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The pain of cold turkey stopping and the hardship of quitting in general vary widely between individuals; and even to a lesser extent at different periods of ti

by duozerk 10y ago

The pain of cold turkey stopping and the hardship of quitting in general vary widely between individuals; and even to a lesser extent at different periods of time for the same individual, I think. I once stopped smoking for ~3 weeks and I too found it easier than advertised, but not nearly as easy as you; also, the most problematic symptom for me was irritability (I was a complete irrascible bastard while stopping). And I know people for which it is very, very hard (cold sweats, migraines, etc. for two weeks).

bitJericho 10y ago
14 year ex smoker here. 1 week of sweating hell and tic tacs followed by 3 months of hell and tic tacs and now I'm a few years free :) Not easy but just requires certitude.
throwaway7767 10y ago
As another anecdote, I've found that it takes about 3 days for me to pretty much lose all the physical addiction. That part is pretty easy as long as you can find a 3 day chunk of time in which you don't have stressful obligations and fill it with some activity (even if it's just binge-watching Star Trek or something). After that, it's all habit. That takes closer to 3 weeks to break. Here I find it helps to create another habit, maybe buy a bunch of candy and eat one when you feel like a cigarette. It's all very doable.
- tripzilch 10y ago
  I've quit a couple of times (and I will do so again--for the last time, obviously) and my experiences are pretty much the same. Best way I found to get over those 3 days is to be sick, drunk, hungover or all of those, coinciding with a strong urge to quit and running out of tobacco (or throwing it out) at the start of it. And it's not easy. But it might be for some. But I wonder if the ones that can quit really easily are really the ones that need all this anti-smoking advertising, anyway? I mean they can just have a moment of clarity, realize the health risks and quit. Well good on you (I mean it). I'm glad there is all this negative pressure nowadays, means I will have to say "no" less often, and feel supported by it. And even though I feel quitting is hard for me (compared to people who can smoke once every two months or so, or maybe never, just like that), when I hear these stories about people having physical withdrawal symptoms for weeks, that sucks, I feel for them and wish them strength too.

by duozerk 10y ago

bitJericho 10y ago

14 year ex smoker here. 1 week of sweating hell and tic tacs followed by 3 months of hell and tic tacs and now I'm a few years free :) Not easy but just requires certitude.

throwaway7767 10y ago

As another anecdote, I've found that it takes about 3 days for me to pretty much lose all the physical addiction. That part is pretty easy as long as you can find a 3 day chunk of time in which you don't have stressful obligations and fill it with some activity (even if it's just binge-watching Star Trek or something). After that, it's all habit. That takes closer to 3 weeks to break. Here I find it helps to create another habit, maybe buy a bunch of candy and eat one when you feel like a cigarette. It's all very doable.

tripzilch 10y ago
I've quit a couple of times (and I will do so again--for the last time, obviously) and my experiences are pretty much the same. Best way I found to get over those 3 days is to be sick, drunk, hungover or all of those, coinciding with a strong urge to quit and running out of tobacco (or throwing it out) at the start of it. And it's not easy. But it might be for some. But I wonder if the ones that can quit really easily are really the ones that need all this anti-smoking advertising, anyway? I mean they can just have a moment of clarity, realize the health risks and quit. Well good on you (I mean it). I'm glad there is all this negative pressure nowadays, means I will have to say "no" less often, and feel supported by it. And even though I feel quitting is hard for me (compared to people who can smoke once every two months or so, or maybe never, just like that), when I hear these stories about people having physical withdrawal symptoms for weeks, that sucks, I feel for them and wish them strength too.