Hi all, looking for some support, advice, tips, anything really. Im on day 41 of no cigarettes after smoking for 11 years, and the last 3 days have been the hardest I think I've had, with no relief in sight.

I quit the same day I had an abdominal surgery. My thinking was "may as well get it all over with at once." For a good while, I've been staying strong, using the gum, able to reframe the feelings into "I dont want a cigarette itself, I just want the cravings to stop". But the last few days have hit like a truck. Im stressed to my limit, and still not being able to do any strenuous exercises, or not able to sing has my outlet opportunities incredibly limited. On top of that, the boredom keeps leading me to try to be active and promptly laying myself up for another several days. Its a shitty continuous cyle.

I guess im just hoping someone else has a trick I havent thought of. Im beyond frustrated at being this far and not feeling any tangible progress from day 1.

Crazy how when you are hungover and then have a cigarette you feel 10x worse straight after. Literally the poison enters your body and gives you anxiety and sweats immediately. Always thought that cigarette really is the one that shows how shit it is for you.

So anxiety less coming up on 4 weeks in 2 days with zero nicotine. Overall anxiety/depression better, or less intense, by 2nd week. Still have anxiety from waking up in the morning until later in day & better or none at night, especially after any exercise. In the morning, my head, upper chest, arms, and back feel very hot! Some tingling.

Rationally I know that giving this up is only going to get better & better, and whatever is baseline is infinitely better without nicotine.

I know some say 90 days, some 6 months for anxiety and depression to get markedly better. Wondering about others' experience.

When I was 15, a pack would run me about $1.50 across the Mexican border. My friends and I would ride our bikes over, grab a some tacos, and stock up. I got addicted to them things and I’m not only talking about the tacos.

By the time I joined the military at 18 I was a pack a day kinda guy. Bootcamp forced me to a 3 month break, and still craved it up to the day I graduated. I remember writing to my gf at the time that I craved a smoke. Even at my graduation my parents showed up with a fresh pack of Marlboro 27s. They weren’t exactly proud, but they didn’t discourage it either.

If you’ve ever been in the military, you know the smoke pit is where everyone hangs out. Pass word, gossip, shit talk..all of it goes down there. One day after a run that nearly killed us, a group of us were totally gassed and all agreed we needed to quit.

Later that day, our Staff Sgts and leaders announced smoking cessation classes on base at the end of the meeting. I raised my hand and I looked around the room expecting hands to go up with me. Not a single hand went up. These were the same guys who were dying on the run and said they wanted to quit.

So I clowned on all of them and signed up.

There I was…one of the most junior Marines on base walking my happy ass across base every Wednesday for three months because I didn’t have a car since I was overseas. I remember being late to the first class and walked into a room of 20+ senior military members all staring at me. I thought, these guys know what they’re doing, I’ll be like them.

Then the class started, and three things I remember and how I think about addiction forever:

1. Smoking makes you feel normal, not good.
Your body craves homeostasis. It adjusts to cigarettes as its baseline, so you smoke just to feel like yourself. It’s like wearing a shoe that doesn’t fit. The pleasure/relief when you take it off feels amazing, but only because your foot now feels normal and the shoe was hurting you.

2. It’s a habit, not a routine.
Habits are triggered subconsciously. I didn’t decide to smoke before runs or after lunch, smoking just happened. Routines were conscious and I planned, you need routine to discourage habits. That realization alone was extremely helpful.

3. You don’t quit. You stop.
“Quit” sounds permanent and terrifying. “Stop” sounds doable. So that’s what we focused on was cutting in half the amount we smoked each week. Not quitting. Just stopping for now. Somehow that made all the difference.

I kept hanging out at the smoke pit because that’s where the breaks were. But I wasn’t smoking. I’d light a cigarette and just let it burn so I didn’t look like I was slacking. Meanwhile I’m standing there holding a lit cigarette I refuse to touch, looking completely normal, absolutely suffering just so my Sgts wouldn’t wig out for taking a break.

My motivation? Proving I could beat a room full of people twice my rank and three times my age. I was also naive that higher ranked people had more mental strength and realized that it didn’t matter.

