Remember that as your body is going through withdrawal you will experience cravings when your body needs something, as in necessities. Feel the need for a smoke? When was the last time you ate? Are you hydrated? Is it time for bed?

You got this!

those first cravings are some of the hardest.

i will hit 4 years free in February. among many other tactics, when i would get a hankering, one of the moves i did was look up the benefits-over-time (example) to take stock of what i had accomplished and what i could look forward to next).

i also remember reading that the desire for a drag fades away over a few minutes if one can distract oneself in the short term.

also, for the record, it gets much easier once your sense of smell+taste fully returns and you’ve washed all those clothes / vigorously cleaned old smoking areas.

my last year of it, i pushed myself to try and hide the habit. no smoking at work, in my car, or out in public. no more bumming from strangers even when anxious/awkward (hard!). only hidden/outside in my back porch, in the late evening and only in shitty home-only clothes about to be washed. and all lighters/papers/etc would have to be put away after. i would make myself brush my teeth / mouthwash afterward. i have no doubt all the extra rigamarole helped me finally stop for good, because jesus what a hassle.

anyway, good luck. it’s one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.

The biggest thing that helped me quit once upon a time was someone telling me that the chemical addiction to smoking lasts 72 hours, everything after that is habitual. If you can kick the 72 hours, the rest is in your head.

Having that information let me constantly remind myself it’s bullshit habits in my head and made it significantly easier.

No idea how true. But that doesn’t matter if it worked.

Inside you are two wolves, and they both love and support you.

Good on you!

I am trying not to start it even though I’ve never smoked, I feel like I need it badly every time I see someone smoke. I don’t know why it attracts me so much, I keep reminding myself that it’s much easier to keep away now than it will be for me to cut it in the future.

If you need a quick fix, chipotles in adobo or simmering roasted foods in oil can get you some smokiness.

Some paprikas are good for it too!

Here we FUCKING GO

I know it’s a cliche but the beginning really is the hardest part. This December I went from inhaling as much hash as air to none at all, and honestly the first week felt like diet opioid withdrawal. Sweating, shakes, chills, nausea, crushing depression and boredom, and of course the cravings. Several times I just had to take sleeping pills to knock myself out, no shame in using whatever tools are at your disposal. You’ve got this, and even if you stumble it gets easier.

when I quit I got a lot of mileage out of toothpicks, I think they helped

This is gonna suck big time but it will be worth it, if only for the extra money you will have! What did it for me were carrot sticks for the oral cravings and junk food for the pain

https://www.amazon.com/Habitrol-Nicotine-Lozenge-Flavor-Lozenges/dp/B00UO1G2AM/

These are pretty solid for quitting. They don’t taste terrible like gum, last a couple hours, and work well enough.

you got this

It’s good to see you keep trying. Keep it up!

well done! I quit about 4 years ago and its much easier after a few days. if it gets bad just find something to chew on, gum, toothpicks, sunflower seeds, even fake smoking through a pen tube. it’s so much better to have lung capacity and being able to smell and taste things