Congratulations!

So I stopped smoking after so many attempts like I was trying a whole year to stop. I was a passive smoker since I was born like everyone in my house smoked ever since I was a baby, crazy right. Even in the car while driving, I come from a family with a high nicotine addiction. Balkan and war makes that, anyways. I started smoking on and off since I was 16 and last 2 years I smoked a pack per days. Now Im 28 years old. In the first months I felt completely all over the place, just weird, depressed and paranoid af. Experiencing things I have never experienced before and having for months pessimistic views. Meditating and walking helped and now finally after almost 9 months I feel like myself. Happy and calm. I was expecting bad days, weight gain( which happened), but never this and I swear more for some reason still?? So yeah, would love to hear more about your experience..

I’ve been smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 9 years. I’m currently in a financial crisis, I’ve run out of cigarettes, and I haven’t smoked for 10 hours. My brain just won’t "switch on", it feels like I’m in a constant state of sleepiness, while my body feels weak and I have an intense, overwhelming pressure behind my eyes. Is there any way to alleviate this? I’ve been trying salt water, but it doesn’t help much, and I need to work.

I don’t usually check my app but I did today, turns out it’s officially been 5 months of no nicotine or cigarettes!

It’s kind of funny… I was out the other night and the weather was so dry and cold, it felt amazing to finally take a deep breath and feel it in my bones.

Cheers to good health and resilience!

After 36 years I have finally managed to give up smoking. Today it's been 2 weeks and I am managing quite well so far and not having many cravings. I am using patches and hoping I can wean off them ok.

I was smoking 20-30 cigarettes a day. I am now saving cigarette money up to keep me motivated and treat myself. So far I have saved £200.77.

I'm 31 days smoke free, 15 days nicotine free (I used 2mg nicotine gum for the first 2 weeks). I didn't try to keep this short, so don't feel like you need to read all of this.

The first week felt kind of easy because of how driven I was to quit, only the cravings were bad and my mind was completely obsessed with quitting. The second week was really hard, with lots of crying and feeling like I was losing a huge part of myself. Third week was much better and I finally got some room in my head to think about other things than quitting, but work and family stuff caused a lot of stress and made me feel a bit unstable. Fourth week was kind of the same, maybe even more headspace to engage with other things.

I don't really know how to explain how I'm feeling now. To preface: not every day is the same. Some days are great, some days are bad.

There's this new sense of calm that's present almost constantly. It's pleasant. But I also feel kind of empty. I still feel like I lost a part of my identity, but more importantly I don't really know what I want to be now, instead.

It doesn't help that I recently learned I have to rethink my entire carreer - I'm a freelance writer and will soon lose a big client, and AI is making me doubt if it's even possible to keep on doing this.

Also my divorced parents are driving me nuts (it's been more than a decade since they seperated but they still fight and put me in the middle of it). They're not supportive at all. Luckily my husband is.

Maybe the hardest part is that I still feel like I can't draw or paint or be creative without smoking. Attempts so far have lead to very mediocre results that brought me close to no joy and completely failed attempts with extreme sobbing, crying and crawling into bed for hours. I'm now scared to try being creative again.

I know it's just 'a job' and 'a hobby'. But they're both such big parts of who I am. I know smoking won't fix anything. But when I get really sad about potentially losing those things forever, my junkie brains whispers that smoking would help.

On the other hand, I took up swimming and am really enjoying that. I go for walks daily. I'm exercising more and feel myself progressing faster than I used to. I don't get out of breath as easily and feel like I can keep up better than I used to. I find excuses to ride my bike to get out of the house and just... move my body.

Breathing is easier. Food tastes better, I'm smelling things I haven't smelled in years.

(I did gain some weight and that's depressing as hell, but I noticed I was caving for the sugar cravings and have swapped sweets for protein and discipline. Hopefully I'll be able to lose the extra weight quickly because I'm not loving my body right now.)

I like that I don't smell of cigarettes anymore and I'm working towards getting the scent out of our house and clothes (and any kind of fabric really). We used to smoke indoors.