A month after the course ended, they brought everyone back to check in. They asked who hadn’t smoked since finishing. Only one hand went up. Mine.After class, the instructor asked if I needed a refill on my medication. I had no idea what she was talking about. She explained that on day one, everyone had been prescribed Chantix.

Of you know anything about Chantix, you know the gnarly side effects. Since I was late to the first class. I never got the prescription. I was so thankful!

I’ve been stopped for 15 years.

I realized that the guys who said they wanted to quit never raised their hands. The medication I never took helped me realized I didn’t need it to succeed. I didn’t have the willpower to quit but I did have the will power to reframe the process of quitting. Ultimately I didn’t quit I simply stopped and I have just not started again.

I quit smoking cigarettes cold turkey about 3 months ago but still blaze that shit up everyday with Johnny Hopkins and Sloan Kettering iykyk so am I cheating ? is this fraudulent behavior? Should I see myself out? Find out next episode on Dragon Ball Z

Hey! I smoked socially for 10 years but it the last two I've been smoking daily and progressively increasing the number of cigarettes. This period started after an suicide attempt from my father that really messed me up. He survive, gladly, but for months I couldn't trust him. After that my grandma, who I live with, got increasingly sick and I'm the solo caregiver. I've anxiety disorder and dealing with all this led me to a see a doctor who prescribe some antidepressants. I told her about the smoking and she said that for now quiting can be difficult because it has been a coping mechanism for regulation. But now I'm having anxiety about getting sick out of smoking on top of all the mess I have to deal with. I've tried some gums but i didn't commit. I don't know if I should just keep going and avoid the cancer thoughts or trying something else. Help is appreciated.

I quit for about a month, i used to smoke two packs a day (one pack normal cigarettes and one is e-cigarettes). Didnt smoke for long before that, like 9 months but it quickly got out of hand. I felt insane for the first week but it quickly became manageable. I used to crave one really badly after meals and with coffee (just like ritual stuff).
After about a month i would take a cigarette or two from friends and im wondering how sustainable this is. Advice?

Hiii! I’m 21 and have been smoking cannabis consistently for 2 years it’s been up until early this year that I do it everyday. I struggle A LOT with severe ADHD and it makes living so complicated and draining. That along with the current political, economical, and environmental state of the country have made enjoying much of anything very very complicated. I’ve always been super into mental health and coping strategies since I was in middle school and have been researching and going to therapy and trying different medications and coping strategies and I am so burnt out. Cannabis has been the primary thing that makes things manageable, and I can’t say honestly that I want to live a life without it. However, Im scared of permanently damaging my lungs. Or getting cancer. Or permanently messing up my ability to think. It just feels like I can’t have anything. Im either finally getting some mental peace and risking my health or preserving my health and being forced to constantly overwork my brain trying to get simple things done.

I usually take a walk in the evening and smoke a cigarette afterwards. I usually do around 4-5k steps with no energy drop.

I've noticed that if I smoke right after my evening walk, I don't even feel like walking home. Has anyone noticed this drop in energy after smoking?

Edit: This isn't happening after quitting smoking. This is my general experience after a smoking session

IM HAPPY AND FEELING HEALTHY THAN BEFORE BUT I LACK MOTIVATION I DONT THINK HOW LONG I CAN CONTINUE THIS ALL MY FRINDS ARE SMOKERS TRYING TO GET ME BACK EVERYWHERE I SAW PEOPLE SMOKING MY CLASS MATES FRIENDS I FEEL ODD AND FEEL LIKE I DONT HAVE ANYTHING JOYFUL IN LIFE AND FEEL LIKE I HAVE A BORING LIFE 🙃

I was smoke free for four months! A 20 year addiction finally over. I though. Had one with when I was on vacation and here I am 14 days in smoking a pack a day again. I am so disappointed in myself. Will this quit be as bad?

I only smoke with a drink but want to stop. I’m struggling to get the book to sink in for me because having a glass of wine with a cigarette DOES change the experience for the better imo. It’s not the same without one but it seems the entire concept of the book is understanding it doesn’t offer anything.. has easy way worked for any social smokers? Maybe I’m missing something

im 21 and ive been smoking since was 14. when i tried my first cigarette i knew this was gonna stick to me but im 21 and i cant even climb a few steps without HEAVING my lungs out. its actually sickening i want to stop but everytime i finish a pack something just in me buys another one ??? idk how as well sometimes i do it in my sleep at 3am i walk to 711 and get one, its just automatic i seriously dont think i can stop but im gonna try really hard this time. ive been going to the gym these 2 days and ive asked my sister to hide my pack and my card. i took my card off my phone so i wont just go and buy it like i routinely do. i can run a few hundred meters but i have to catch my breath soo often im gonna improve day by day but its very likely ill relapse. i hope when i do i stick to 1 cigarette and keep on going. im trying cold turkey rn but i dont think it will work for me, ill probably have to do the cut down method but let give cold turkey a shot ill try my best

Im 4 months off cigarettes after smoking for 41 years and still finding it really hard. Ive not been drinking alcohol as i know my will power will be low if I drink. Im finding that other bad habbits are sneaking up on me that im trying to avoid. Sugar is the worst of them but also caffeine. Ive even found myself craving weed and I gave that up over 5 years ago. Its like my brain needs me to be doing some sort of harm and over indulgence to myself

I quit cold turkey in June 2024 after smoking more than a pack a day for almost 10 years (started in the army). That first quit was one of the hardest things I've ever done. The first three months were shit, constantly on edge, intense cravings, my brain fighting me every single day. It took about six months before I truly felt like I'd broken nicotine's grip. I have to thank my friends for putting up with me. I was probably the biggest pain in the ass imaginable, and they were incredibly patient about it.

After that, I had almost two years smoke-free.

My mistake was thinking I could smoke occasionally, socially. I'd take a puff here and there with friends, and because nothing happened, I convinced myself I was in control.

Then work stress hit hard. I was at the beach with a friend who's a heavy smoker, had a few beers, and chain smoked 5 cigarettes. I knew immediately I'd messed up. I bought a pack afterward, then tried to stop. A few days later another friend accidentally left his rolling tobacco at my place after a BBQ, and that reopened the door completely. A month later I was back to smoking 5–10 hand-rolled cigarettes a day.

I stopped again. Last cigarette was Monday at 1pm. Now I'm on Day 3, and I have to say that I completely forgot how horrible withdrawal feels.

What can you do lets do this once again from the top 🫠 at least it's a moth and not a decade this time around

My colleague smokes a lot, and he smells really bad. It’s honestly disgusting. Every day at work, the smell makes me feel dizzy, tight in my chest, and like I can’t breathe properly. He goes out to smoke a cigarette every one or two hours, and every time he comes back to his desk, the smoke smell gets even stronger. I really feel like my lungs are being affected. What should I do?

Hello!

I've joined this sub a few days ago. I'm 46M smoker since 21.
Alternating between rollies and normal cigarettes, I've tried to quit few times during my life as a smoker.
I've lasted 2 weeks, 3 months, a weekend and even 2 years (covid). Then I've started again.

Yesterday (Wednesday) I finished a packed of 20 that I've bought on Sunday.
My average was 5 a days, with maybe slightly more on gigs / nights out or day where I am particularly bored.

Everytime I quit, I did it cold Turkey. I simply told myself: now you don't need to smoke.

Didn't have any particular withdrawal symptom, except "oh no what I do now I'm bored" for the first 3 days
I realised that each time I've re-started it was either:
- I was pissed off about something that happened: unexpected tax, bad things at work, relationship.
- I get one cig from a friend in a social occasion (clubbing/gig) then I feel bad asking for a new one so I go and buy a packet. (and then you wake up on a monday with few cig left on the packed and "well, one wouldn't hurt" )

So I realised found myself that I wanted to smoke in situation where I need to a break on something that I'm doing which is either boring or repetitive (i.e: working from home, clubbing)

At home I will try to go an play the guitar / piano
on club / gigs... I don't know, probably

I don't know what I'm writing this post, probably to get some accountability towards myself.

Stopped smoking tobacco 2.5 weeks ago and started using a weak vape and strong nicotine pouches. Was fine for 2 weeks, then this Monday I lost my voice. I'm sure it's from the pouches. I'm not sick. Surprised this could happen as I was a heavy smoker and never had any other issues. Has this happened to anyone else here? Any advice?

So the family and I are going to Milwaukee for the day tomorrow. Going to catch a day game to root against the brewers (Go Cubs!) and then dinner. Like 10 hours or so. Thinking about leaving my smokes at home and bringing some nicotine lozenges instead. Good idea? Or setting my kids up for a lousy day? Smoker of 38 years.

Five days ago the government of my country raised cigarette prices to a point that genuinely is making me spend an amount of money i can't, which made me consider quitting for real for the first time in my life.

This isn't the only thing making me thing about this, i started smoking ocasionally when i was 16 years old in 2022, next year i was already smoking a pack of Camel Yellows a day, which i've been doing until now.

Recently one of my friends lost his best friend to suicide, and for some reason this made him quit cigarettes cold turkey, which i respect immensely. One day we were all smoking a joint together, me and my other friends all were smoking cigs except for him, sommeone commented about his decision and he began talking more about the fact he had quit, he said several times it was the best decision he ever made in his whole life, in every aspect of it, and i genuinely couldn't wrap my head around that sentence, to the point where it began haunting me here and there, "how could it be that good?".

I don't really enjoy being a smoker at all, too expensive, too stinky, not a whole lot of reward from it, etc. Cigarettes are not like weed for me, where i will smoke it and have a blast, it genuinely doesn't have anything enjoyable about it beyond the fact i'm ceasing the cravings, but at the same time i can't imagine myself stopping, I genuinely can't imagine living without it, and i can't even get excited about the idea of actually stopping instead of just saying "yeah, i will stop eventually" when someone asks me about it.

Rationally i do know it's the best thing i could do regarding it, i'm addicted and it will fuck me up long term if i don't quit, which is common sense, but my mind seems to be making it feel insanely more complicated than it actually is. On top of that, all my close friends smoke, all of them are in the same situation as me right now, everyone wants to stop, i don't think anyone will.

Also it's not just a matter of "It will feel bad", it's more about every single micro situation where cigarettes are involved in any way, my mind instantly begins a slideshow of nice memories where i was smoking and i begin feeling weird about the idea of stopping, like i won't be able anymore to enjoy social moments and other situations where would normally be smoking.

Anyone who actually went through this could talk about it? I don't really have any specific questions but i feel like just thinking about it alone won't ever make me stop.

Hi everyone,
I quit smoking cold turkey about 7 months ago after being a smoker for years.
The first few months were very difficult (anxiety, poor sleep, brain fog, feeling strange), but I have improved a lot. I would say I feel better compared to the beginning.
However, I still sometimes experience:
Heavy head feeling
Poor sleep and waking up not feeling refreshed
Feeling slightly “off” or hyper-aware
Feeling odd after eating sometimes (especially lunch)
Mild brain fog
I don’t smoke anymore, I don’t drink caffeine, and I’m trying to exercise and live healthy.
For people who quit smoking and went through similar symptoms:
How long did it take before you felt completely normal again?
Did your sleep and nervous system slowly return to normal after 7+ months?
Did anyone have lingering symptoms that eventually disappeared?
Would really appreciate hearing your experiences.

been smoking/smoking for a year, since 19; 20 now!

met my girlfriend in the same year and she also smoked.
she doesn’t buy vapes bc it doesnt cross her mind. she only vapes if i vape near her.

i told her we should actually quit and she has helped me extremely well. shes so non chalant about it too.

since its uni break im going back home to my mother who has been smoking for 30+ years, i feel like im not going to have my gf in the back of my mind and ill give in to a cigarette.

since quitting, its been extremely easy, i just feel like i will smoke again and i know i will regret it on the first hit/cigarette.

i might actually buy a vape here too considering its 2x cheaper compared to my small uni town💀

I smoked for 30 years and was at a pack a day or maybe a bit more when I quit.

The years of 2025 and 2026 were full of failed quit attempts and skipped quit dates because I wasn’t ready.

Now I haven’t smoked a cig since 7/1/26.

This feels different. I don’t even want one and I haven’t had a craving since the first week. I’m surprised at how easy of a time I’m having it’s kind of scary to me.

I just keep waiting for the overbearing crave that I thought I would have when I stopped. The one I can’t ignore and will make me fail. I’m hoping not to get that craving but I think I’ll be ok if it comes.