So, I just quit smoking...

[mikev7.0]

I'd been an average (pack a day) smoker for the past 12 years, and did not especially want to quit. I understood the cons behind smoking and the pros of quitting - but I also heard the horror stories surrounding quitting. Chest pains, dizziness, spiking in blood pressure - a multitude of symptoms brought on by the dreaded nicotine withdrawal. Each potential horror worse than the last. Figured actually, I'd wait a few years until I was much more driven to quit.

Then I had oral surgery - a tale of woe in its own right. I couldn't eat for days, let alone smoke. I lived on milkshake, more of it dropped down me than poured into me. Life was too much of a strain to even think about having a cigarette. I noticed, after a period of three or four days that I hadn't craved a cigarette even once.

So, I simply stopped. No patches, no e-cig, no gum, no hypnosis... unless general anaesthetic can cure nicotine addiction, I've done it all cold turkey. I'm proud of me, my friends are proud of me, my family is... disgusted at the fact I used to be a smoker.

Why, despite now being cigarette free (and to add insult to injury, alcohol, caffeine and drug free to boot) am I still looked upon with disgust for having given in to the foul temptress ciggie in the past? It's a phenomena I've encountered elsewhere too, others who are proud ex-smokers don't get congratulated for giving up the habit, but rather are shunned for ever having puffed on one fag*. As a species** are we simply incapable of recognising someone else's progress and preferring to remind them of their mistakes?


*I'm English.

**Edit: As kindly pointed out below vvvvvvvvvvvvvv I am an idiot, this was meant to say society.

Wow congratulations! That's really quite the achievement! I've cut down from a carton a week to 4 packs via the e-smoke but really, not the same thing.

I'm sorry others still shun you for once having smoked but seriously, isn't it more important that you actually DID it? I mean, people have a tendency to be their own worst critics and forget their achievement in the face of others acting like it's no big. Who cares what they think, you've just overcome an addiction with twice the get hooked, stay hooked power of HEROIN.

Not to sound like yer ma' here but If they aren't supportive then they're not good friends anyway! If one of my friends did this I would be going off like Fluttershy in response to her first sight of a Sonic Rainboom! (That means basically freaking the uh, freak out....)

My friends aren't just supportive they literally ride me to quit, if I achieved something like this they would be, well they would probably wonder who I was and what had been done with the real mike....

OffT: Sorry I don't normally do this but my Captcha' is "Tag Yourself." Wow. This game is gonna' get old real quick....

 

[mikev7.0]

People find their ego-building blocks in varied places. Some find it in what they do, others find it in what they don't do; other people find their ego-building comes from what OTHER people do and don't do. We do love to feel superior to others, to say 'Well, I would never do that!'. It's a human thing.

I'm about four months smoke-free after smoking two packs a day for fifteen years so a HUGE congrats from me to you. It took me six tries to finally quit so I hope it sticks for you!

Wow! Congratulations to you too then! Did you get the same reaction from close folks too, or were they generally more supportive? After six tries what finally worked?

 

[an874]

I think everyone above has already given good answers to your question, so I'll just say congratulations and wish you a long healthy life.

 

[War Penguin]

Congratulations, dude. Smoking ain't an easy thing to quit. I've been trying to get a friend of mine to quit for pretty much my entire life (he's a friend of my family's and I've known him since I was born). He wants to quit, but he can't. So good on ya for finally doing it! Give me hope.

 

[bbad89]

I think you need one of these:

Spoiler

HIGH FIVE!

Wowzers, my hand fit almost perfectly in that.
OT: Good job!

 

[funguy2121]

I'd been an average (pack a day) smoker for the past 12 years, and did not especially want to quit. I understood the cons behind smoking and the pros of quitting - but I also heard the horror stories surrounding quitting. Chest pains, dizziness, spiking in blood pressure - a multitude of symptoms brought on by the dreaded nicotine withdrawal. Each potential horror worse than the last. Figured actually, I'd wait a few years until I was much more driven to quit.

Then I had oral surgery - a tale of woe in its own right. I couldn't eat for days, let alone smoke. I lived on milkshake, more of it dropped down me than poured into me. Life was too much of a strain to even think about having a cigarette. I noticed, after a period of three or four days that I hadn't craved a cigarette even once.

So, I simply stopped. No patches, no e-cig, no gum, no hypnosis... unless general anaesthetic can cure nicotine addiction, I've done it all cold turkey. I'm proud of me, my friends are proud of me, my family is... disgusted at the fact I used to be a smoker.

Why, despite now being cigarette free (and to add insult to injury, alcohol, caffeine and drug free to boot) am I still looked upon with disgust for having given in to the foul temptress ciggie in the past? It's a phenomena I've encountered elsewhere too, others who are proud ex-smokers don't get congratulated for giving up the habit, but rather are shunned for ever having puffed on one fag*. As a species** are we simply incapable of recognising someone else's progress and preferring to remind them of their mistakes?


