Once a smoker, always a smoker?

[CarbonDate]

Two years ago I kicked a ten year, pack a day smoking habit. Today I've suddenly come down with some severe nicotine fits. I'm literally shaking at points.

I know they say it never completely goes away, but should it be this severe after two years?

[Esra Star]

1. It will pass. You have made it out of the woods well and truly.

I guess you are just having temporary aftershocks.
Just don't go near a cigarette. You worked too hard.
Don't blow it.

[querelle]

2. I Quit Eleven Years Ago

And I still get the odd craving when I'm stressed or around other smokers in social situations. I just try to do something that takes my mind off of it. Also, since smoking is becoming rare in bars, restaurants, people's homes, etc. it's much easier now than it was when I quit. Less temptation.

Don't throw two years of hard work away for a craving that will pass soon. It's truly not worth it.

Good luck!

Q

[zanne]

3. You might want a cigarette right now, but...

You don't need one. You're no longer physically addicted. It might help if you tell yourself that.

[Beausoir]

4. I quit for 12 years. And...started again last Fall. Very bad.

It never goes away. And now, I gotta quit all over again.

[mainegreen]

5. Yes n/t

[meegbear]

6. I quit cigarettes in 1992, but have a cigar or two on the weekends ...

while I don't want a cigarette, there are times if someone is smoking one, I'll want to smell the smoke.

[youthere]

7. My brother quit 15 years ago..

and he says there are times, even now, where he really craves one and has to fight not to go buy a pack.

[MissMillie]

8. I think your body isn't craving the nicotine, but

that part of your addiction that is emotional is.

Not that you should, but did you replace your nicotine addiction with an addiction to something maybe more benign? My first "replacement addiction" was food... which turned out to be a nightmare, of course.

Now it's exercise.

I still sometimes get a pavlovian sort of craving... like when I walk out of the office on my way out to the parking lot at the end of the day. I used to light up. But now I know it's not so much that my body craves the actual cigarette, but misses the behavior.

I've been smoke-free for 9 years.

[BarenakedLady]

9. I haven't smoked regularly in almost 20 years

And even then I was at the most a 1/2 - 1 pack a day smoker. Even now, in times of stress or while drinking I find I crave a cigarette. :shrug:

[izzybeans]

10. I've been smokefree for five years. When I feel that way I usually wind up

talking to the smokers on their smoke break. I still like the smell of second hand smoke as long as its in small doses.

I've found that this has happened less frequently the futher I get away from smoking. I haven't had a "fit" in a very long time. Although I did smoke a cigar at a wedding. It only reinforced the fact that I no longer wanted to suck fire and burning weeds into my lungs, unless...well you know why.

[kwassa]

11. I must be the exception

I quit 23 years ago, and never have cravings. The smell repulses me now. I smoked 2.5 packs a day for 14 years before that.

Because I gradually reduced the amount of cigarettes before I quit, I had no cravings, and forgot that I ever smoked pretty quickly.

I guess it is very different for different people.

[scarlet_owl]

12. I quit smoking seven years ago and I still miss

cigarettes every single day. I don't have nicotine fits like you are experiencing, but I do have severe cravings, especially after I eat. I would talk to a doctor if the cravings are that bad.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. Smoke Free for Twenty Years

All kinds of smoke. Kinda miss the fun stuff sometimes, but that's what whisky is for!

[evlbstrd]

14. I think so.

I finally stopped 6 days ago after 35+ years and up to 3 packs a day. It had better get a little easier.

[Serendipitous]

16. Congrats and good luck!!

You can do it!

[Esra Star]

21. My experience of stopping several times is that I would successfully

make it thru the first week. It was tough but I made it.
Then the first hurdle would arrive in the form of a severe craving.
This was usually associated with drinking coffee or some such.
I would stay focussed and the craving would pass after about one day.
I would think, I've done it and be very happy.
Then, and this is the important part, about 1 month in, another craving.
So I would think that if this was going to keep coming back then it wasn't
worth it. Anyway this craving lasted about a day and the there were no more
that were anything more than fleeting.
I think the two hurdles are physical and emotional.
So, good luck, and give it a red hot go.
Cheers

[Samurai_Writer]

15. I quit 27 years ago

I have severe asthma and a genetic form of lung deficiency (Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency). I still, rarely, have (mild) cravings for cigarettes. It will decrease in time, stay strong!

[Nicole]

17. I think so.

I still consider myself a smoker, just not an active one.

I quit over 7 years ago & still get a craving once in awhile. I never get severe cravings like you are experiencing, though I did the first couple of years. I really had to fight the temptation to give in to it.

It's hard but you can do it, you've already done the hardest part. Hang in there.

[helderheid]

18. I quit a little over 7 years ago. I still dream about smoking! Doesn't help that my husband still

smokes.

[Roon]

25. I dream about smoking almost nightly eom

[northzax]

19. quitters never win, and winners never quit

which is why, now that you have decided to be a quitter, you cannot quit being a quitter until you win.

see?

[mike_c]

20. I quit a ten year habit twenty-five years ago...

...and would rather chew my fingers off than smoke again.

[Maine-ah]

22. one year ago, and I still have 'em.

my FIL, quit over 20 yrs ago. Still has 'em.

When you have a day like this, just remind yourself how far you have come. :hug:

[Left Is Write]

23. I quit almost nine years ago. I get the occasional (but pretty rare) craving, but...

being in a smoky place usually cures it. I've become very sensitive to smoke and get clobbered with head congestion if I'm in a smoky place for too long.

I put down the cigs in 1998 and haven't picked them up since.

[Shell Beau]

24. For some I think that is true. Most addictions are like that!

[Lil Missy]

26. I quit once 20 years ago with a coworker, and we only smoked at the bar after work.

Unfortunately, we started going to the bar more often after work. Oops!

I am a smoker now.

However, smoke taxes just went up a dollar a pack here, so I may have to revisit my need to smoke.

[astral]

27. Once a smoker, always a smoker

is absolutely true. I quit about 7 years ago (maybe longer now am losing count) and I still sometimes think how nice it would be to have a cigarette with a cup of coffee. Quitting was very hard for me, it took several years of fighting with myself, and I was afraid I wouldn't make it to even the 'get stopped and stay stopped' stage.

Now I know I can never have even just one. Not even just one puff of just one. And I am so grateful I was able to stop.

Don't give up, don't give in, and don't worry about it, because even though the cravings will come and to and sneak up on you sometime, you have quit and you are Sooo much better off!

Remember, they make cigarettes addicting on purpose.