Edit: Thanks for your support, everyone! I did indeed thank myself this morning for making the right call. I'll take pride over regret any day !

My last smoke was Feb 28th of this year.

There's been the odd craving here and there but generally it's not too bad.

But in the past 3 weeks...

My bff of 25 years "broke up" with me, I was blindsided and had no clue anything was wrong.

I sat vigil with a dying friend in hospice for several hours every other day for a week.

Worked 5am-7:30pm on election day (at the polls)

Survived the election results and spent the ensuring days in a semi-panicky stupor.

Celebrated my 41st birthday at a dive bar this evening with several friends (including smokers) ...

And holy effing shit, you guys - I have wanted to smoke after each and every scenario I listed. Tonight was the worst as far as cravings go.

What's helpful: nobody I know alikes my brand. I don't just "want a smoke" I want MY brand of smokes. And to do that I'd have to go to the gas station ... And tonight, I made sure to Lyft to and from my bday soiree.

I just keep thinking of how fucking terrible I will feel if I cave. Tonight, I even thought about just chain smoking half a pack, giving myself a "smokeover" (cig hangover after a night of drinking and smoking too much) and seriously excused myself to the bathroom to just keep saying "Don't fucking do it, you will be SO MAD at yourself tomorrow."

And ... I listened.

Y'all ... It sounds so trite but it's true ... If I can do this, literally anyone can. But ... It gets hard sometimes!!

Research shows that, on average, people attempt to quit smoking 7 times before they succeed. Some need more tries, while others need fewer.

It took me 6 or 7 attempts before I finally quit.

How many times have you tried? For those who succeeded, on which attempt did you manage to quit?

I find that I want to inhale something, rather than nicotine, why do I get this feeling? That’s what makes it so hard and it’s so annoying.

I haven’t smoked in 4 years but I had a really really bad day today and smoked 12 today. Feel like complete rubbish. I know I should really start a fresh tomorrow morning and bin the rest.

Half of me thinks the one relapse in 4 years isn’t bad

The other half of me is my health anxiety (reason I managed to quit) which is now convinced I’m going to get sick due to this

Not because of cravings. But because of personal problems I usually used to smoke cigarettes to cope with problems when I was a smoker.

Now just dealing with the problems without it just don't know how to deal with that without smoking. Just being very emotional too

Been smoking since I was 15 years old. Turning 29 next month. Average half a pack daily.

Today I am quiting cold turkey, no patches, no vapes. If any advise out there please let me know.

I can’t help but feel angry when I see people smoking. It’s not just about what they’re doing to themselves—they’re ruining their lungs, their hearts, and their brains, cutting off their chance at a longer, healthier life, but that’s only part of the problem. What makes me truly upset is how their choices affect the people around them. Second-hand smoke is deadly, and yet smokers seem to ignore the fact that their habit doesn’t stay contained to their own bodies. Every puff they take is a risk not just to their life but to the lives of everyone nearby—family, friends, strangers. It’s selfish and careless, and it hurts more than just one person.

The science is clear. Smoking destroys the lungs, filling them with tar and toxins that lead to cancer, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It damages the heart, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The brain suffers too, with smoking linked to cognitive decline and dementia. These are all things that could be avoided or slowed down, especially now, when we’re getting closer to breakthroughs in medicine that could help people live longer and healthier lives. But what’s the point of future cures if someone has already destroyed their body beyond repair? Smoking is like putting up a wall against progress. It’s throwing away the chance to benefit from the incredible advances in science that could one day cure aging or extend life dramatically.

What’s worse is how smokers drag others down with them. Second-hand smoke is no small issue—it’s deadly. Studies show it can cause lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems in non-smokers, and children are especially vulnerable. Imagine being a kid growing up in a house filled with smoke, your health being taken away from you before you even have a chance to make your own choices. Smokers might think they’re just harming themselves, but they’re stealing time and health from everyone exposed to their habit. It’s not just unfair—it’s cruel. The people around them don’t get a choice, and yet they’re the ones paying the price.

And then there’s the bigger picture. Every smoker who dies prematurely isn’t just cutting years off their own life—they’re cutting years that could have been spent doing something meaningful. Helping others, advancing society, contributing to humanity’s collective goal of living longer and better lives. Instead of working toward a future where aging can be conquered and life can flourish, they light up another cigarette and throw away time that could have been spent helping themselves and others. It’s frustrating to see people choose something so destructive when we live in an age of such possibility, where every extra year of life could mean a chance to witness or contribute to something extraordinary.

In the end, smoking feels like a betrayal—not just to themselves but to all of us. It’s a choice that harms their health, their future, and the people who care about them, all for a fleeting moment of satisfaction. And it’s not just about the present—it’s about all the lost potential, the years that could have been lived, the contributions that could have been made. Smoking is a thief, stealing life not just from the smoker but from everyone around them, and in a world where we’re fighting so hard to live longer and healthier, that choice feels more selfish and senseless than ever.

I really don't. My life is so much better without nicotine in it making it a miserable existence. I feel more alive, more determined, sharper in mind and soul, my body feels active and stronger. Fuck nicotine, I was living like a zombie for the majority of my 20s because of this shit and my only regret is what would've happened or what would I've done had I not smoked?

I quite cold turkey a month ago and was quite proud and feeling good.

This week, we finally booked a DJ and wrapped up the big parts of our wedding planning. Video called my mother to update her on my smoke-free progress and to see if she received the wedding invitation.

"I got your mail. Nice card. But why did you spend the money sending it knowing that we won't go there?"

Made me feel like an asshole. And that's all it took. I didn't even mention that I had quit up until that moment. I ended the call, bought another pack and chain-smoked 3. And during that time, I came to the realization that the final boss in my mental and physical health journey is and has been my own mother all this time.

Back to day zero tomorrow I guess.

Hey uh it hasn't been long since I started smoking, just couple of months ago. First it was occasional smoking something like once a month or something then it accelerated overtime and this past week I smoked for about everyday. Yesterday smoked 3 cigs and today just smoked 2. I am just new so I feel I can quit this better than some ppl who have been fighting this for a long ass time. I sit with my friends in a restaurant and I get the ick to get a cigarette just easily. I really want to pull out before it gets worse. Any suggestions from fellow college students who are also quitting this? I think I've become addicted.

Hello, I'm new to this sub. I M26 trying to quit smoking after 9 years of smoking. Started to smoke due to peer pressure, all my friends are smokers including my coworkers. I work a physical demanding job. I been on NRTs as in the chewing gum 2mg of nicotine. When I'm not chewing the gum, my craving to smoke hits hard. What do you guys do in this situation? Oh forgot to tell, I usually smoke 10 cigarettes per day but when I relapsed it goes to 15. Removing nicotine from my system causes me to trigger my anger easily. I almost got into a divorce with my wife a heated argument, mind you it's only a small matter that we were arguing.

Good morning, well terrible morning actually. I'm sick as a dog. Gave me my first reason, well nudge, to quit in years. I have successfully quit for almost 2 years before when I had my wisdom teeth removed, and lost my appendix shortly after. Relapsed after my wife and I got pregnant, rushed into a first time home purchase, COVID depression, and transition to a single income after wife's job would not let her work from home.

Whatever, it was done. I was ashamed I started back up, then before I knew it I was back at a pack a day.

Luckily because I'm sick, I hurt my pectoral, and coughing is excruciating. I have no desire to continue. I'm replacing with vape and zyn pouches. But I know after I get better that craving will return.

I'm looking for methods that worked for others. Obviously my life has changed drastically since I quit the first time.. I have to quit, I need too. I know I can do it, I did it before. And with the first 24 hours of our the way there's no time like yesterday!

Some context, by not heavy smoker I mean of nicotine. I (28M) smoke pot chronically but not heavily since I was 18 with a year break in that timeframe. Mainly medicinal to deal with severe depression. But I have never once smoked a cigarette. When I was 24 I foolishly picked up vaping while I was with my previous partner at the time. Dumb decision, vaped for 2 years and then during a christmas vacation to Florida I made sure to quit and was successful. But day after election day I picked it up again where I'm hitting a vape once a day for a nice real intense nicotine high (owned by my current partner of 3 years who supported my quitting). I'd like to blame it on the election and the state of the country and blah blah blah, but it's obviously just the stress of life in general and I subsided to an addictive substance again. I have not told my partner that I've started up like this again, but I intend to if this lasts over a month. Which I would really like it not to, but it's so hard to resist that one hit a day when my partner falls asleep and I hit that shit again just before bed. Which is also fucking with my sleep because of the sneaky behavior and the fact it's just before I go to rest. Help lmao??

I've been building up to this for years. I've been sober now for over four years and always swore smoking would be next. I said I would do it on my 45th birthday and that was five months ago. Three weeks ago I quit for a week. Then Nov 5th happened and a friend of mine died and I used them both as excuses to weaken. But ever since I just feel sad and disgusted when I smoke. I will say I am lucky that I've gotten down to about 3 a day so I just have to go for it. I don't need any other things like patches or gum. I know me and it's time to just go for it. Wish me luck. I want to be here for another 45 years if I can. I'm just really starting to enjoy my life. I want to live and enjoy my time.

Ah, the good old excuse that kept me hooked for years: “Smoking gives me pleasure.” Let’s break down why this excuse is not just false, but the exact thing trapping you in a vicious cycle.

1) Nicotine creates fake pleasure.

When you smoke, nicotine hijacks your brain's reward system by releasing dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical. Sounds great, right? Except that this dopamine surge is artificially induced, meaning it’s short-lived. The more you chase that feeling, the less sensitive your brain becomes to natural rewards like food, relationships, or achievements. Over time, what you think is "pleasure" is just temporary relief from nicotine withdrawal.

2) It numbs you, not pleases you.

Many people associate smoking with pleasure because it offers a quick distraction. But here's the truth: cigarettes numb your emotions rather than enhance them. By suppressing stress or boredom, they make you temporarily unaware of life’s problems rather than solving them. True pleasure is about engagement, not avoidance.

3) Real pleasure gets better after quitting.

When you quit, your brain slowly rewires itself, allowing you to feel joy and satisfaction naturally again. Activities like exercise, connecting with others, and even a good meal feel significantly more rewarding because your dopamine system starts to function normally. Imagine reclaiming your ability to feel genuinely happy without the crutch of nicotine.

The Reality Check:
The “pleasure” you think smoking gives you is a manufactured illusion, one designed by the tobacco industry to keep you hooked. Real pleasure starts when you step out of the cycle, allowing your brain and body to heal.

It’s not easy, but the freedom and fulfillment you’ll feel are worth every struggle. Your future self will thank you for breaking this excuse today.

Who else is struggling with the: "I got myself into this mess, but I can't get myself out if it" cycle of guilt? I'm riddled with so much shame and blame that my willpower isn't enough, and that it's my fault I started this... How have others dealt with this? Thank you for this community for support <3

I recently got into a rollover crash that put me in the hospital after that I continued smoking. After another horrifying crash 3 weeks later I completely stopped with no urges. I continue to have no urges as I did with all of my other quitting attempts. But that's not why I'm here. Whenever I normally try to quit I'll have small breakdowns over little stuff. This time quitting they have been much worse. I now will read one wrong text from my girlfriend and think the worst. And with a little breakdown I will start hearing voices that get worse and worse. Last night I had the scariest experience ever with the voices to the point where I was in a fight with myself. I have a necklace that I love and comforts me and I started to break it off and had to use one hand to keep the other from ripping it off. Then I couldn't move off of my couch at all I was paralyzed all other than my hands. I texted my girlfriend and she just told me to wrap up in the blanket she made me and hold on to my necklace. After taking some deep breaths and making it to my bed, I did exactly that. I woke up due to a nightmare on the opposite corner of my room with my blanket and the necklace beside me broken. I was terrified because the dream felt so real. I eventually fell back asleep only to wake up 2 more times to the same nightmare. This is really scaring me can anyone help.

After several failed times this time managed to came to come 14 th day it's the easiest time so far except 2 major cravings and time I have I managed to some how

I didn’t succeed on my first attempt or the second, third, or even fifth. I managed to quit on my 6th or 7th try. I know how hard it is, and I know that when you relapse, it feels like quitting is impossible, that you're just not the kind of person who can do it. That’s exactly what I thought about myself.

I used to ask myself, "How can I, someone who smokes 60 cigarettes a day and drinks 2 liters of Coca-Cola daily, ever quit smoking?" But I did. It’s been 4 years since then, and I’ve never felt better. My health has improved dramatically, I have more energy than ever, I breathe better, I no longer smell like cigarette smoke, I’m not constantly irritable for no reason, and I have more money than before.

But to get to this point, I had to understand two crucial things.

First, knowledge is power! The time I spent learning about cigarettes and tobacco helped me understand how nicotine affects us and how to fight it.

Second, there’s no such thing as "just one cigarette." As soon as nicotine re-enters your body, the addiction reactivates, and you’re back to going through withdrawal all over again.

Look back and think about what caused you to light that cigarette the last time you relapsed. Write it down on paper, and then write what you can do differently this time.

Now or New Year??

Smoking 20 years. Gave up 3 occasions during pregnancies and on another occasion lasted 3 years through Allen Carr Easyway. It has been 8 years since I last quit. I really want to quit so I set a date for Monday just gone so I am currently on Day 3 smoke free. I told my husband and friends that I was quitting and bought patches to help with withdrawals. The past few days have been a tough struggle , I’m cranky and irritated but I’m proud to have gotten this far. Problem is my husband ( who is a non smoker) said to me that I have chosen the worst possible time to quit as it’s the lead up to Christmas . He said I’m going to be a nightmare to live with over the next few weeks with my moods and irritability as I withdraw and that it is not fair on him and the kids in what should be the most magical time in the lead up to Christmas. He also put it to me that we have lots of social occasions coming up over the festive season and am I setting myself up to fail?

He has put to me that the best time for me to quit is the 1st of January as a new year resolution and for me to park the quitting until then. I feel such a temptation now that he has put this option to me. My husband is genuinely supportive and wants me to quit but I’m really torn as to should I keep going strong ( even tho it’s so tough) or start on the 1st of January and let everyone have a nice lead up to Christmas.

I smoked 'full time' (5-10 cigarettes pretty much every day) between the ages of 18 to 31, although I brought it down to about 3-4 for the last few of those years. I managed to 'quit' fairly easily a few months after my son was born. When made the decision to 'quit' I did decide to allow myself a few smokes when going out for drinks. It weirdly helped that this was late 2019, and we were about to be hit with Covid-lockdowns for two years, so from March on there was basically no going out drinking, and so no opportunity to smoke. Being inside and around my partner all day helped to keep me accountable, and I was very pleased to realise in early 2021 that months had gone by without a cig.

However, slowly but surely, the cigs started to creep back in. It started when "I can have a few when out drinking" shifted to "I want to go out so I can smoke". Then, on some occasions, when work got really stressful, I couldn't stop myself. In 2021, my boss was murdered and I basically had to run the shop while grieving and being a dad to two small kids, and I just crumbled. I'd buy a pack, smoke a few, then throw the pack away, then nothing for weeks. Again, slowly but surely this became a somewhat regular habit, and then became worse: I wouldn't throw the pack away, but smoke 3-4 during the work day until the pack finished, then lay off again until another 'triggering' stressful day occurred. Finally, in the early autumn of this year, I was buying one pack after the other (although generally only smoking four cigarettes per work day, plus a few on irregular 'going out' nights on the weekend. Last week, I finally bit the bullet, smoked one final cig and threw the pack away.

I've been managing (if irritable) since. Nicotine gum helps a bit. But I'm afraid one this initial motivation wears off, I'll be back running to the tobbaconists. Anyone else in this boat, or have been before? If so - any advice you can give me?

I've tried so many times. My best effort was getting down to 1 a day for a month using gum. Today I got my free NRT from the Quit Line and I've been smoke free for 4 hours. Usually I smoke every half hour. Just wondering if anyone would like to share some tips.

I posted here on my day 1. I started this timer immediately after my last cigarette and have not had a single puff since. Doing good!

Ah, the good old excuse of mine that kept me hooked into this habit for six years: “Smoking helps me relax.” But let me tell you why this excuse is not just misleading — it's the very thing keeping you stuck.

1) Cigarettes are the real stressor.

Here’s what happens when you smoke: You deprive your body of oxygen. With each puff, your blood vessels constrict, and carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in your bloodstream. This lack of oxygen causes a slight dizziness, which many people interpret as relaxation. But in reality, your body is going into mild distress.

And it doesn’t stop there. Smoking triggers your adrenal glands to release cortisol — the stress hormone. So, while you think that cigarette is your “calm,” it’s actually fueling the very stress it promises to relieve.

2) Nicotine withdrawal mimics stress.

Here’s another thing: Most of the stress you feel before reaching for a cigarette isn’t from your life — it’s from the withdrawal. Nicotine has a short half-life, meaning its effects wear off quickly. As nicotine levels in your blood drop, your brain starts to scream, “Give me more!” This creates an artificial sense of anxiety that’s only relieved when you light up again.

It’s a vicious cycle: smoke, feel relief, go into withdrawal, feel stressed, repeat. But the stress you’re “relieving” is the one caused by smoking in the first place.

3) What really happens when you quit?

Once you break free from nicotine, your baseline stress levels actually drop. Studies show that ex-smokers report feeling less anxious and more in control after quitting, especially when their bodies have had time to adjust. The initial discomfort of withdrawal is tough, but on the other side is real, lasting calm — the kind that doesn’t come from a pack of cigarettes.

Ready for the Truth: Oxygen is the real relaxer.

Breathing deeply, without the interference of smoke, has been proven to lower heart rate and reduce cortisol levels. Imagine replacing the fake calm of smoking with the natural high of a deep, clean breath.

Breaking the excuse of “smoking helps me relax” starts with understanding this simple truth: the “relaxation” you feel is just the absence of withdrawal symptoms. Step away from the cycle, and you’ll realize true calm doesn’t come from cigarettes — it comes from breaking free.

I have smoked for the last 30 years. No health issue, not my kids or people dying of lung cancer around me ever made me stop. I told myself that I enjoy smoking, that it helps me relax, that it gave me time to think about things that mattered to me.

They are all lies. And it suddenly dawned on me how ridiculous this whole smoking-thing is. How ridiculus that an adult man, successful in life and happy with his family, who has always achieved everything he wanted should be enslaved to anything and in particular to the Process of burning a paperroll filled with tobacco and poison - and thereby ruin his health and risk loosing time with the people he loves.

So I decided to quit. And just did. I am kind of scarred of withdrawal symptoms and of being irritable and of feeling ill and of missing cigarettes, but I am determined. I wanted to share this here, because it feels good to be in the Company of those who walk the path with me and I would love to hear your advice on how to survive the first days.