Will I Miss Smoking Forever?

I quit smoking seven months ago. I do feel better, and I don't struggle all of the time now, but I still have days when I find myself missing my cigarettes. I sometimes wish I could have just one now and then. At times, the urge to smoke is so intense. I wonder if I'll ever be free of this habit? Will I miss smoking forever?Answer: Think for a moment of your life as a tightly woven piece of fabric. Each thread represents your life events and experiences. And running alongside all of the many "life" threads are threads of a finer gauge. They are so fine in fact, they're impossible to see with the naked eye. Those threads are your smoking habit, and they've become so thoroughly interwoven in the fabric of your life, you find you can't do anything without thinking about how smoking will fit into it.

The associations that we build up over time between the activities in our lives and smoking are closely knit. Once you quit smoking, your job becomes one of unraveling those smoking threads, or associations, one by one. How does that happen? And how long does it take?

Recovery from nicotine addiction is a process of gradual release over time.

Every smoke-free day you complete is teaching you how to live your life without cigarettes. Bit by bit, you're reprogramming your responses to the daily events that trigger the urge to smoke. The more practice you get, the less cravings will plague you. Over the course of your first smoke-free year, you'll encounter and have a chance to clear most of the events and situations in your daily life that you associate with smoking.

Some smoking triggers are seasonal in nature and can create strong urges to smoke months into your quit program. For instance, if you quit smoking during the winter and you're an avid gardener, you could find yourself craving a smoke break the first time you're out digging dirt the following Spring. Thoughts of smoking may hit you with an intensity you haven't felt in months. Don't worry. Once you make your way through the trigger smoke-free, you'll move on with ease.

The first year is all about firsts...experiencing the many daily events in your life smoke free for the first time. And it's all about practice. You built your smoking habit through years of practice. Now, build the nonsmoking you the same way. Practice is a necessary part of recovery from nicotine addiction, so try to relax and let time help you. The more of it you put between yourself and that last cigarette you smoked, the stronger you'll become.

There's another step in finding permanent freedom from nicotine addiction that is just as important as practice and time. It involves your attitude. I'm sure you've heard about people who still struggle years and years after quitting. They're the ones who say they "still miss smoking" 20 years down the road. That's a frightening thing to hear, but don't let it throw you. The reason they are in that position has to do with the fact that they never did the work to change what cigarettes meant to them.

Along with using patience and time to help you reprogram your associations with smoking, you must also alter the way you think about your cigarettes. The path to permanent freedom has to do with changing the relationship you have to smoking, and the way to make that mental shift is through education.

As the saying goes...

...and it's the truth when it comes to recovering from nicotine addiction. Educate yourself by reading everything you can find about how tobacco harms us from head to toe. It will open your eyes, but more importantly, it will help you start to change the meaning that cigarettes have for you. Once you do that, the mental chains of this addiction will begin to break down for good. You'll truly be free, and believe me, it's a great place to be.

I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever - I will never smoke again. How can I be so sure? I've changed what cigarettes mean to me. Tobacco is now synonymous with death and slavery in my mind. Smoking has lost its luster completely.

Be patient with yourself and allow for as much time as you need to heal from this addiction. There is no set formula for recovery; we're all unique in how we move through the process. Read about nicotine addiction and do the work to change the way you perceive cigarettes. They are instruments of death. They deserve nothing more than your disdain.

Don't look at quitting tobacco as a sacrifice. You're not giving up anything of value. Your quit program is a gift. Change your attitude and you'll find your freedom.

Cessation is doable, and your precious life is worth the work it takes to achieve.

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10 Tips to Quit Smoking

Leo, a member of the About.com Smoking Cessation forum, wrote these tips up to share with the readers from his excellent blog, Zenhabits. Geared toward helping people help themselves, Leo's site does a fine job of inspiring a person to try, and the quit tips below reflect his ability to motivate. Thanks for sharing, Leo.

I recently celebrated my 2-year anniversary of quitting smoking. Well, of finally quitting. Like most smokers, I had tried to quit smoking many times and failed. But this quit attempt stuck, and I'd like to share the top 10 things that made this quit successful when the others failed.

