Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

Challenging Worry

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-20 11:42 PM

Depression Community

logo

Hello

Linda Q

2024-04-11 5:06 AM

Anxiety Community

logo

Addiction

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-08 3:54 PM

Managing Drinking Community

logo

New Year's Resolutions

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-03-25 2:47 AM

Managing Drinking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Browse through 411.748 posts in 47.053 threads.

160,502 Members

Please welcome our newest members: Fwcl, anonymeLouise, RDANIELA NICOLE, Lfr, CPADUA

please be honest


15 years ago 0 2778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi again!
 
    Sorry for the multi-post!  My computer burped and I lost the post I was working on and all of a sudden it pops up posted 3 times and I wasn't even finished with the post!  
 
     Again, my apologies to everyone for the snafu!
 
               Jim


My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 391
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,775
Amount Saved: $1,612.88
Life Gained:
Days: 67 Hrs: 9 Mins: 3 Seconds: 24

  • Quit Meter

    $44,227.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1058 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 28 Seconds: 2

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    5897

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    176,910

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 967 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Brat,
 
I wish I could answer that question and put your mind to ease.  Like everyone has said, it is different for everyone.  You are very normal I think for this time in your quit.  It kinda starts bugging you again, but it will ease off again. Stick with it, it is worth it.  And like everyone else, I too still dream about smoking, but its just that, dreaming.  It is all part of the process.  And the thoughts?  I still have them, but they are a memory of what once was, thats it now.  You will be fine.
 
Kelly....
 
congrats on the days!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/6/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 481
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 14,430
Amount Saved: $1,803.75
Life Gained:
Days: 40 Hrs: 1 Mins: 2 Seconds: 37

15 years ago 0 2778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Brat!!!
 
      Like Rock, I  STILL have a smoking dream every now and then!  I hate them, but it just shows me that the nico-demon is still back there in the dark recesses of my brain...  sitting and waiting for a moment of weakness or pure stupidity!!!  That moment will NEVER come!  I am now a non-smoker!
 
       The little SOB is going to have a LONG wait in that dark little spot!!!  All the while, he is shrinking, getting weaker and the influence he had over me is also "almost" nothing! 
 
        Consider the amount of time that you have smoked, lived with that demon...  possibly that amount of time is longer than you have ever lived with anyone or anything that you loved MORE than smoking!   I'm talking about a parent, sibling, good friend or pet... think about how long you have thought about them and missed them.   To me, the  addiction to the stinky killer is no different.  I don't know about you, but my cancer sticks were with me EVERY DAY for decades! 
 
         I come here and read posts almost daily.  Consequently I still do think about smoking almost daily!  The thing is, thinking about smoking and my previous smoking life actually helps my resolve!  I see what everyone is going through on a daily basis and all I keep thinking is...  I am NOT going to go through any of that again!!!   
 
 


My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 391
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,775
Amount Saved: $1,612.88
Life Gained:
Days: 67 Hrs: 8 Mins: 59 Seconds: 57

  • Quit Meter

    $44,227.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1058 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 28 Seconds: 2

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    5897

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    176,910

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 2778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Brat!!!
 
      Like Rock, I  STILL have a smoking dream every now and then!  I hate them, but it just shows me that the nico-demon is still back there in the dark recesses of my brain...  sitting and waiting for a moment of weakness or pure stupidity!!!  That moment will NEVER come!  I am now a non-smoker!
 
       The little SOB is going to have a LONG wait in that dark little spot!!!  All the while, he is shrinking, getting weaker and the influence he had over me is also "almost" nothing! 
 
        Consider the amount of time that you have smoked, lived with that demon...  possibly that amount of time is longer than you have ever lived with anyone or anything that you loved MORE than smoking!   I'm talking about a parent, sibling, good friend or pet... think about how long you have thought about them and missed them.   To me, the  addiction to the stinky killer is no different.  I don't know about you, but my cancer sticks were with me EVERY DAY for decades! 
 
         I come here and read posts almost daily.  Consequently I still do think about smoking almost daily!  The thing is, thinking about smoking and my previous smoking life actually helps my resolve!  I see what everyone is going through on a daily basis and all I keep thinking is...  I am NOT going to go through any of that again!!!   
 
 


My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 391
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,775
Amount Saved: $1,612.88
Life Gained:
Days: 67 Hrs: 8 Mins: 59 Seconds: 57

  • Quit Meter

    $44,227.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1058 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 28 Seconds: 2

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    5897

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    176,910

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 2778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Brat!!!
 
      Like Rock, I  STILL have a smoking dream every now and then!  I hate them, but it just shows me that the nico-demon is still back there in the dark recesses of my brain...  sitting and waiting for a moment of weakness or pure stupidity!!!  That moment will NEVER come!  I am now a non-smoker!
 
       The little SOB is going to have a LONG wait in that dark little spot!!!  All the while, he is shrinking, getting weaker and the influence he had over me is also "almost" nothing! 
 
        Consider the amount of time that you have smoked, lived with that demon...  possibly that amount of time is longer than you have ever lived with anyone or anything that you loved MORE than smoking!   I'm talking about a parent, sibling, good friend or pet... think about how long you have thought about them and missed them.   To me, the  addiction to the stinky killer is no different.  I don't know about you, but my cancer sticks were with me EVERY DAY for decades! 
 
         I come here and read posts almost daily.  Consequently I still do think about smoking almost daily!  The thing is, thinking about smoking and my previous smoking life actually helps my resolve!  I see what everyone is going through on a daily basis and all I keep thinking is...  I am NOT going to go through any of that again!!!   
 
