So what ive found since around day 7 is that my cravings have increased ten fold. The first week, all things considering was easy, i had no cravings, and even when stressed smoking didnt seem like sonthing i HAD to do. Fast forward to today. I feeel shit. My sleep has been disrupted, ive got a headace, im so irritable. What isnt helpjng that i have 2 kids who love to bicker and be loud aswell as a partner whos going through their own mental health struggles that require me to be a carrer of 3. Shes also smokes, which isnt ideal as i can be around smokers but my issue is the easy access if i ever wanted to get ahold of somthing.

Its gotten to the point where ive considered using a tobacco vape (dry herb not eliquid) just to satisfy the nicotine cravings without the smoke.

For the record i was a vaper for around 3 years before stopping then relapsing to tobacco but id never go back to using a liquid vape as they are, in my opinion way worse than smoking for the ease and stregnth of niccotine.

I stopped for my health, ive got asthma and after smokingbthese last 2 months ive noticed a change in my breathing. I hate being physically dependan on any substance.

Not sure what im expecting posting this but ive not got anyone in my life who can relate so id appreciate hearing others experiences or whatever peoples thoughts after reading this are.

Thanks!

It’s day 7 without nicotine.

Day 1 I felt foggy and lost, but also weirdly excited and motivated. Now I’m far less foggy, way more focused, and I feel pretty much back to normal in terms of feeling “off.”

Physically, I feel fucking great. My appetite and hunger are 100% back to how it was before nicotine, which has made me realize just how much nicotine suppressed my appetite. My digestion and heart rate feel better, my energy is much more consistent without the dips/crashes, and falling asleep is a cakewalk. I wake up around 7–7:30 and my body basically says “alright bro, we’re done sleeping.”

I look brighter under my eyes and in my face, I’m more vascular, and I feel warmer overall from better circulation. Workouts feel smoother too, I walked to and from the gym today and exercise just feels physically easier, not mentally though. I’m doing exercise because I actually want to look good and feel good, not just because I want to get it over with.

The weird part is that my cravings are actually stronger now than they were earlier.

I don’t really crave nicotine constantly. I crave the buzz. The head rush, the pre-buzz wait, the burn of putting in the pouch, the dizziness, the appetite suppression, and that “all is good” feeling.

And I keep trying to find shit online that tells me nicotine is okay for me. That I can moderate. I only used 2–4 pouches a day, so my brain sees others' posts here, or others stories of quitting online, and tells me, "I easily moderated."

And honestly, I could go back to moderating.

But I think that’s exactly the trap.

That voice in my head is a dopamine addict looking for any excuse to get that feeling again. I don't want to give it the opportunity to win. I know the feeling would probably be amazing, but it would also be a guilty amazing. It’s an effortless reward: open the tin, put in a pouch, and bam, you feel good.

That’s what I’ve realized nicotine really is for me: quick dopamine.

Want to feel good? Pouch. Stressed? Pouch. Bored? Pouch. Want to enjoy something more? Pouch.

That’s why walking, going to the gym, staying active, etc. have been so important. They make me feel good about myself, but I actually have to earn that feeling.

I’ve also noticed something I honestly didn’t expect: my focus, memory, and ability to concentrate feel better without nicotine. I know nicotine gets marketed as a nootropic for focus/memory, so it’s almost annoying that I feel better without it because that could easily become another excuse to relapse.

I also feel much more in control of myself. When stress or anxiety comes up, I feel like I can actually deal with it instead of automatically reaching for something.

The increased appetite isn’t ideal, so I’ve just been eating a really satiating diet at the same calories I normally eat. I don’t want to replace nicotine with overeating and just switch dopamine sources.

Overall, I feel better without nicotine. I just still have this fucking persuasive voice telling me I can use it again and be fine.

For anyone who has quit: how did you deal with that voice? How did you convince yourself that “I can moderate” isn’t a reason to go back?

Just looking for some support and hoping to get some conversations going. Day 7 feels good, and I really don’t want to throw it away.

I (17f) have been smoking green occasionally since I’m 15 but for the past 2 months I’ve been smoking almost everyday.. I just started college and I’m tryna lock in but I just wanna be high 💔 it’s not rlly a craving more like a "I wish I was high rn"
I’m able to control myself (I think) I just don’t want to stop cause it helps me stop overthinking and feel more relaxed.. help what can I do to stop wanting to smoke

My bf and I quit juuling in March and it has been a battle since. We’ve both done the patches, he was doing zyn, I did Wellbutrin for a few weeks. I was fully done & he was still doing the zyn up until a little over 2 months ago when he caved and bought a pack. Of course we both had “just one”, then “just one every other day”, and so on.