*I'm English.

**Edit: As kindly pointed out below vvvvvvvvvvvvvv I am an idiot, this was meant to say society.

I was going to say Whuh? until you said that you're English. In America we have such a strong network of AA, NA and the like (and that's not the only reason) that people are generally looked upon favorably when they quit ANY bad habit. Maybe it's because we love stories of people thoroughly rutted un-rutting their selves. It's my understanding (and I've never stepped foot on your island, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) that in the UK there isn't much of a recovery network, and that if people are addicts, that's generally it. Some learn to quit or do whatever in moderation, others look forward to their easy chair and bottle of Jack Daniels. So I guess the same applies to smoking. I am also told that smoking is much more popular in Britain, whereas here in the states it's well nigh impossible to do it indoors any more. Here people won't give you shit for smoking, especially if they're not related to you, and those who will are nearly universally regarded as little shits. And people are generally very encouraging to those who are trying, especially with any success, to quit.

By the way, congratulations.

 

[frizzlebyte]

I'm thrilled that you quit. That is great news! Congratulations are in order, I believe! *dance* *dance* *dance*

I can't imagine why anyone would actually cast aspersions on you (or anyone) for something you did in the past. Especially something like smoking, or drinking or whatever.

 

[rmb1983]

I'm sorry others still shun you for once having smoked but seriously, isn't it more important that you actually DID it? I mean, people have a tendency to be their own worst critics and forget their achievement in the face of others acting like it's no big. Who cares what they think, you've just overcome an addiction with twice the get hooked, stay hooked power of HEROIN.

I'm proud of me

He's quite happy with his achievement. Either way, while being satisfied with the fact that you kicked a habit you wanted gone is the bigger plus, it is still disheartening to have people close to you berate you for sins of the past.[footnote]Whether or not you believe smoking is wrong is irrelevant. I'm making the point that his family members are disgusted by the habit, and that is why they consider it a stain on his character.[/footnote]

Not to sound like yer ma' here but If they aren't supportive then they're not good friends anyway! If one of my friends did this I would be going off like Fluttershy in response to her first sight of a Sonic Rainboom! (That means basically freaking the uh, freak out....)

my friends are proud of me, my family is... disgusted at the fact I used to be a smoker.

His friends are the ones that are supporting him, so they're magnificient friends.
His family is the culprit of non-support.

 

[Pat8u]

congragulations I'm pretty sure those stories that you have heard are just made up by someone who doesent want to quit but Im still confused of how people like smoking I mean its literally tobbaco in paper on fire and you stick it in your mouth I mean if your stressed can't you just have a lie down wit quiet music. But if people want to smoke I will not be a dick to them I will just be confused at the logic

anyway CONGRAGULATIONS

 

[HydraMoon]

Wow! Congratulations to you too then! Did you get the same reaction from close folks too, or were they generally more supportive? After six tries what finally worked?

Thanks! I used the nicorette gum this time. I've used the patch, lozenges, gum (before this one), ecigs and that fake giant inhaler. Nothing worked till this time. I don't think it was my quitting method I think it was my AA experience and the new know-how from that; gave me a huge leg up in quitting. Also, if I could make it through alcohol detox- I know I can make it through anything. Detoxing from booze can kill you, nic withdrawl just make me sick as a dog.

My family has been generally supportive- if not cautious. I can't blame them, I've quit smoking many times before. Now that they see it stick, they are much more receptive. It probably helps that almost my entire family smoked and half of us are in the middle of quitting.

 

[Jonluw]

...others who are proud ex-smokers don't get congratulated for giving up the habit...

The case would be this, I think: These people hate smoking and smokers, i.e. they hate you for smoking. Up to this point, we're on the same page. However, you seem to think these people should change their attitude towards you because you quit smoking.
Not so.
These people aren't annoyed with you because they're irritated by the fact that you smell like smoke; they're against smoking as a principle, and they're angry with you because you made the decision to smoke. The fact that you decided to quit after a long while won't change that. The fact that you started smoking at one point makes you a smoker, and you'll always be a smoker or an ex-smoker.

Let's put it this way: We have a serial murderer on our hands. He has murdered one person a week for a great deal of months. However, he has now suddenly stopped. Do you excuse his murders, telling him "good for you, quitting the murdering", and skip the whole "jail" part, or do you still treat him as a murderer?

In any case: Congratulations on kicking a bad habit.

 

[Sonicron]

KICKED-THE-HABIT FIVE!

Good for you! I was in the same boat as you; quit the same way, too, albeit for different reasons. Don't let others get you down with their nonsense; yes, it probably would've been better never to have touched a cigarette, but hey, we all have perfect 20/20 hindsight. I say be proud of yourself... plus, think of all the extra money you'll have from now on!

 

[Craorach]

On the one hand, congratulations.

On the other hand, I will never understand why anyone would start smoking. Just like I don't understand people drinking, or less legal substance abuse.

