every second that I thought I could not survive without a cigarette.  The truth is that I could not survive WITH one.

Best,

Ellen

[Brenda_M]

I'd imagine the ability to say, "Well, since that wasn't so bad, I can just quit another time" could be enticing in the right moment. I think it might even be easier to go back to smoking when you have an easier time with the withdrawals, than without. Though, the thing is, that it doesn't just vary person-to-person. It varies quit-to-quit. I've had quits that went so well and quits that made me want to hide forever and plenty in between. I was a serious serial quitter!