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ramblerboy2
Quit Date: April 16, 2007
Posts: 169 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: August 30, 2010 4:18 PM Post subject: more than three years, and suddenly craving smoking? |
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Hello all,
This is very strange. I quit over three years ago, and for the most part have not thought much about smoking or craved cigarettes much. I stopped drinking about 9 months ago and that's been fine too. Suddenly about two weeks ago I started thinking a lot about smoking. I keep choosing to not smoke, but it is strange that I have become so obsessed with smoking with no obvious provocation. I am confident that I will continue to choose to not smoke, and that this obsession will pass. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Josh _________________
Twitter @joshualaporte |
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moose200x
Quit Date: May 11, 2009
Posts: 182 Location: Knoxville, TN
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Posted: August 30, 2010 10:11 PM Post subject: |
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How odd! Although Kevin has talked a lot about "3's" being hard. 3 days, 3 months, 3 years...... Must be something to that _________________
Quit attempt #2! |
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kevin Site Admin
Quit Date: -
Posts: 9538 Location: cincinnati, oh
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Posted: August 30, 2010 11:14 PM Post subject: |
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i lost my longest previous quit around the 3-year mark, and have known several others who did the same (and have heard of still others who had increased urges at around that time). i'm not sure whether that makes it normal or not, and besides, everyone's quit is their own: what's normal for some will never happen to others.
the important thing is to maintain awareness of what's going on for you (which you're doing) and keep making the right choice, whenever the choice presents itself to you (which you're also doing). there will always be bumps in the road, but as long as you're prepared for them, they don't have to be anything more than that. _________________
keep choosing life!
kevin
the zen of the quit |
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essie662
Quit Date: April 14, 2004
Posts: 3388 Location: MI
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Posted: August 31, 2010 10:10 AM Post subject: |
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Stay strong Josh, it is all about choice! _________________
Essie
4/14/04 |
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texas2step
Quit Date: -
Posts: 793 Location: Texas
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Posted: August 31, 2010 11:36 AM Post subject: |
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I remember you... congrats on being quit still... oh yea it didn't happen to me at 3 years but it did at 2 years.... I was about three months into my second year when for some unknown reason I started 'fantasy smoking' again - I mean thinking about it, pondering it and yes even wanting it.
Took me a month to get my mind right again - whew
Gotta keep saying no... no thanks cigs - I took my life back and I'm not giving you a thing especially my life and freedom
It will pass I bet... just be patient but stern with old Nicodemon and send him packing
Texas _________________
"You can't always have happiness, but you can always give happiness."
Anonymous
Quit: 8/14/06 |
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ramblerboy2
Quit Date: April 16, 2007
Posts: 169 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: August 31, 2010 3:37 PM Post subject: |
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Hello everyone,
Thanks for the responses. This is seriously somewhat difficult, but I have thus far resisted and plan to continue to resist. Last night after dinner was particularly difficult. I wish I could identify where this came from, so that I can be taken less by surprise next time around. At any rate, it feels like I just quit a few days ago, not a few years ago. I am sure it will pass.
This makes you realize that you have to be ready to fight back against the addiction, even when you feel like you are basically out of the woods.
Thanks for being there! It helps!
Josh _________________
Twitter @joshualaporte |
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kannprint
Quit Date: April 10, 2004
Posts: 4988 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Posted: August 31, 2010 9:59 PM Post subject: |
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I'm past the 6 year mark and, believe me, it's well worth the trials and tribulations. Hang on tightly and stay strong. Life only gets better when you're a non-smoker. _________________
LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN, LOVE MUCH.
Jo |
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Rusty
Quit Date: December 13, 2004
Posts: 497 Location: North Florida
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Posted: September 1, 2010 6:15 AM Post subject: |
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Seems to me that it's certainly not a physical craving, but perhaps a craving for something else that you haven't quite identified. Perhaps it's time for a minor readjustment in your life, a new activity for instance. Maybe you're in a rut of a sort and need a new outlook? Perhaps it is an avoidance of moving forward in some way? Just some thoughts. Best of luck to you.
Rusty _________________
The Buddha says: Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. |
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Barbara K.
Quit Date: December 23, 2004
Posts: 5977
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Posted: September 1, 2010 9:19 AM Post subject: |
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Josh,
I was getting ready to say what Rusty did about that maybe it's a craving for something else. Not drinking is newer to you than not smoking so maybe it's that that you really crave? _________________
Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn arouind and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
Blessings,
Barbara K. |
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ramblerboy2
Quit Date: April 16, 2007
Posts: 169 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: September 1, 2010 4:36 PM Post subject: |
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Whatever it was, it has largely passed. I tend to get obsessed with things for a few days or weeks, and then move on to something else. I do not think that I was having any physical craving for anything, it is really all psychological. Something got me thinking about all the nice parts of smoking, and it has taken me a couple of weeks to switch it off. But I think I am coming out of this.
What fun...
Anyway, as always, thanks so much everyone for helping me out with this situation.
Josh _________________
Twitter @joshualaporte |
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kevin Site Admin
Quit Date: -
Posts: 9538 Location: cincinnati, oh
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Posted: September 1, 2010 10:44 PM Post subject: |
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good to hear you seem to be past the worst of it, josh! _________________
keep choosing life!
kevin
the zen of the quit |
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Gidget
Quit Date: March 14, 2008
Posts: 693 Location: New Haven, CT
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Posted: September 3, 2010 1:55 PM Post subject: |
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Hey Josh, I'm so glad that I read this whole thread! Way to choose wisely. At 2.5 years, I'm on your tail and paying close attention to how things go for you and others. I'm finding for me that when I focus/obsess on things that don't tolerate smoking, it helps me remove myself a step further. On top of that, I am never around cigarettes any more. About 9 months ago, I moved out of state. That kind of change has landed me with new friends who don't know me as a smoker and who don't smoke themselves. Keep the good fight, you have all the answers and all the tools to continue to choose to live. _________________
My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny.
-Elaine Maxwell |
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Mary Dude
Quit Date: June 15, 2004
Posts: 4803 Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Posted: September 11, 2010 9:26 PM Post subject: |
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I remind myself that the price of FREEDOM is eternal vigiliance....after 6 years for the most part its easy to stay free and think - I'll never smoke again...but also remind myself that I'm a nicotine addict and that I must continue to choose to stay smoke free. I can't say for sure that I'll NEVER smoke again...but I do know that I can choose to get through TODAY without a cigarette and tomorrow is another day - and I can decide in the morning!
Josh...one day at a time! _________________
Mary D.
Smoke-free one day at a time!
Worry doesn't help tomorrow's troubles, but it does ruin today's happiness! |
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