 


My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 391
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,775
Amount Saved: $1,612.88
Life Gained:
Days: 67 Hrs: 8 Mins: 59 Seconds: 57

  • Quit Meter

    $44,227.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1058 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 28 Seconds: 2

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    5897

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    176,910

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 42 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks Bob, I am hoping to start a new thought regime today, god only knows how I have stayed away from smoking this long so far. I know being busy the crave slips away some then comes crashing through the front door as soon as it`s time for a break. Today I am going to start yelling at my craves, luckily I am alone so the only person to feel like an idiot is me but no witnesses.  I wish for a calm day in my life for a change.   good luck on your quit as well though you have a much better attitude than I do.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 10/17/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 165
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,125
Amount Saved: $1,320.00
Life Gained:
Days: 23 Hrs: 7 Mins: 20 Seconds: 52

15 years ago 0 625 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi brat and WELL DONE on 164 days........
 
I'm way behind you too but I do feel the desire to smoke stays with each person way differently.  I've read too much on here to think any different.  Everyone that has said anything about it here has had different lengths of Quits.  In addition, I have a Bro-in-Law that hasn't smoked in 25-30 years and he says he still has fleeting thoughts about it.  My Son has been smoke-free for 10-12 years and still has a thought or two.
 
I look at it this way..........If I had been a bike rider and rode every day as much as I was able.........I mean pushing myself to my full limits.....really enjoying it........and then all of a sudden....unable to anymore.....for whatever reason.
At first I'd think about it all the time....every thought would be wanting to ride again.....I would see reminders of riding everywhere.......but eventually I'd begin to think about other things.......and biking would only come up occasionally.  Over time, I would not spend near as much time and energy thinking about and remembering the biking.  I would change my life.
But I doubt I would ever completely forget it!  There will always be too many reminders!!!!.......
 
I think in our own times we'll each put smoking thoughts further and further behind us.  I'm not sure that any of us will ever totally forget.  The addict never goes away completely and he sees/hears every word, ad and paragraph ever written/spoken about it.  I think we'll just spend less time dwelling on each of those.
 
I'm proud of me for having control of my life now and for beginning the road to being healthier.  I'm gonna keep that as my mantra for now and just keep saying N.O.P.E.  I'll be optimistic and say the thoughts will fade in time and I'll fill my thoughts with other things to keep the addict at bay.
 
 Not an answer for you but it's how I get through the tough thoughts and move on to something else.  Keep The Quit.
 Good Luck finding your answer.
 
huggggggg
Bob

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/27/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 63
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,890
Amount Saved: $264.60
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 5 Mins: 29 Seconds: 54

15 years ago 0 42 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thank you all for your opinions, it was good to hear it wasn`t just me. I needed to know if something was wrong with my quit, I have to agree about thinking positive and telling yourself NO, I just don`t like the constant back and forth my mind plays.  As long as I know other people also still have or had the same feelings I feel a bit better.  Sometimes I feel like the 7th week and the tenth week is here all over again.  Though I managed to get through them without a single puff I found them to be tough weeks. Some weeks are easier than others and when I pass someone who is smoking I have to admit, I love the smell. I still cannot go near anyone who smokes for fear of asking for one and if someone handed me a smoke right now, I would smoke it.   I want to keep this quit but it is very hard. thanks for being honest.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 10/17/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 165
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,125
Amount Saved: $1,320.00
Life Gained:
Days: 23 Hrs: 7 Mins: 16 Seconds: 12

15 years ago 0 1843 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Brat.  A very good question.  For me, I don't really have cravings anymore.  I have dreams.  Maybe once a month I am dreaming about smoking.  Many people have that dream, and we all agree, as long as it stays a dream, its just a dream.  I try to avoid situations where people are smoking.  One person smoking nearby is fine, 5-6 I avoid.  To be honest, when I smell cigarette smoke I almost get sick.  I can smell a smoker a mile away.  My nose has become so sensitive.  I never want to smell like a smoker again!  But I still take it one day at a time.  I know Not One Puff Ever!  You are right, its not as bad as it was at the beginning, but remember this is an addiction.  And that addict is always lurking around.  I bumped a post in the past week or two that helped me answer your question.  Do a search on Tuesday in the past 20 days.  The answer is to your question is "NEXT TUESDAY"!!!  and Congratulations on 164 days smoke free!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/20/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 222
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 8,880
Amount Saved: $1,776.00
Life Gained:
Days: 33 Hrs: 5 Mins: 44 Seconds: 40

15 years ago 0 377 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Brat,
That's a question that I think is going to be hard to find a consistent answer with.  I think there are so many factors that go into why we continue to think about cigarettes long after we have quit.  According to Alan Carr once you see how there is no benefit anymore in smoking then the desire ends after you put out the last cigarette. For me it wasn't that way and I had to find other things to distract myself from thinking about smoking. I do think attitude is very important and the more we are strong on our resolve that not smoking is the best thing we can do for ourselves the better.  I also think that as time goes by we spend less time thinking about smoking and it's kind of on a curve.  I would be surprised if you woke up and went to bed everyday thinking about smoking having 5 months behind your belt. I thought that after 6 months I found I could go through weeks without much of a craving at all.  But then I found I was going through some stress in the last month and I found the feeling of thinking about smoking went up quite a bit. I think that we still can be vulnerable during times of stress.  I do think it will pass but I will admit it surprised me.   Finally, I've heard from others that once you pass through all 4 seasons then smoking becomes much more about the past.  Maybe others past a year can address this issue because I'm not quite there yet.
Ron


My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/17/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 286
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 5,148
Amount Saved: $1,544.40
Life Gained:
Days: 44 Hrs: 3 Mins: 33 Seconds: 6


Reading this thread: