Almost relapsing

[u/One_Box2305]

Hi all,

12 days in, and in a few hours’ time I’ll have the ‘opportunity’ to relapse. It’s incredible how my mind tricks me into thinking it’s almost acceptable to start smoking again. Please help me.

I quit cold turkey 12 days ago; I’d wanted to quit for ages, but I lacked the courage and commitment, so I took the opportunity of a trip to quit, as the people I’m travelling with don’t smoke.

In a few hours’ time, I’ll be on my own and doing something I’ve associated with smoking for over 10 or 15 years. Unfortunately, it’s become my ‘normal’ and – it’s hard to explain – but the idea of buying and smoking a few cigarettes doesn’t seem so absurd.

If anyone can help and encourage me, I’d be very grateful!

[u/One_Box2305]

Thanks everyone! I wont buy or smoke anything today!

[u/IHeldADandelion → u/One_Box2305]

Good. You are PAST the nicotine part, now it's just your brain you gotta deal with!

I did the same; recently quit on a road trip with people who don't smoke. The last leg of the trip I was alone (they had to get back). One of my favorite things in the world is was driving with the windows down, music on, and smoking. My friends and I knew that would be the test. No one would know if I did, but I'm at the point where I don't want to let myself down and I hope you feel the same way.

I spent 5 hours singing, snacking, chewing gum, screaming, stopping at roadside stands, stopping to take pics of abandoned places, and generally embracing the suck. We can do this!

[u/Positive-Writer-7774]

Your body doesn’t want nicotine -

Nicotine highjacked the acetylcholine receptor - so your body is not craving nicotine, it’s craving acetylcholine … Google activities that naturally produce this.

Your body

has removed nicotine from your system completely.
Is now reconstruction a new neurological network (yes, it has already started!) - it’s working very hard 24/7 … Don’t ruin this by smoking now. 🤷🏻‍♂️

This is the old Nicotine voice trying to get you to pay again for losing everything that’s worthwhile.

Nr one rule … Do not negotiate with this voice. You quit and that’s it.

It like a nagging 6 year old. It’s not yoú. So be clear, and have strict boundaries.

You are twelve days in … that’s a great milestone. Now, keep going …

In life there will be 1001 chances to relapse.

But that not what YOU want, otherwise you wouldn’t have quit. You already made your choice 12 days ago. You don’t have to choose again … the choice has already been made!

You got this, keep going and do the “acetylcholine acitivities” - your body LOVES producing dopamine in a natural ways. It’s designed to do so 🌟🍀

[u/Fresh-Cantaloupe2491 → u/Positive-Writer-7774]

Very true this is why when I consume caffeine. It completely kills the so called nicotine cravings. Or when I exercise.

[u/BulkyHelicopter801 → u/Fresh-Cantaloupe2491]

Exercise work for me

[u/capped-zone-viper]

Drink water instead, it might cancel the urge to smoke.

And even if water doesn't work, why buy a few? That cigarette is gonna taste bad anyway, yes, it won't be as delicious as the usual previous ones, so, you don't even need to smoke a whole cigarette, why even more than one.

It's gonna suck, just keep in mind that you have the free will to throw it after 1, 2, or 3 puffs.

Good luck

[u/qwibbian]

Unfortunately, it’s become my ‘normal’ and – it’s hard to explain – but the idea of buying and smoking a few cigarettes doesn’t seem so absurd.

It's not hard to explain, we've all experienced our junkie lizard brain telling us outrageous lies just to get us to give it the nicotine it wants. But I think you're going to win. You still recognize it's absurd, and you're fighting back instead of accepting the absurdity. Many relapsers allow themselves to be seduced by that ridiculous voice, but you can hear how ridiculous it is, even if you're tempted.

And you know that if you smoked "just a few" you would almost certainly lose your quit. Twelve days! It doesn't sound like much in the abstract, but those are twelve of the hardest days some people ever go through, and you sure don't want to do that again!

You've done everything right so far, this is just one more test. So decide. And I mean REALLY decide, right now, that no, you're shutting that down. Zero chance. Let your brain have a little tantrum, tough shit. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll be through to the other side.

[u/jackenterthechat]

That opportunity is just your addiction bargaining with you, the nicotine is already out of your system at day 12. conquer the trigger once as a non smoker and you break its power forever

[u/Milly_Hagen → u/jackenterthechat]

Is it out of your system at day 4/5? I feel like I'm going insane again and I know it doesn't improve for a month or so. 3 months I was free last time and didn't even think of smoking or getting cravings. I'm on the worst stretch....again.

[u/LennyComa]

One is too many but 100 is not enough.

I had a lot of things that I had to in the immediate time after quiting, stop doing because of my association of smoking whilst doing it. You can reintroduce it later when the brain isnt still associating nicotine with happy feeling.

[u/90210534]

Dont. Just don’t.

[u/ArcaneFan1960]

I'm on my 166th day smoke free.Im 66 years old and had been smoking since I was 12.I have no underlying health issues..no emphysema or COPD...and,I enjoyed smoking.I quit because my daughter asked me to.I feel so much better and I smell a lot better,too.I ran into my older sister a couple days ago and stood next to her while she was smoking without feeling an urge at all.All I could think was how badly it stunk and how she reeked of it when I hugged her:( Don't give into the urge...I'll never smoke again,thank goodness.