Sleep is shit, but my dreams are very vivid and kind of interesting most nights. I also don't feel more tired than I did when I was still smoking, even though I did seem to sleep better then.

Something I find pretty interesting is that I'm discovering that certain things actually do get me out of bad moods. Talking to a friend, going for a walk, having a cup of tea, taking a nap... I actually feel better afterwards, even if it is just a little. And I actually work through what I'm feeling and going through instead of surpressing it and trying to make it go away. When I was still smoking, I don't think any of those things actually seemed to help. I'd either smoke and be done with the feeling, or wait for it to seemingly miraculously disappear. So it's really nice to know that there actually really are things that work?

I feel like there's room for me to become a better version of myself. I just don't have any idea what that version will look like, or even what I want that version to look like.

I feel like I'm in this inbetween zone and I don't know where I'm going.

I was fine with who I was and what I did when I was smoking (except for the smoking itself), I liked my job. Quitting is teaching me that I can actually be a better version of me than the version I was fine with.

Only... I've never been a particularly ambitious or driven person, I don't have big dreams. I've been working on my mental health for so long I'm just happy with being stable. But it's kind of weird to now be confronted with this emptiness and lack of direction. Not that it wasn't there before, but now it feels like something to work on. Only I don't know how.

I know my brain is fixing its dopamine and serotonin etcetera balance. It's not as bothered with who I am going to be and what I am going to do as much as it is with fixing the damage I've done. So I'm fine with this 'mild depression' for now. I know it will pass, I've been through (much) worse.

Maybe this is the best way to put it: it feels like my brain is on a holiday and I wasn't invited.

But I do sort of need my brain to muster up some motivation to do something about my work situation.

And I kind of feel like I should be celebrating today, 31 days felt impossible when I first quit. I'm here now, and I know I should be proud of myself, but it's not registering?

(If you just quit and I'm making you anxious: I promise it's not half as bad as the first 2 weeks, and not every day is the same. Some days I feel pretty happy and content. It has its ups and downs, just like normal life. Exercising, being outside, taking naps and talking to friends helps a lot. I also don't get any real cravings anymore - I just think about/remember smoking sometimes and then remind myself I no longer do that.

Maybe most importantly: I know myself well enough to know that all of this was already there before I quit smoking. None of these problems will be solved in any meaningful way by nicotine or smoking. Quitting my quit will not make any of these problems disappear, it would just throw me back into the constant cycle of withdrawal and temporary relief.)

So that's it. No real questions here, except maybe some advice on how to deal with this existential crisis? How do I figure out what I want to be/do?

(I'm 30, but I don't feel like that's all too relevant - I see people panicking because they're in their thirties and not completely settled in life, but I feel like you can go trough this type of crisis at literally any age - maybe that's how life keeps us interested. At worst I feel like society wants me to feel like I'm behind, but I'm not too bothered with that.)

Mostly I just felt like sharing. I know this was all very navel gazey and probably not very interesting to anyone but myself.

But if you do recognize yourself in any of what I wrote, feel free to share. Words of encouragment are welcome but not necassary. This subreddit has been super helpful for me.

i am curious about what happens after the difficult first few weeks quitting smoking. everyone talks about cravings and nicotine withdrawal but there seems to be less discussion about how people feel several months or even years later.

did you notice less anxiety, better mood, improved self esteem or more energy? i would also love to hear whether quitting nicotine affected your relationship or ability to focus

give me some advice please i also want to know any communities aside from here

if you struggled with depression or anxiety before quitting did anything change overtime? i know everyone's experiences is different but i am curious about the long term benefits people have personally noticed

Lol I know it sounds so ridiculous but Ive done this so many times and I get stuck here. I dont really have any physical cravings or anything at this point but I convince myself that I can just be a casual smoker now and enjoy a bit of tobacco or some cigars sometimes. So I've basically been perpetually quitting for 3-4 years now stopping for weeks then smoking. The thought of never being able to let go and relax and have some tobacco makes me feel very depressed like ill never really enjoy anything again. So the current plan in my mind is basically to get to like 3 months so I'm "not a smoker" then I can relax and enjoy a casual cigar and not be addicted or some shit lol. Really dumb. Would like to actually do it for real this time as 40 days is the longest I've gone in my whole life. Any tips to get past this "bargaining" thought process would be appreciated.

