S/O: Ex-smokers, do cravings ever go away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I wonder if the method one uses to quit affects cravings. Is there anyone else here who was a regular, habitual smoker (so, not whatever counts as social smoking) and quit cold turkey without using nicotine replacements, therapy, whatever else? How are your cravings?

I know I will never go back to smoking. I think addictions of any kind are moral failings and, when I was a smoker, I despised myself for being so mentally weak.

I started to smoke socially when I was in college (at parties) but it didn't take long at all for it to become a full blown habit. I was smoking around 2 packs a day when I quit and it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. The cravings were horrible for the first few months with a gradual easing up after that. I did have some weak moments during the first couple of years when I would have some cigarettes.

As far as quitting goes, I had tried to quit numerous times using the patch, nicotine gum. But that just seemed to prolong the process and the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal. So I finally dug my heels in and went cold turkey. I found that in those early days in particular it helped to go places where smoking is prohibited - inside shopping malls, movie theaters, book stores, etc. I worked with smokers and knew other people who smoked so I couldn't just stay away from smokers/smoking altogether. That was probably just as well because eventually you do have to get used to the fact that others smoke but *you* don't do that anymore.

Just stay the course. It isn't easy but quitting is hands down one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I only wish I had never started - what a stupid habit!

[Anonymous]

I was a regular smoker, who dropped to social, quit for pregnancy and breastfeeding, started occasionally smoking again after intense cravings and quit again. Until I read this post I hadn't thought about it in months so I would say it still comes and goes but gets easier.

[Anonymous]

I guess it varies by person, but I'm 10 years out and I am disgusted by the smell of cigarettes now.

[Anonymous]

I've not smoked for 20 years. Smoked for 18. I do not crave cigarettes nor have I ever since stopping. In my mind I've made the act of smoking repulsive and repugnant. I recoil when I smell cigarette smoke as if I were trying to dodge a hot flame. No looking back. I understand that smoking one more would mean that I'm a smoker again. Not going there. Now food is another matter entirely.

[Anonymous]

I quit 15 years ago. A few times a year I'll have the thought, "I would love a cigarette right now," but it's never a strong enough urge that I'm even close to giving in to it.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I am repulsed by smoking on a day-to-day basis and even when I smoked, the taste was horrendous to me. , That does not change the fact that when I am under extreme stress, my old stress-relieving habit seems attractive. It is those flareups under stress that I am talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I wonder if the method one uses to quit affects cravings. Is there anyone else here who was a regular, habitual smoker (so, not whatever counts as social smoking) and quit cold turkey without using nicotine replacements, therapy, whatever else? How are your cravings?

I know I will never go back to smoking. I think addictions of any kind are moral failings and, when I was a smoker, I despised myself for being so mentally weak.

I started to smoke socially when I was in college (at parties) but it didn't take long at all for it to become a full blown habit. I was smoking around 2 packs a day when I quit and it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. The cravings were horrible for the first few months with a gradual easing up after that. I did have some weak moments during the first couple of years when I would have some cigarettes.

As far as quitting goes, I had tried to quit numerous times using the patch, nicotine gum. But that just seemed to prolong the process and the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal. So I finally dug my heels in and went cold turkey. I found that in those early days in particular it helped to go places where smoking is prohibited - inside shopping malls, movie theaters, book stores, etc. I worked with smokers and knew other people who smoked so I couldn't just stay away from smokers/smoking altogether. That was probably just as well because eventually you do have to get used to the fact that others smoke but *you* don't do that anymore.

Just stay the course. It isn't easy but quitting is hands down one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I only wish I had never started - what a stupid habit!

OP here, well done. Quitting two packs a day is not easy. I was at half a pack to a pack a day, although I could go through a pack and a half on stressful days. I never tried the patch, gum, or other gradual methods because I knew I was either going to quit or I was not. It's like eating a burger or not. I'm one of those people who will either eat the burger and trimmings and get on with my life, or skip the burger entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to smoke 20 a day. I gave up 15 years ago, but I had a few cigarettes in the first years after I gave up, when I was drunk etc. Probably a total of 20 cigarettes in the 5 years after I gave up. But now I haven't had one for 10 years, and I can't remember the last time I had a craving.

So, in short, the cravings die down rather than disappear, and it takes a long time, but yes, the cravings do eventually subside.

OP here, thank you. What method did you use to quit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I am repulsed by smoking on a day-to-day basis and even when I smoked, the taste was horrendous to me. , That does not change the fact that when I am under extreme stress, my old stress-relieving habit seems attractive. It is those flareups under stress that I am talking about.

That old stress trigger will happen. I think that's pretty normal. Just don't give into it. After a while you will get used to dealing with extreme stress without cigarettes. Once you break that stress/cigarette connection it gets a lot easier. You will find that you have other ways of coping.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the social smoking PP's. I considered myself a social smoker because I literally smoked from the time I was 17 until 40, but I could take it or leave it. I could just stop cold turkey for months or a year at a time, and then have one randomly with a friend, then not smoke again for awhile. I called myself a "car and bar" smoker because I'd smoke in the bar with friends or in the car on the way home from a stressful work day.

But i didn't need a smoke break in the middle of the day. I couldn't smoke in the morning -gross. Once smoking was banned in bars, i wouldn't smoke at all in winter because it was too cold to hang out outside. And my typical consumption was maybe 1/2 pack a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I wonder if the method one uses to quit affects cravings. Is there anyone else here who was a regular, habitual smoker (so, not whatever counts as social smoking) and quit cold turkey without using nicotine replacements, therapy, whatever else? How are your cravings?

I know I will never go back to smoking. I think addictions of any kind are moral failings and, when I was a smoker, I despised myself for being so mentally weak.

I smoked at least a pack a day for over 20 years and quit cold turkey 18 years ago. I didn't use a patch, gum, or pills. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I still want a cigarette. I don't start up again because of the cost, the stench, and the toxicity, but boy do I miss it. One thing you can do is find out how much a pack of your brand costs right now and put that amount of money in a jar each day. Before you know it you'll still be smoke free and you'll have a nice little "splurge" fund.

Good luck. You can do this.

[Anonymous]

For some, no. Key: did you quit because you WANTED to, or felt you HAD to due to health concerns? I loved tobacco, and miss it. I am not able to talk myself into believing I didn't enjoy it, or that it was some "filthy" habit I am glad to be rid of. I quit because my health forced the issue. Now, 2 years later, I still pine for a smoke and a glass of bourbon.

[Anonymous]

I quit cold turkey 20+ years ago. I was smoking between 15-20 cigarettes a day. I would smoke again in an instant if there were no health consequences. So IMO, no, the cravings never go away. I don't think about it but in times of extreme stress or when I'm really happy/comfortable with family or friends then I will start thinking about how nice it would be to have a cigarette.

[Anonymous]

I smoked close to a pack a day and quit cold turkey 25 years ago. I did have health issues that pretty much forced me to quit right away. But once I quit, I really didn't have any cravings. In fact I can't walk by someone smoking now with out it being very bothersome to me.

[Anonymous]

I used to smoke over a pack a day but gave up 20years ago.

I would say after about ten years I was having very few cravings. Now I can’t remember the last time I wanted to have a cigarette- even when drunk or stressed.