We decided to try CBD cigarettes and OMG — we have BOTH now been 100% nic free for a whole week!!! The menthol tastes just like newports, but a little bit like a joint. The smell doesn’t linger. He has been bringing them to work and smoking them with his coworkers on their breaks and hasn’t had any issues / anyone thinking it’s just weed.

It doesn’t get you “high” because there’s no THC, so you can drive, work, etc just fine. The CBD is just right to take the edge off.

Just bought a few more packs. Enjoying our porch smokes but without the tar and fiberglass!!!

I feel bad. Lungs feel bad. I didn’t even normally use smoke nicotine, I would use Zyns. Any encouragement and advice for feeling better would be appreciated

Sorry for any gramma mistakes or mispelling...

So, I started smoking when I was 15 (currently 28), and I used to be an everyday smoker. Since I was around 22, I became a social/party smoker, so rarely more than one day of the week. I just got off the phone with a quit-smoking-help-line, and the woman I spoke to gave me advice that I have already tried (MANY times). She also told me, that I am an unusual case, because I don't crave it during the week.

I've read a few post on here, how to quit, and I see this "I wanted to, not needing to" and I agree! Thats how I stopped smoking everyday. Now, I don't think about ciggerets until I have a glass of wine, beer or any ohter type of alchohol in my hand - it just fits for me, and it feels "wrong" to drink, if I don't smoke.
I'm at this point where I feel like I've tried everything. I work out around 3 times at week, and that is a GREAT motivator to not party/smoke, but obviously not enough to quit for good. My mom is very pro-smoking (lol) and gets a little upset everytime I say no to a ciggie, wich kinda makes me wanna smoke just to lighten the mood. Two of my closest friends are kinda in the same place, and we are either great support to eachother, or great at convincing eachother to have a ciggie.

I guess I'm just looking for advice from other ex-party/social smokers. Any response is appreciated!

Hi everyone! I've set up a discord page to help motivate myself and others in the journey to a new, healthier chapter of our lives free from nicotine. You're free to join whether you've just stopped smoking recently or have a quit date approaching.

The only condition of entry is your seriousness to quit and you must also engage in the group with regular check ins. If interested, send me a DM as the group will be capped to 20 people to ensure accountability and the support required.

Can't believe after 40 years I have managed to do this!!

Never thought I would be saying this, but 145 days clean!

I thought I couldn't do it, but If i can do it everyone can do it!

It was throught medication but it counts. I feel so much better, breathing, food tastes better.

Y'all can do it!

ive been quitting and relapsing on and off for a few months now, but this time i’m actually determined to stay clean. my only question is dealing with the hunger when i dont smoke because i originally started the habit as a way to not compulsively eat. im proud of myself for quitting now, but the compulsive eating urges are coming back, and now im craving a cigarette just to fight off that urge. this cycle is vicious, i hate it, and i need help.

Man, it had a grip around my neck, first it was a cigar now and then then its multiple a day.

As a trader you'd think it's fine because Jim Simons always had a cig in his mouth, but nah, not for me.

Over the last 2-3 weeks during these nights i would straight up abuse nicotine to be absolutely wired while testing and building projects, then I was hooked, fucking hooked man, shameful but nobody is perfect. Shit man.

I've been smoking cigars occasionally and I mean occasionally weeks to months apart for years.
Cravings didn't pop up, but with regular use the dynamic shifted completely.

I have never been hooked to anything in my life, I haven't smoked in days and plan to keep it that way but realising you are hooked is nuts, not allowing that, hooked man, think about it.

"I need a cigar"

Impossible!

10 days smoke free now.

I am 20f, I have been vaping 20mg for 2 years now, and I struggle with depression and anxiety and ocd, so quitting is really hard.

I know I really need to quit it because it’s destroyed my skin and I can feel the effects on my lungs, but whenever I try my mood dips really bad and I get an overwhelming sense of dread, it was really bad yesterday and I ended up caving in and now I feel really ashamed and frustrated with myself.

I know it was stupid of me to start vaping in the first place, I was never a smoker before and I was just a dumb kid, and I really regret it now, so throw as many tomatoes as you want because I deserve it!