I have been off of cigs and any form of nicotine for 221 days as of right now. I used to be able to deal with cravings pretty well, but today it took over me. i got out of work and walked to a cafe, when i got there the cafe owner was out so i had to wait inside to order a cig, but by the time he came back (15-20 mins later), my urge had passed. had he not gone out at that time, i would have relapsed. it worries me that my 7 month + streak of no nicotine was saved by luck and i was unable to control myself.

its been hard after my nictotine overdose i want one bad rn but managed to last im proud of myself and im not gonna touch one

Last night i had a panic attack as food got stucked because of gas buildup and my anxiety is increasing from the last few days and now all i think about is my throat. Any tips what should I do and if it’s normal

I'm almost 2 months smoke free. I understand that this is more mental than anything. I'm 37 and started smoking when I was 13. It was my rock, childhood neglect, foster care, all the things stressful it was the only thing there and it remained that way until two months ago. I have kids and I want to remain active and not be out of breath getting my trashcan from the road. I'm not overweight, haven't gained any weight since I quit luckily and that's likely stress related and it's taking everything in me to continue avoiding the gas station and picking up a pack, or going right next door and getting one off my neighbor cuz he's a heavy smoker. I smell it every time I step outside. It's familiar. Does this get easier anytime soon? I feel like I'm in some depressed, no motivation funk right now and it blows. It may be very vain of me but I keep telling myself, gotta get the lungs right to sing again, I don't want those mouth wrinkles... Being here longer for my kids is a given but when does this ease up? Does it keep coming in waves like this? TIA xx

7 weeks cold turkey. Can't believe this us happening!

I'm not back to my old self, but lately things have been consistently improving.

Cravings - I do get them, probably daily, but they are very undramatic. I'll get this unpleasant feeling that I'm lacking something essential, then realise it's nicotine. My brain goes "oh damn this is kinda really bad!" and then I remember it's a craving and doesn't reflect reality and can be safely ignored. And this is very important: it's essential for me to remember that it doesn't get worse if I ignore it.

Anhedonia - seems like it lasted for 6 weeks and then lifted. I'm able to enjoy things again, just as I used to. This one is such a relief because it made me feel like I could never be happy without smoking. I might be currently overindulging things I enjoy a bit because it's so refreshing. It's not exactly dangerous but I'm not getting things done as I'd like.

Sleep - I still wake up every night after a few hours of sleep, but I'm less awake and fall back asleep in perhaps 15-30 minutes. And I still wake up pretty early. So, I'm still somewhat sleep deprived but there has been a big improvement.

Executive functions - this is the crux. I have adhd and making myself do things I don't want to do has always been incredibly difficult for me. I switched to a new medication that really helped with this just before I quit, and after the quit I've been a chaos. Cleaning, cooking, personal paper work are the worst, as always. I have some tricks and the new meds but it's not cutting it. I'm now really hoping this is something that will improve with time. Outside the tasks I mentioned I function alright again so it's not hopeless. It's nice that I don't need to accommodate smoke breaks anymore.

Also I think there is a confidence problem in this. I used to feel like I could do anything as long as I can smoke before and after it. If it's a long job I can pull an all-nighter as long as I take smoke breaks. This is now something I've lost, I need to find some new way to find confidence to start tasks and believe I'm going to manage just fine.

I still find the smell of tobacco smoke pleasant when I encounter it - I always did, since childhood - but what's been very surprising to me is that I don't identify with the smokers anymore. Like, I don't identify with non-smokers either but when I see people smoking I don't see myself as one of them. I didn't expect this, my smoker's identity was always very strong. Yet I'm already starting to forget how it felt like. Like it's starting to feel absurd that I used to think about cigarrettes so much. I just don't feel it anymore. I can understand it and I know how important they are to smokers and never want to belittle it but I am starting to forget how it felt like. I don't know why. I've had quits before lasting up to a year but this is the first time this happens. I wonder if it's because I haven't slipped at all. No random drunk puffs just nothing. I don't know.

