It has been 6 months.
Last edited Sat Oct 4, 2014, 02:38 PM - Edit history (1)
For 29 years, and at almost 2.5 packs a day, I quit smoking six months ago! NO CIGS! Sure, the first two weeks I wanted to punch people in the throat, but eventually, the cravings weren't as bad. It is true, I still have cravings now and again, but this is a major accomplishment.
YAY!
ETA: Thank you all for your support! It really has been a big step for me. If you are trying to quit yourself, I have some tips throughout the thread which helped me, but it is always best to make your OWN plan! Be patient with yourself. Don't beat yourself up, if you stumble. I did it...you can do it too!
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It's not easy. My husband has quit about 50 times in the almost 30 years we've been married.
Stress gets him again, every time.
I quit for 3 weeks last year, which was a big deal for me. It was the first time I'd ever quit, even for a day. I bought an e-cig so I could still get the nicotine, and that made it a hell of a lot easier. For some reason I got these awful cravings after 3 weeks, and I gave in. I still have the e-cig, and I hope to quit again -- this time for good.
You've quit for half a year now, so I think you'll be able to stay cig-free for good. I wish you the best of luck. It seems like the worst cravings happen after a fight with the spouse. I know a lot of people have told me that they quit for years and then they had a huge fight with the husband/wife and that was when they started again. Be on guard in stressful situations like that. Go pig out at a Chinese buffet instead. 
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Like others here, I quit 17 years ago, cold-turkey. First few days were a killer, but the desire to light up is gone.
You had a good idea about the Chinese buffet!
Some hints from me: know your triggers (seems you already know one 
) and prepare ahead of time on how to deal with them.
-- destroy any habits (for me, it was smoking while on the phone, especially to my mother (TRIGGER), driving, and letting the puppies out to piddle)
-- take your time, if you stumble, call it that and move on, don't beat yourself up over it. I think this is the biggest reason people go back to smoking because they figure...well, I already had one, so I failed...no! It was just a hiccup!
I didn't quit cold turkey. It took me almost three weeks to quit. I gradually cut back, challenged myself on habit smoking (I allowed for stronger ones to end last...after meals and when I first wake up). There were a few days when the number of cigs went up, but I just said "ok, I'll do better tomorrow". Also, I used a vapor cig, not e-cigs. The vapor ones are MUCH better!
Good luck to you! It is really difficult, more so now than ever before because of new additives in cigs that didn't exist 10 years ago. Also, you may experience flu-like symptoms the first month, believe it or not, that is normal, just not something most "stop smoking" sites tell you!
It's been about 16 years for me (with one three month relapse somewhere in there). I still get cravings now and then - nothing severe and nothing a glass of water or a short walk can't cure.
Stick with it.
Congratulations! 
I'm so proud of you!!!
I quit smoking during the Carter Administration. You can do this.
All smokers should read this.
Thank you!
And I'm quite series here, since I've done One-Step-at-a-Time, Smoke-Enders and a hypnotism class and I'm still smoking, though I have cut down. So I know exactly how hard this is... 
If you have cut back, that's a great start. That's how I did it. Push yourself, not too hard, to do less and less (or equal a few days). Keep a chart. People smoke more when stressed; quitting stresses you out, and that is how the cycle keeps going. I found the vapor (not e-cig) really helps! Start using it to replace a few of your regular cigs, ESPECIALLY for "habit" smoking (i.e. a cig after meals, while driving, on the phone, etc.)
You can do it! It just takes time. Don't beat yourself up if you stumble and don't let others get on you if you slip! When it starts to be more manageable, then set a timetable to quit. Don't start with a timetable, it can be a recipe for failure.
I gave up alcohol in 2009, but quitting smoking is much, much harder.
I've recently gotten my updated continuing education as a respiratory therapist on smoking cessation. Basically, you've taken the approach the "experts" have told us works best.
It's all behavior modification, which is what you end up doing… and not beating yourself in the head when you happen to stumble through it.