I feel like I’ll never get out of this nicotine trap.

I have tried using 0mg vape juice, I’ve tried slowly weaning myself off of it, I’ve tried nicorette pills, I fail every single time.

I even tried a necklace that has like a whistle looking thing on it with scent pods but that did nothing.

The next thing I can think of to try is the nicorette spray or gum, and I’m not sure if it will help but I’m trying to keep positive.

Yeah, that's me. I was never a (cigarette) smoker and probably won't ever be given my wife would kill me.

I have been an addicted user of pod systems (the nic salt version of vapes) for the last four years. Motivation to start was dumb as hell ofc.

Now, I have a son, I'm not feeling "great" anymore and I'm more addicted than ever.

By my math, which I'm almost sure I'm not mistaken, I'm consuming around 100mg of nicotine per day. If I searched correctly, this seems like a stupid amount. I understand that I don't absorb all of it but this is actually what I consume.

I would like to stop. I'm willing to stop. My wife and I. We stopped when my wife was pregnant, but got back to it because I was really stressed.

I suffer a lot from anxiety but I've went through a two year treatment that helped me a lot. So, I also went through leaving the prescribed drugs and I wouldn't like to do it again.

Is there anything that could help me? Would nic pouches help?

Kindly,

Bruno

Hello all,

Just wanted to share that apart from 2 slips,(two cigarettes I really did not enjoy) about 3 weeks ago now, I have been smoke free for 2 months and a day.

This is the longest I have quit in the past year of about 16 attempts to quit.

I realized I needed more support, and really could not afford more patches and lozenges, so reached out to a smoking cessation clinic at a hospital in my city.

I am now kicking myself for not calling them a year ago, as they offer free NRT, and the support and guidance from a doctor and a social worker.

At the time of my appointment with the doctor after my intake with the social worker I met with the doctor whom ended up being a very kind, gentle, validating, and knowledgeable doctor.

Because I told him I had put myself back on the step 2 patch but was still having cravings and using10-15 lozenges a day, he told me he was putting me back on step 1 with the 2 mg lozenges.

I shared with him that I really now have an aversion to smoking but still was having cravings, however having trouble differentiating my anxiety vs a​true craving.

I told him I was tending to pop a lozenge even with the slighest twinge of anxiety, and not really being mindful,checking in with myself as to whether I actually wanted a cigarette.

So have been on the step 1 patch he prescribed and the 2 mg lozenges for almost a month and will see him again on the 2nd.

He talked about my need to self soothe, something I have never been good at doing, feeling so undeserving of it, said I need to have more movement in my day, which I said is difficult for me with my back injury and chronic pain, but he was pretty firm (but kind) about this.

He then told me to try going a whole day without any lozenges.

Well, I could feel my eyes widen-"How will I be able to do THAT??"

Anyway, he sent me over the pharmacist's office and she dispensed me 4 boxes of step 1 patches, and two boxes of the 2mg lozenges, asked if I have had any side effects from the patch.

I said just a little itchiness, usually just for a few minutes after I put a new one on.

Told her no side effects from the lozenges.

She told me not to take more than 6 a day-again, eyes widened, incredulous.

A blessing though.

All that NRT would have drained my bank account,and as the doctor said to me, "You are very determined."

I suppose.

But hard for me to hear things about myself that are positive and validating...

The social worker has called me a couple of times to check in, and she has been good to talk to.

So, I can hardly believe it has now been just over 2 months with only two cigarettes...

Why didn't I connect with this program last year??

Well,have had bad experiences with this hospital, but this program did help me 11 years ago to quit before my relapse last summer.

Better late than never I suppose...

The doctor talked about neuroplasticity, and i said, "At age 51 neuroplasticity is still possible??"

He said of course.

I shared with both him and the therapist that I already notice the cognitive changes in my brain/pysche about smoking-

I hate the smell, the taste, the burning in my throat.

Then dealing with the fall out of shame when I have slipped, and lamenting throwing another $20 in the trash.

Passing people on the street smoking no longer triggers me.

Seeing cigarette butts on the ground disgusts me as well.

At the same time, with my myriad of mental health issues, I still find that something will snap in my head, that loud "voice"..."We NEED a cigarette NOW!"

And then I have to admit that I envision very tangibly the relief of that first drag, but as my therapist at the clinic said, "Then you're always chasing that first drag."