Looking back on the quits that failed, I know I was only half into it. I told myself I wanted to quit smoking, but I always felt in the back of my mind that I'd fail. I didn't write anything down. I didn't tell everybody (maybe my wife, but just her). This time, I wrote it down. I wrote down a quit plan. I blogged about it. I made a vow to my daughter. I told family and friends I was quitting. I went online and joined a smoking cessation support forum. I had rewards. Many of these will be in the following tips, but the point is that I fully committed, and there was no turning back. I didn't make it easy for myself to fail. You can't just up and say, "I'm gonna quit today." You have to prepare yourself: Plan it out. Have a system of rewards, a support system, a person to call if you're in trouble. Write down what you'll do when you get an urge to smoke. Print it out. Post it up on your wall, at home and at work. If you wait until you get the urge to figure out what you're going to do, you've already lost. You have to be ready when those urges come. When the urge comes, your mind will rationalize. "What's the harm?" And you'll forget why you're doing this. Know why you're doing this before that urge comes. Is it for your kids? For your wife? For you health? So you can run? Because the girl you like doesn't like smokers? Have a very good reason or reasons for quitting. List them out. Print them out. Put it on a wall, and remind yourself of those reasons every time the urge to smoke hits. The mind is a tricky thing. It will tell you that one cigarette won't hurt, and it's hard to argue with that logic, especially when you're in the middle of an urge. And those urges are super hard to argue with. Don't give in. Tell yourself, before the urges come, that you will not smoke a single puff, ever again. Because the truth is, one puff will hurt. One puff leads to a second, and a third, and soon you're not quitting, you're smoking. Don't fool yourself. A single puff will almost always lead to a recession. Do not take a single puff! One of the things that helped the most in this quit was an online forum for people quitting tobacco. You won't feel so alone when you're miserable. Misery loves company, after all. Go online, introduce yourself, get to know others who are going through the exact same thing, post about your crappy experience and read about others who are even worse than you. Best rule: Post before you smoke. If you set this rule and stick to it, you will make it through your smoking urge. Others will talk you through it, and they'll celebrate with you when you make it through your first day, day two, three, four, week one and beyond. It's great fun.

Page 2: Leo's Quit Tips 6 to 10

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101 Ways to Avoid Smoking

61. Make a puzzle.
62. Organize your boxes of pictures.
63. Alphabetize your CD rack.
64. Come here and read and post.
65. Go to miniclip.com and PLAY GAMES.
66. Do your nails. Hard to smoke with wet nails. I've tried.
67. Take a shower.
68. Take a candle-lit bath.
69. Clean out a messy drawer.
70. Take a day trip.
71. Try making home-made candles or soap.
72. Run in place.
73. Do some jumping jacks.
74. Start a reward fund - put away the amount you spend on smokes every day and use it to treat yourself once in awhile.
75. Write a poem.
76. Go antique shopping.
77. Go plant a flower for every negative thought.
78. Go to church/talk to God.
79. Let your husband cook supper for you.
80. Call your Grandmother!
81. Paint a room.
82. Eat a hot fudge sundae.
83. Go play mini-golf.
84. Clean the basement or garage.
85. Wax the car.
86. Make love with your significant other.
87. Scrub the floor.
88. Treat yourself to a massage.
89. Chop up some veggies for a stir-fry - keep your hands busy!
90. Clean out the litter box.
91. Check your car's tire pressure.
92. Call a radio show and request a song.
93. Go ride a few rollercoasters.
94. Take a walk in nature.
95. Watch the sun set.
96. Write a goodbye letter to cigarettes
97. Donate blood.
98. Color your hair.
99. Make a greeting card.
100. Write a list of things you are grateful for.

The final suggestion in our list comes in the form of a story...

101. Run around in the sand in your socks!

From KERRIR: One of the things I couldn't do before was take the kids to the beach. I couldn't go long enough without smoking and there's nowhere to hide either!

My 3 year old asked me today if we could go to the beach...someone at his daycare had mentioned it. It was a really cold day, so I said no, we couldn't. Well, he asked me if it was really far and it dawned on me how much I had actually been depriving this child. We live 2 miles away from 2 miles of beautiful beaches. So, I scooped him up in just his jammies and socks and down to the beach we went.

I told him we couldn't get out of the car because he wasn't dress, but then said, what the heck. We got out and cuddled and listened to the waves and he just looked at me and said, "The beach is great, Mom." I put him down in the sand and let him run around in his socks.

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Cancer Treatments Side Effects

Side effects from lung cancer treatments vary from person to person, and are often temporary. The doctors and nurses can explain possible side effects of a particular treatment plan, and ways to alleviate discomfort during and after treatment. Lung cancer surgery is a major operation. Air and fluid tend to collect in the chest after surgery, so it is important to do things such as coughing, turning over, and breathing deeply to help remove the excess air/fluid. Soreness in the chest and arm and shortness of breath are common side effects of lung surgery. It takes weeks or even months to regain strength and energy after this procedure.

Lung Cancer Surgery Recovery from A.D.A.M.

Chemotherapy side effects depend on the types of drugs used and how much was given. Chemotherapy affects normal cells as well as cancerous cells. Common side effects include: nausea and vomiting hair loss mouth sores fatigueMore on Chemotherapy Side Effects Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy also affects normal cells. Side effects depend on what part of the body is being treated, and how strong the dose is. Side effects may include: nausea and vomiting hair loss difficulty swallowing dry, sore throat fatigue skin changes at the site of the treatment loss of appetitePatients receiving radiation treatments to the brain may experience: headaches skin changes nausea and vomiting fatigue hair loss problems with thought and memory processesManaging the Effects of Radiation Therapy Photodynamic therapy makes the person's eyes and skin very sensitive to light for 6 weeks or more after treatment ends. It is recommended that these people not go outside if possible, and to avoid bright indoor light as well. If they must go out, protective clothing and sunglasses are a must. Other side effects of this treatment may include: coughing difficulty swallowing painful breathing, or shortness of breath.
If swelling, redness, or blistering appears on the skin, people should consult with their doctors as to how to treat it.

