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

[Anonymous]

This seems like it might be an ok thread to ask...I was a 3 to 10 (max. Partying!l cigarette persona in my 20s. Would go multiple days without and didn't feel particularly addicted.

I "quit" this habit and have smoked about 1 cig a year for 5 years. BUT I chew nicotine gum. I actually think I ingest more nicotine in this way than I did with a cigarette here and there.

Anyone know how screwed I am if I cold turkey it now? Or is this not that bad? I can't find anything definitive-like a lot of DCUM, it can devolve into "you're a disgusting POS" really quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

G


OMG, I would hate to ride in your car.

[Anonymous]

99% yes the cravings go away

[Anonymous]

I was a pack a day smoker, not just a social smoker. I quit 13 years ago. I don't get powerful cravings like you described in your op, anymore. I occasionally see a friend smoking and wish I could have one. But it's more a wistful feeling, not an actual craving. I'm more grossed out by the smell, and remember how crappy I felt as a smoker and remember how terrible it was to quit. Those feelings are what I associate with smoking.

Hang in there. You'll get there. You truly will.

[Anonymous]

“Wistful” is a good word. I quit about 6 years ago — getting older, kids in picture, spouse quit.

I miss the social aspects of it, and the way it was a natural break from the work day, but like many pps I thought smoking in the morning was gross, usually smoked just 4-6 a day but would then smoke much more when drinking.