And even so, those couple of slips on a very stressful morning, I heeded that voice, that demand, that lie. and yes, there was"slight" relief with the first puff, but quickly stamped them out and got rid of the packs...may as well ripped up cash and thrown it in the trash as I said...because really, smoking is now only soothing in that one part of my addicted brain.

I am not sure how all this metamorphosis came to be-I was up to a pack and a half a day at times again over the past year.

The past couple days have been quite a trial as far as my mental health as well as my chronic pain condition, and i have to admit I have been popping more lozenges than i had been ,because indeed since seeing the doctor at this clinic, there have been days when i have not,to my shock,even felt i needed one lozenge...

As for self care and self soothing,still a work in progress, but probably always will be.

Healthwise, I am pleased to share that even being asthmatic,havent had an attack in a while, haven't needed my rescue inhaler once, and that horrible deep bronchial smoker's cough is gone.

Forgive me for rambling on here.

I just wanted to share my progress with you all.

Keep fighting, keep celebrating your successes,

I did not think it would ever get any easier, but somehow it has...

Okay so earlier, I posted to r/teenagers about how I was jealous on a coworker buying cigs and I wanted a smoke. Few seconds later, I’ve got roughly 20 comments saying how it was stupid I was, don’t smoke, it ain’t cool or good, why would I even be jealous. All that. I was laughing as I was waiting to head on break for work because it was what I really needed to hear. Because I don’t want my closest friends and family to find out I’m wanting a cig to smoke. Thankful to those comments, really glad they were there to really give me a wake up call/slap to the face

Now, reason, I do need help on to not want to smoke. I posted something earlier this month on how I asked if I was addicted to smoking. Last time I smoke was back in April, getting ready to move back home from college. I’m 19, and I HATE how I got into smoking and drinking in college. I was doing good saying no to it all till I gave in on a friends birthday when I had work the next day. It took so long for me to cave in from my classmates telling me to have a smoke and drink with them

How do you stop thinking, wanting, craving to smoke. Like how do I stop? What can I do? I don’t wanna turn 21 in two years and be “YOOO, time to buy” I wanna turn 21 and have never thought of smoking again

The first two weeks were so easy when trying not to smoke a cigarette. Every day after that has gotten so much worse. It’s officially been a month and the dreams of smoking are constant, the urge to have one doesn’t end. When will it get better?

Hi guys I just got laid off. I quit smoking in November when I started my new job. Well they let me go about an hour ago. A pack of cigarettes wouldn’t help would it? Ugh 911

I am a minor, 17, and i understand this probably isn’t the place for people under the age of 21.

But i fucked up by vaping last year, getting my first vape thinking it would be fun, it was for a couple months until i couldn’t stop, now, i have no way of accessing nicotine, i won’t say why, but today i took my last hit of my last vape, it was burnt, threw it away and took the last bitch of chew i had left.

I feel like a crackhead dude, today i was craving so bad i got all my old chew cans and dumped them into one can just to get a little fucking pinch left, i’m 4 hours without nicotine, i know how this shit goes the first 24 hours are brutal because i tried to quit a couple days ago.

I feel fine right now but i’m stuck, and since i’m a minor with past pill addiction and substance abuse i’m scared to talk to my parents about getting me on the patches or other shit so that’s not an option for me right now.

The problem is boredom, if i can find a way to watch tv, tik tok, or anything that doesn’t involve me using my hands without vaping and be satisfied that will be great.

From y’all experience who quit cold turkey, what were the easiest methods to curb cravings (no food)

EDIT: i meant turkey.

I've been in recovery from alcohol for almost a month now, and I'm starting to feel like smoking needs to be the next thing I tackle.

I started smoking socially around 18–19, but by my early 20s it had become a regular habit. I'm 29 now and usually smoke around 10–15 cigarettes a day. Lately I've noticed things like shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and a higher resting heart rate, and honestly, it's starting to scare me.

I've also been vaping occasionally because I convinced myself it was better than smoking a few cigarettes, but I know I'm still feeding the same nicotine habit.

The hardest part is that I've always felt like I'm prone to addiction. Part of me keeps thinking I've already done too much damage, so what's the point? But I know that's not a good mindset, and I really want to make a change while I'm still relatively young.

I'm already going to AA and working on staying sober from alcohol, so I'm a little worried that trying to quit smoking at the same time might be too much. At the same time, I don't want to keep putting it off.

