[fuzzycactus]

Hi,

I'm trying to quit smoking. Right now I've cut down to about 5-10 cigs a day depending on the day. I have a vape and will use it sometimes, but not really on the regular.

Problem is my partner smokes about a pack a day. We are both around each other quite a bit on the average day. So the temptation is always there.
Where is my self control? Argh! It feels like I am always giving in to the urge, waiting for the "perfect time" to quit.
Anyone else going/been through this?

Cheers

[Guiness187055]

It's really tough to quit when you are around a smoker. I was lucky that my wife quit quite a few years before me. My suggestion would be put down the cigarettes all together and only vape. Vape as much as you feel you need to but it is easier if you just make the switch. I did and it worked for me. I have since quit vaping too. I am 5 years smoke free and one year vape free. All the best and remember you can do this.

[sarahsweets]

First of all @fuzzycactus dont beat yourself up. I am a sober alcoholic (8 years) and I detoxed at home and thought I would die. The worst I have ever felt. But it was still easier to kick alcohol than it is cigarettes. I hate vaping and the kind of cigarettes I smoke (not to rationalize just explaining) are organic, additive free so I do not experience any of the coughing or other smoking related issues. I used to smoke regular smokes and it would leave me feeling gross and when I switched to these those issues went away.

I am not dumb enough to think that no neg effects now means a healthy cigarette or no long term issues, its just something that contributes to how hard it is. I have stopped and started a zillion times. I even had an eval with a sleep doc(for insomnia and other stuff) and I asked him about chantix. He said for someone like me on bp meds and a history of sleepwalking- well no way is that ok for me. In a way I think smokers are one of the few things people feel ok shaming you for. Its not like its a choice per se. Once the chemical part takes hold and you factor in the mental illness its really hard.

Do people with mental illness and substance use disorders use tobacco more often? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Read this if you want to know the information about addictions, specifically smoking and mental illness.
i dont know how I will stop. it helps me so much. I am not on benzos or anything for anxiety and while smoking is a stimulant, it actually helps calm me down. In fact a lot of people with adhd have sort of opposite reactions to things that are meant to be stimulating. In fact benedryl doesnt make me sleepy either. Anyhow dont be hard on yourself. You are not a failure.

[fuzzycactus]

Thank you both for your replies. Yeah I totally understand how smoking calms you down Sarahsweets. It does for me too. Sometimes I wonder how I will find something to take it's place. Vaping just isn't cutting it for me. Although the suggestion to cut out smoking and just vape is a good one!

There is so much ritual attached to smoking for me. Like a cigarette with a cup of coffee in the morning. Or a cigarette after a meal or one before bed.
As a friend once said cigarettes are more than just a habit, they're like a friend.

Ah well I'm just going to keep at it. At the end of the day I hate more things about cigarettes than I love, so that's reason enough to quit!

[sarahsweets]

Good for you! I hope I get to this point too.

Originally Posted by fuzzycactus

Thank you both for your replies. Yeah I totally understand how smoking calms you down Sarahsweets. It does for me too. Sometimes I wonder how I will find something to take it's place. Vaping just isn't cutting it for me. Although the suggestion to cut out smoking and just vape is a good one!

There is so much ritual attached to smoking for me. Like a cigarette with a cup of coffee in the morning. Or a cigarette after a meal or one before bed.
As a friend once said cigarettes are more than just a habit, they're like a friend.

Ah well I'm just going to keep at it. At the end of the day I hate more things about cigarettes than I love, so that's reason enough to quit!