Once a smoker, always a smoker?

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I've given up smoking a few times now, once for a year and six months. Then one night after a lot to drink, 3 in a row. That was last summer. I then gave up smoking and drinking for a new years resolution, at the beggining of the year, as I take my sport very seriously. I would only smoke after drinking, but then I end up drinking so I can smoke. Its not the nicotine, it just gives me a comfort. I'm confused, help.

Well...

Labelling yourself a smoker is probably not a wise thing to do. it's just a state of mind based on a choice you make. You could instantly be a non-smoker who had a few smokes, you know?

I wish I could just have a few, but that never works, i've tried it.

I wish I could just have a few, but that never works, i've tried it.

Well My advice to you would be to find professional help. like Quitline or something those guys send you all those brochures and stuff to help you kick the habit.

I'm a smoker myself and I don't intend to quit anytime soon. I know i'm not mentally prepared to commit to it. I've got other issues to resolve.

Good luck man. oh and another bit of info. If you truly want to quit, then you can do it. BELIEVE!

Yeah, cheers man. Trouble is I do love smoking. I think if I force myself to give up and feel like I can never go back to it, that would be very hard to deal with.

I can take it or leave it.

(I used to be a "social smoker" when I was with my ex, but quit when he left.)

I was a 2 pack a day smoker for 26 years (3 a day when I was married ) I quit once cold-turkey for 2 years and used my moms cancer as an excuse to start again. and quit Jan 25th using the "Chantix" pill. It was extremely painless and the only side affect I suffered was "vivid dreams" which was really cool I must admit. It still smells good sometimes when I pass someone smoking, but I FEEL so much better now that it's worth it.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Ive heard it's as strong as a heroin addiction. I can believe that easily remembering going w/out food so I'd have enough for smokes.
I'm also saving about $300.00 a month now so I bought a car w/ it.
My boss also helped me, he'd remind me that my daughter was autistic and is gonna need me her whole life and I was killing myself. Nice old Greek man, it worked. he also put her picture up where I work to remind me of what I'm working for. And that I need to take care of myself so I can be there to take care of her.

Yeah, that's good advice, but sometimes I get so fed up of life, I feel i've got nothing to live for.

I had been a pack a day smoker from the time I was 16. I quit for 2 years when I was 26 and started again at 28. I quit again after I had my daughter when I was 32. I remained a non-smoker for 3 years and started again when my son moved to his dad's. I finally quit again this past December. Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break, and it is an addiction. I still get really strong urges to smoke, especially when I am stressed. I have 4 kids to stay alive for. That is the only thing that keeps me from starting again. Keep trying. You will eventually find a reason to quit that is stronger than the cravings.
I used patches to quit each time. I found they worked well for me.

Good luck to you.

I've been a heavy smoker for almost 30 years then I had to stop for health reasons. Been smoke free for six years now.
I did it "cold turkey" one day at a time... wasn't easy but it can be done.

I wonder if some differently brained people need nicotine. maybe patches would be healthier, but i don't know if they're expensive.

It's kinda strange with me really, nicotine withdrawal has a tendency to give me an asthma attack so I'm in the rather perverse situation of breathing better if I do smoke.

Tried using gum to cut back once, didn't work in the slightest.

Maybe the "Chantix" could help you. It's synthetic nicotine and fills the nicotine receptor sites in the brain, so your brain "thinks" its getting it. (hence the "Painlessness" of it)
But there's no nicotine involved like w/ the patch and the gum. With those your only changing the avenue of induction of the nicotine into your body. which is better than the lungs admittedly. (Look Ma, whole new areas of the body to mess with )
By the 4th day, smoking had lost its "Ahhhhhhhhhhh" factor. It was completely non-fulfilling. You know, that feeling when that first hit, hits your lungs....well that was GONE. It became pointless to smoke. A futile exercise in relief.
It was like losing your best friend who's been with you, and helped get you thru EVERYTHING, but is using you and sucking you dry the whole time.
Your supposed to take it 3 mos, I took it a month and a half off and on the last 3 weeks. (Did't want to get addicted to the pill either. Not a fan)
Feel "Out-Standing" and have allready noticed that I get colds and flus a LOT less this year than last.
Have no insurance and the Pill was $100.00 first month at Costco and $10.00 for the 2nd month. Never picked up the third months.
Good Luck, and what we all have to live for is ...ourselves.

I too noticed that colds and other illness decreased in frequency, duration and intensity since I put out the habit.

I smoked for a few years, stopped for a few and now the thought now of ever doing that again repulses me. WTF was i thinking? (no offense ) I do continue to smoke weed, but thats a different issue imo.

Occasionally ill smell some sorts of tobacco and think it smells nice & inviting, but its been so long now that its lost its drug associations & its just a pleasant smell - like incense/wood smoke etc.

Actually just a few days before i stopped smoking tobacco i looked at it under magnification (30X) - maybe you could try that?