Given up smoking.?

Question

Just a thought but i read sometime ago that giving up smoking can be one of the hardest things to do. The multi-billion pound industry in patches, gum etc is a testament to this. But is it possible for some people to never really get addicted to them cos i smoked for 12 years and have given up a few times (i only restarted like 8 -10 months after giving up cos i was bored, not cos i wanted one) and never has it bothered me stopping. No patches no gum and i get no cravings etc. Even tho i was smoking 20 a day. I only restarted the last time cos i knew it was gonna be a boring few months at work and knew i would be able to give up again, which i have successfully. I know it sounds stupid restarting but its not due to craving or willpower. Its purely cos i chose to restart. But now to save money and my health i have stopped permanently and not bothered. Do u think this is common in exsmokers or has the media just made everyone think cigs r evil and ultra addictive so to discourage people

Yeh its odd, ive been trying to analyze my feelings and work out if im suffering the classic "withdrawal" symptoms and cant seem to decide. I dont think iam. I guess its just horse for courses and everyones different. Its odd. maybe scientists should search for a "addict" gene in people like me and work out why we are not as affected as other people! Hehe. Thanks for the positve support for giving up tho! :)

Answer 1

You have heard of an addictive personality, well I really believe in that. I think some people really do have a terribly hard time of it. It sounds like you are one of the luckier ones, like me.
Please keep it up though. It might not seem to affect your health that much, but it might down the road. My Mother has terrible problems because of smoking and her mother died riddled with cancer which spread from lung cancer.
If you can keep off those things, please do. It's not worth the risk. Put the money away and treat yourself to something wonder-full.
Good luck and keep it up.

Answer 2

Ive tried a few times to give up smoking, but never really tried hard enough!!!!
I started smoking at 14 and am now 30 and WAS smoking 20 per day. I got a really bad cold a few weeks ago and for the first time in 16 years i felt too ill to smoke.!!!!!!!! I haven't had one since, the thoughts of having a ciggie makes me feel a bit sick!!! Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up, but i do agree with you , the comment about being bored. There have been times over the last week when I've thought "sod it!!" I'll buy a packet, but Ive managed to stop myself.

Answer 3

Yes it is hard to give up smoking. I did over 20 years ago when my father died. I quite cold turkey & after being off cigarettes for a month, I craved a smoke. Well I took one drag & I really got so sick, I knew I wouldn't go back to smoking. I still get cravings every once in a while. I believe your last statement is true. Nicotine is an aditive drug. I think the only reason the tobacco industry has survided is nicotine when extracted from the tobaco leaf is used as a component for other things.

Answer 4

my husband used to smoke about 30 a day and he gave up 8 years ago, he decided he wasn't going to waste his money and quit with no help at all.
i smoke (i know it's bad) i'm on 20 a day, and i am a nightmare if i don't have any cigarettes, i get really irritable, i did try stopping when i fell pregnant with patches, but everyone said they were worse while pregnant and scared me, so i smoked (cut down but still smoked) i'm back to 20 a day, some days i wish i could stop, but i enjoy a ciggy after a meal, i think they are addictive, you said you stopped, started etc, why start again though? are you not worried you may not be able to stop? as i know i would be

Answer 5

Cigarettes are still ultra addictive. There is scientific proof to this. People are making money everywhere on the cigarette industry in people smoking and quittiing. Your addiction was obviously different from many others addictions but still and addiction nonetheless.
Just curious--IF you were just wanting to have something to do, why didn't you start kniting or a cross word puzzle. Maybe because you were still hung up on them. Hope you don't start up again.

Answer 6

I quit smoking easily. I didnt buy cigs or smoke any more. Each day is the day you are not going to smoke. Not a day to say "aw man today marks the day I will never have another cigerrette."

Just say to yourself "just for today I wont smoke. Tomorrow is tomorrow and maybe I will then, but for today I will not."

Take up some type of sport or cardio activity...you will find out really quick that you should've quit a while ago, it will motivate you to keep away from smoking.

Ex-smoker of 10 years a pack a day.

Answer 7

It takes people different ways. My brother in law is like you and can stop & start at will.I decided to stop when my son was 9 and actually achieved it when he was 16. He is now 32 and I still crave for a smoke from time to time.

Answer 8

Quit 9-19-06 and would love a smoke RIGHT NOW !

Pick up a puzzle or a good book the next time you are bored.

Answer 9

I think it is different for different people, maybe to do with our chemical makeup, you know like if you are bipolar it is to do with chemical imbalance. I have known people who have just stopped after many years of smoking and not needing patches or anything. And I have known others who find it really hard.
It would be good if you could stayed stopped though, since you can!

Answer 10

I guess it depends on the person. I gave up smoking twice and found it hard each time. I think the second time was even harder so I promised myself never to start up again! I really enjoyed it and missed the great feeling it would give me.