[tecomsin]

I was wondering how many folks in this forum used to smoke and how long it has been. I quit July 14, 2015. Every now and then I still have these days were I crave holding a cigarette but they are few and far between.

[Victoria'smom]

I chain smoked from 12-17. I quit because it was to expensive.

[Guiness187055]

I smoked over 20 years. I quit a little over a year ago.

I quit smoking 12 years ago. However recently I have indulged in cigarillos. I love them so much, but I've decided to stop because the health repercussions terrify me.

[Nammu]

I used to smoke when I was in the hospital cause they took you outside to smoke.....but that was the only time I smoked. Now a days I don't go to the hospital and if I did they don't let you smoke anyway, nobody gets to go outside.

[Row Jimmy]

After I stopped playing hockey, I started to smoke. I was more of a social smoker - I smoked a ton when I drank which was quite frequently. I smoked a half a pack a day for about 10 years until I quit when I got married in 1993. I don't miss it a bit and never really think about it despite my BP tendencies. Instead of smoking to relieve the stress, I'd simply destroy my garage, punch my refrigerator, or throw my garbage cans on the roof.

[Wild Coyote]

I quit 30+ years ago.

WC

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

I was wondering how many folks in this forum used to smoke and how long it has been. I quit July 14, 2015. Every now and then I still have these days were I crave holding a cigarette but they are few and far between.

I smoked for 45(?)-years. I quit (not sure why?) about 5-years-ago.

I started smoking again a couple of months ago. I have to hold the cigarettes like an effete Frenchman as I’ve little hand-or-finger control. I have these wonderful USB-powered lighters because I can’t ‘flick a Bic.’

Not so much a ‘holding’ fetish for me, much more an ‘oral’ fetish. I’ve no appetite and I think that smoking may be my way of eating.

I dunno... I’m enjoying it so much on many, many psychological levels! And I’m long past the point of giving a damn about any physical effects.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I used to smoke when I was in the hospital cause they took you outside to smoke.....but that was the only time I smoked. Now a days I don't go to the hospital and if I did they don't let you smoke anyway, nobody gets to go outside.

Yeah, I always sat by, or positioned myself near, the door leading out to the razor-wired-incredibly-tall-fenced-in ‘yard.’ I think that we had 15-minute smoke breaks every two-hours. Those with cigarettes were served first and we without had ‘house’ cigarettes.

I pitched a fit last month when hospitalized (for strictly physical reasons) and they allowed me out for supervised smoke breaks. Couldn’t have played out well in a psych unit, though, because half of the folks have fit-pitching down to a science.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I chain smoked from 12-17. I quit because it was to expensive.

I also quit when I was 17 but went back to the addiction and ended up with 35+ years. Congratulations on quitting for good at that age.

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

I smoked over 20 years. I quit a little over a year ago.

That's awesome Guiness. Keep the Quit!

Originally Posted by LostMyMuchness

I quit smoking 12 years ago. However recently I have indulged in cigarillos. I love them so much, but I've decided to stop because the health repercussions terrify me.

I could never pick up a tobacco product again without getting hooked. The only thing that has worked is Not One Puff Ever (NOPE). I hope you quit again soon.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I used to smoke when I was in the hospital cause they took you outside to smoke.....but that was the only time I smoked. Now a days I don't go to the hospital and if I did they don't let you smoke anyway, nobody gets to go outside.

I also thought mental health wards encourage smoking because they use smoking breaks (or their denial) as rewards (or punishments) routinely. I'm glad you never got addicted, Nammu. Good for you.

Originally Posted by Row Jimmy

After I stopped playing hockey, I started to smoke. I was more of a social smoker - I smoked a ton when I drank which was quite frequently. I smoked a half a pack a day for about 10 years until I quit when I got married in 1993. I don't miss it a bit and never really think about it despite my BP tendencies. Instead of smoking to relieve the stress, I'd simply destroy my garage, punch my refrigerator, or throw my garbage cans on the roof.

It's funny how we can relate to other people through old smoking habits. I smoked for 35+ years with some long duration quits but never truly broke free until the last time. I think about it more than most people partly because after I quit I got diagnosed and treated for lung cancer. That was in 2016 and am still here. I'd be happy to have the energy and strength to throw garbage cans on the roof, haha.

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I quit 30+ years ago.

WC

Good for you WC. I'm am so happy you stuck with your quit!

[wildflowerchild25]

I smoked for about twelve years and quit back in January. Over the summer I’ve slipped up quite a lot. I’ve had about seven packs of cigarettes this summer. I also use a vape daily. I can’t seem to kick the nicotine without falling into a crushing depression.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I smoked for about twelve years and quit back in January. Over the summer I’ve slipped up quite a lot. I’ve had about seven packs of cigarettes this summer. I also use a vape daily. I can’t seem to kick the nicotine without falling into a crushing depression.

I also had severe depression and anxiety when I quit, cold turkey. But it went away after a few months and I just told myself that the only way to be through with this forever is to never take another puff. Have you talked to your pdoc about this? Rationing cigarettes increases the fixation and strength of the addiction. I thought for the longest time I was a hopeless addict and would never be able to successfully quit but that was a lie of the addiction.

I dont seem to get hooked on the nicotine. It's the habit. A moment of calm in a chaotic world. However, taking a step outside or a short walk, etc produces the same feeling.

I honestly and truly love smoking. If it wasnt lethal, I would still smoke. My mom was a life long smoker and died of related cancer, so I'm pulling myself back on track.

[vishva8kumara]

Tobacco products are taxed here over 500% and it is damn expensive. The government health and education sector is completely run by the taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

Tobacco is the hardest things to get off from.

I smoked briefly in early 20's, then picked up again in 40's for about 5 years. Quit one day (about 3 years ago?) because we were in too long a rainy spell and I didn't want to go outside. Yeah, that easy. Never had one since. Don't care.