I've had only one smoking dream so far, finding a rolled cig in a stressful situation and lighting it before I realised. I fet like I had no options. But even in the dream I knew I was quit.

So all in all I think I'm going to week 8 doing actually pretty well! Some things are still a struggle, buy I'll wait a few weeks before I get seriously worried.

I have been smoking for last 13 years.

Since covid 2 packs a day and daily drinking

I have tried quitting multiple times but you know nicotine is a B*t**

Day 16th on recigar and 5th day without smoking, I dont feel any better as of now but my heart is not running like a train.

I decided to quit because I was informed that month end is my last working day and I think I have been telling myself that smoking is keeping me sharp at work , ( we find our trueself in mysterious ways)

Just to let everyone know who is thinking about quitting that this is the best thing you can do to yourself. Never thought I can live without cigarettes but I have and I believe it gets better from here

Also want to thank all the supportive guys in this sub, you all are awesome, keep rocking and motivating.

I’ve been a smoker for about 30+ years. I haven’t smoked a cigarette in about 17 days and doing good! But I do smoke weed in the evenings and it helps. I figure with cigarettes I was smoking about 20 a day but with weed I smoke 1 joint a day. Am I still a smoker and is my recovery gonna take longer?

I am finally taking the plunge. It arrived tonight. I already have issues with anxiety and was wondering if anyone could tell me about how long the added anxiety from quitting with this method lasted?

I (32F) quit 16 days ago. I’ve always been a highly motivated entrepreneur. I can work from home whenever I want, but I do rent a desk in an office to get out of the house most of the time.

Since quitting, I’ve stayed home due to random episodes I get where I sob uncontrollably for hours. I have to do breathing exercises just to try to stop the tears to walk my dog, which rarely works. I’m a mess. I haven’t been this depressed in almost a decade. I no longer enjoy my life. I don’t have any motivation to do anything. I feel like I messed everything up and my life sucks and I can’t fix it. I wish I could evaporate. I am starting to fantasize about suicide like I used to, though I would never do it. I know I’m delulu right now. I can separate myself from the thought and acknowledge that im delulu, and still fantasize about it like eating a tub of my favorite ice cream. Being awake hurts. I haven’t woken up with dread, simply wishing to fall back asleep forever in ages.

I want to start smoking again, I was happy then. I want kids though. I feel like if I don’t go through this, I’ll never be a mom. But I don’t know if I can get through this. I have a history of depression, adhd, social anxiety and panic disorder. I’ve been okay with my vyvanse + smokes for the past 3 years when I started medication. Now, when i take my vyvanse without my cigarettes, I crash out. Like worse than just raw dogging nicotine withdrawal. I’ve also been getting panic attacks every other day, on or off my meds. I stopped my 20mg vyvanse months ago with no issues. I only took it ~3 times far apart since stopping cigs to see if it helps.

Idk. Idk idk idk.

Pls be gentle. I don’t know what to do but to write here right now. I have a doc apt soon and therapy next week…

Edited post to fix grammar.

hey guys! i just finished my last cigarette. ever. smoking has been a massive coping mechanism for me, I started very young (around 11/12), i turn 18 in half a year. i already look visibly aged at 17, my face is puffy and my skin isnt as elastic/defined as it was (obviously).

honestly, as vain as it may sound, the predominant reason im quitting is appearance. not health, although, that'll be another massive win for me. I was wondering, has anyone noticed their skin elasticity repair/that theyve looked less "saggy" or "droopy"? my big worry is my eyes and jaws elasticity, as I hate my appearance and I cant wait to change it.

ill be working out alongside to try and repair core health and maintain a beneficial distraction. wish me luck!

don’t have any more self confidence in me, all i do is pick up a cig and try to forget everything that’s going down in my life.

that’s so cool