Information for this article obtained from NCI, which is a division of The National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Avoid Holiday Smoking

I quit smoking a month ago. I'll be going to a couple of holiday parties this month where there will be alcohol and I'm scared to death that I'll smoke when I drink. Smoking and drinking go hand-in-hand for me. What can I do to make sure I don't end up smoking at the parties I attend this year?Answer: You're smart to be concerned. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, and that's not a good thing for a person who is working to quit smoking. While under the influence of alcohol, it's common to think that smoking just one or just for tonight is okay and that we can resume our quit programs tomorrow...

Such has been the ruin of many a good quit.

There is no such thing as "just one" cigarette when it comes to nicotine addiction.

Look ahead at what you may be faced with when attending holiday events this year and plan a strategy to manage them smoke-free. Preparation fortifies resolve and will allow you to meet the challenges that come with confidence.

The obvious first choice is simple: Avoid alcohol entirely. Drink cranberry juice with seltzer water or another non-alcoholic beverage of choice. No one but you and the bartender will know the difference. If you do drink alcohol, be careful. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume and don't overdo it. Substitute every other drink with a glass of spring water and lemon. It will dilute the alcohol you've consumed, keep you hydrated, and will give you something to sip on while socializing. If people are smoking close by and it begins to bother you, have a plan of action in mind. Can you explain that you've recently quit smoking and ask them to refrain? If not, excuse yourself for a few minutes and go to the bathroom or step outside for some fresh air. When cravings to smoke hit, the key is to quickly change your focus. Interrupt your thoughts and you'll snap yourself out of junkie thinking. If you're worried about maintaining your quit program at the holiday party this year, consider simply not going. No, I'm not advocating avoiding life, I'm encouraging you to remember your priorities. Think of it this way...early on, smoking cessation takes a lot of effort and focus for most people. In order to succeed, your quit program must be in the top slot of your priority list for as long as it takes.

If you fear the temptation to drink will be more than you can handle, don't push yourself. There will be more parties next year. Give yourself the time you need to heal from this addiction. Do the work now to change your relationship to smoking, and the day will come when drinking alcohol no longer triggers the urge to smoke.

Quitting smoking is not a sacrifice, it's a gift. You're moving toward a better life, one that is free of addiction and all of the strife that goes with it. Smoking cessation is your path to a healthier and happier you, and the benefits awaiting you are beyond what you can imagine. Alcohol and early smoking cessation are not a good mix. It's important to maintain control of our senses when we're learning how to live a smoke-free life, and alcohol puts us at risk.

Provide yourself with the best possible environment for success that you can as you move through the holiday season. Keep your quit progam in focus and do whatever you need to do to protect and nurture it. Period!

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Carcinogen

Definition:

A carcinogen is defined as any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer assigns carcinogens a rating by grouping them into one the following five standard classifications: Group 1: The agent is carcinogenic to humans.Group 2A: The agent is probably carcinogenic to humans.Group 2B: The agent is possibly carcinogenic to humans.Group 3: The agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.Group 4: The agent is probably not carcinogenic to humans.See also: Cancer

Sources:

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Are Cigars Addictive?

I've never smoked cigarettes, but I do smoke the occasional cigar. Is it possible to become addicted to cigars when I smoke so infrequently?Answer: Yes, it's possible to become addicted to cigars, even if you are an occasional smoker. The addictive ingredient in any tobacco product is nicotine, and cigars pack a punch when it comes to quantity of both tobacco and nicotine.

A typical cigarette contains about a gram of tobacco and approximately one to two milligrams of nicotine. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to smoke a cigarette. In contrast, a cigar can contain anywhere from 5 to 17 grams of tobacco and widely varying amounts of nicotine - usually between 160 and 200 milligrams. Some premium cigars may have as many as 400 milligrams of nicotine in them. A cigar burns slowly and takes 2 hours or more to smoke.

Cigarettes and cigars differ primarily in how people use them. Cigarette smoke is inhaled into the lungs, and absorption of nicotine quickly follows. Cigar smoke is not usually inhaled because it is more harsh, but it's important to note that nicotine is still absorbed through the lining of the mouth in quantities sufficient to produce dependence. Also, cigarette smokers who smoke cigars are more likely to inhale the smoke from their cigars as well.

See Also:
The Dangers of Cigar Smoking
6 Fast Facts about Cigar Smoking

Source:
Questions and Answers about Cigar Smoking National Cancer Institute

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