I don't hate people who have given up smoking.. I don't hate people who smoke.. I simply cannot fathom why.

Edit : Remember this feeling, however. In ten years when you're still clean and see someone smoking. Remember what it feels like to be looked down upon and don't treat them like dirt because you're "better" than them.. pressuming smoking is still legal and wide spread.

 

[mikev7.0]

Wow! Congratulations to you too then! Did you get the same reaction from close folks too, or were they generally more supportive? After six tries what finally worked?

Thanks! I used the nicorette gum this time. I've used the patch, lozenges, gum (before this one), ecigs and that fake giant inhaler. Nothing worked till this time. I don't think it was my quitting method I think it was my AA experience and the new know-how from that; gave me a huge leg up in quitting. Also, if I could make it through alcohol detox- I know I can make it through anything. Detoxing from booze can kill you, nic withdrawl just make me sick as a dog.

My family has been generally supportive- if not cautious. I can't blame them, I've quit smoking many times before. Now that they see it stick, they are much more receptive. It probably helps that almost my entire family smoked and half of us are in the middle of quitting.

You're welcome! I haven't tried nic gum since my major addiction (according to my cognative therapist) is the smoke itself, not even the nicotine so the e-cig is what is working for me currently, I just haven't totally switched over. (I'm slowly tricking my subconscious by building physical symbols that it's totally the same. So far my subconscious has not given me complete "buy in.") The fake giant inhaler sounds scary.

Ah. AA. Good. Now I have another bullet in my gun for when people try to tell me what a waste of time support programs are who have never wrestled with an addiction (that society actually frows on that is.) in their lives.

I too was unable, due to a double hernia surgery with massive complications, to smoke while I was in the hospital but either I never went through detox or thanks to all the socially approved and legal drugs I was on (that made me feel out of my mind) I never felt it.

It's good that you have support from those close to you as well, that was kind of my whole point in my first reply to the OP. It doesn't matter if they are your freinds or your family, people who care about you SHOULD be supportive. Sorry if my getting friends/family confused uh, confused folks.

 

[Super Toast]

Congratulations! While I do find smoking stupid, I have the utmost respect for you and the fact that you chose to quit.

 

[CodeOrange]

People don't look down on you because you simply had a few cigarettes, its because you smoked and they hated you for it because you stunk up the place and made everyone else a little less healthy. This of course only applies to people who knew you in real life during you smoked.

For everyone else who is against smoking, we like to do the whole "Jones=Athletes; ergo, Athletes=Jones" line of thinking and generalize you as a weak, low-self esteemed delinquent idiot who was slowly killing themselves and wasting their money which could have gone into your inevitable surgery or a potential cure for cancer.

Really when it comes down to it, smoking is nothing more than a luxury, which also happens to be quite unpleasant to others around them.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

see because some people have gotten it into their head that smoking is some sort of thing that only crazy people do. ive never smoked, but im not one of those people that really care whether or not someone smokes. Smoking helps people relax and while it does cause cancer, its not the guranteed lung cancer when your old most people seem to think it is. Besides, its nothing compared to what petrol(especially diesel) does to give you lung cancer. And if you hang around busy roads a lot you have breathed in so much of it.

I think its no worse than alchohol or fatty food, we all know its bad for us but its comforting.

The main benefit i can think of is all that money your saving. Must seem like christmas to you if you were paying for a pack a day(unless your country taxes smokes different to australia)

 

[Stasisesque]

I'm sorry others still shun you for once having smoked but seriously, isn't it more important that you actually DID it? I mean, people have a tendency to be their own worst critics and forget their achievement in the face of others acting like it's no big. Who cares what they think, you've just overcome an addiction with twice the get hooked, stay hooked power of HEROIN.

I'm proud of me

He's quite happy with his achievement. Either way, while being satisfied with the fact that you kicked a habit you wanted gone is the bigger plus, it is still disheartening to have people close to you berate you for sins of the past.[footnote]Whether or not you believe smoking is wrong is irrelevant. I'm making the point that his family members are disgusted by the habit, and that is why they consider it a stain on his character.[/footnote]

Not to sound like yer ma' here but If they aren't supportive then they're not good friends anyway! If one of my friends did this I would be going off like Fluttershy in response to her first sight of a Sonic Rainboom! (That means basically freaking the uh, freak out....)

my friends are proud of me, my family is... disgusted at the fact I used to be a smoker.

His friends are the ones that are supporting him, so they're magnificient friends.
His family is the culprit of non-support.

I'm female.

 

[minimacker]

Wait, you took an entire package a day?

How many cigarettes are in a package? 20?
Good thing you quit.

 

[ffs-dontcare]

I don't know why you even started in the first place, but it's good that you quit. And you did it the hard way, no less. That makes it all the better.

Use your former cigarette money well.

Wait, you took an entire package a day?

How many cigarettes are in a package? 20?
Good thing you quit.

20, 25, 30, 40 to be exact.

Freakin' expensive habit.