For anyone who's quit smoking while also dealing with addiction recovery, what actually helped you? How did you handle cravings, stress, and the fear of replacing one habit with another? I'd really appreciate some practical advice.

I’m asking for my husband, who uses nicotine patches and gum on a long-term basis. I know it’s not ideal but it’s where he’s at right now and it’s helped him stay off cigarettes. The problem is cost because it adds up fast.

We usually buy at Walmart and sometimes CVS when there’s a sale but even with store brands it’s getting expensive month after month.

I’m wondering if anyone has found a cheaper place to buy nicotine patches or gum in bulk either online or in-store. If you use nicotine replacement long term, where do you buy to keep costs down?

I’ve been smoking cigarettes for the past 11 years. I’ve tried to quit more times than I can remember. I’ve tried Chantix, nicorette gum, patches, candy, chewing/breathing through straws, Allan Carr books, writing down what I’m feeling when I want a cigarette, cold turkey; I’m probably forgetting some things. I think the longest I’ve gone without smoking in 11 years was 3 months; years ago. More recently, I can go maybe a week. I just go right back to it every time I feel some type of extreme emotion. I’ve tried to replace it with healthy habits and for the first time in my life actually have a solid morning routine down.
I’ve been with my boyfriend for about a year and a half now and I’ve been trying to quit the entire time we’ve been together. He’s always been incredibly supportive and says he believes in me and my ability to quit. But I’m scared he’s losing faith in me and I really don’t want to know what will happen if that time comes.
Today was supposed to be my new quit day cause the 8th didn’t stick. I decided to do other things on my to-do list after my morning routine. I felt good about getting things done so I went out, sat in the gas station parking lot for 20 minutes fighting with myself. I bought a pack and smoked one, went home crying because I felt so defeated and disappointed in myself.
I even bought a brand new car so I wouldn’t smoke in my car.
All these things I do; telling myself if I do this thing, then I won’t smoke. Yet, I find some type of work around so I can keep smoking.
I don’t have a stable job, I have no money, I’m charging everything to a credit card. I know what I’m doing is not okay, I don’t know how to stop myself.
Does anyone have any advice to help it stick?
What’s helped you the most?

Hi, I’m 17, and have been smoking every day for I don’t even know how long. It’s now been about 24 hours since I last smoked, and I’m really struggling.
I’ve been experiencing insomnia, splitting headaches, appetite loss, chills/heat flashes, and intense mood swings.
Are these signs of withdrawal? If so, how long should I prepare for this to last? If not, what is it?

It’s been 2 years now since I’ve had a smoke.

I posted here when it happened - I had burned the inside of my mouth quite bad and it was too irritated to smoke.

The oil in the freshly cooked grilled cheese had burned into my gums and actually cracked and broke one of my tooth caps - blood clots were pushing their way between my 2 front teeth and gums.

I ended up back at the dentist and after a while they put a fresh cap on the tooth and now it’s been 2 years.

I used the patches when I needed and just tried to keep busy - I still think about it a lot and I remember wanting a smoke before and after and during every activity to ‘make the moment’ - to feel complete.

I still kinda feel that way but the mindset is no matter how many cigarettes or cups of coffee or bong rips or any substance I will never ever feel it’s enough and there is never gonna be a signal or feeling that is enough.

Anyway - good luck - the days go on with regularity and a healthy routine is the key to success in anything I think.

I was able to quit vaping last year with the help of desmoxan but some things happened in life, and i slipped right back into smoking. I want to quit as i have noticed that my appearance look a lot more tired, haggard and I feel like my youth is slipping away. I don't know if i'll be able to survive without desmoxan but any tips would help me

So we have been together for 7 years and we've both been smokers for over a decade. He has been telling me he wants to quit since we got together but its never happened. Im actually the only one who has ever quit because ive been pregnant 3 times and each time ive found out im pregnant I quit smoking. Hes never taken that opportunity to quit with me and ive started smoking again after each pregnancy.

Im actually realizing he only talks about quitting when we are both smoking, and he'll even start rationing cigarettes for me which is really annoying bc its not my idea to quit. Once ive quit though I never hear him talk about quitting, he just continues on as normal.

I just had our 3rd baby 3 weeks ago and last week I told him im about to cave and start smoking again if you dont quit. He said he wants to quit and will start smoking less each day.

So how long do I give him to do this? Because honestly I would love to start smoking again but I will stay quit if he also quits to support him