What happens when you stop smoking?
(no my OC, I am attempting to help spread this that I saw first on https://programming.dev/post/33666663 because I think it helps to know that it is not too late to make changes even for major things like smoking and our health!)
~19 months into quitting. Best decision of my 40+ years.
If you're out there thinking it's too hard to quit: You're wrong, you can do this and it's worth it.
Same, I'm also almost 19 months in, after so many tries.
How did you do it?
Turns out what I needed wasn't an iron will but to understand why I smoked. I tracked every cigarette for two weeks, writing down the time and the reason - boredom, a context switch ("I just arrived at the office, now I need to get ready"), anxiety, needed a break...
Once I had that, I could start identifying the reasons for my cravings more easily, which in turn made it easier to switch to a healthier alternative, knowing the craving would pass.
Another two weeks later, I had already cut down my consumption from like 20 to 5 cigarettes a day, which felt wildly empowering. At that point, quitting entirely felt doable, so I did. That feeling made me excited to quit.
I mean, it was still not a walk in the park, but motivation was so much higher than before. I still used nicotine spray for a while to help with the worst cravings.
My dad quit smoking and what was the kicker for him was the oral fixation aspect. He bought a big box of plastic straws and just chewed the shit out of them whenever he felt the urge. Worked pretty well too
congrats on nearly 2 years, that's a huge accomplishment!!
you're right on, imo "iron wills" are not an ideal approach to addiction management and it seems way better to come to understand the default behavior first and implement alternatives so you can incrementally resist more when triggers happen. I'm not a smoker but I see this point made in research into food, gambling, and porn addiction and it makes sense - you're setting yourself up to take control of the behavior which is a very empowering feeling even if it's partial control in the short term.
Wow. I am also ~19 months into quitting! Small world. Let's keep it going!
Hell yeah, nice work dude!
Quit six years ago now! More worth it than I could have believed
Rockstar!
Interesting! I always thought that once you were a smoker, you have basically cooked your health. Did not know that quitting actually helps with these probabilities.
There are several lingering consequences, but a lot of the damage can be reversed. This is important to point out because "eh, the damage is done already" is part of the addictive mental gymnastics that keep people smoking. Quitting is always worth it.
It probably still does a number on your longevity, but at least you wouldn’t likely keel over before becoming a senior.
What doesn't get undone is lung damage.
Quitting cigs was the greatest decision I ever made. They’re fucking disgusting. Six years now for me and I absolutely notice the difference
27 years a quitter. Fuck tobacco.
Im like ten clean, still sometimes get a craving. You?
Three years clean. The intervals between cravings get bigger. I don't think the ever go away entirely.
yeah, for years I would crave a cigar occasionally when I was drinking. I mostly smoked camels but cigars is what I craved. Then a while back I had to give up drinking too. No more nicotine cravings.
it is for your own good.
you have to quit for you.
it feels hopeless to be under the smoking blanket. while getting out from under the blanket seems impossible and terrible, there's life out here outside of the blanket.
don't get me wrong, it does suck to quit but it's better than not quitting.
maybe think about how those bastards made these addictive chemicals designed to do this to you... * for profit*.
I stopped smoking cigarettes at around 22, but picked up vaping and a vaped until I was 29. I quit vapijg one day out of the blue, just dropped it, I was so tired of having difficulties breathing, since my throat was always dry and swollen and my chest was heavy, likely a ton of nasty in my lungs.
It's been 3 years now and my chest and throat are so much better. Being able to breathe rocks.
Wow, kind of amazing to see how the body can heal after 15 years like that.
Honestly don't smoke to begin with
It is scary how many younger people vape. I'm sure it will never cause health issues.
While we're at it, let's just tell alcoholics to never try drinking, and drug addicts to just not try drugs!
🙄
Just take a 15 year break every once in a while. 🤷♂️
Actuslly, kinda curious what the risks are for someone who smokes less than 1 or 2 packs a day, because those were the only kinds of smokers I ever remember being talked about when it came to all the horrific health issues. If you only smoke 1 cigarette every 15 years, would it even take a toll on you? 🤔
One cig every 15 years would be less than all the second hand smoking and air particles you digest.
But "less than 1 or 2 packs a day" sounds it will definitely lead to health issues. I'd say 1 cig a day would be acceptable and probably without serious health issues.
There are other health effects than heart issues examined here - e.g. there's cancer, which occurs due to changes in the DNA of your cells, and that is a cumulative process (although e.g. outer skin layers replenish so in 15 years not the same cells, but I am not sure how long lung and other cells take to similarly replenish).
Between 5-15 years after you stop smoking, stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker.
Is this not a tautological statement?
Depends on your school of thought around addiction. Some people believe that once you have been a smoker that you're forever more an addict.
I agree with you though. 5 years without smoking you're probably not going back.
I stopped smoking 10 years ago. Once in a blue moon I'll subconsciouly reach for the non-exsistent pack on the table, catch myself and laugh, whilst thinking about the money I've saved.
It takes that long to fully recover. Holy shit.
If I wanted a long life I wouldn't be smoking...
Forget long, some of us just want quality:-)
Unless I had the option of immortality. I could just sleep for the next 500 years and see if shit gets better.