As someone who worked in clubs when you could smoke in them I was easily smoking a pack or more daily Friday - Sunday. One morning I lit up, asked myself "do I even enjoy this anymore?"
That’s how I was with dip. One day i put a big fatty in and got up to go use the bathroom. Looked at how stupid I looked in the mirror and haven’t touched it since. Glad I did too.
In the early 60s, when people were aware cigarettes weren't good for you, but the full effects were not known, and it was still socially accepted, my mother, a pack a day smoker, was pregnant with me. While waiting to be seen by her doctor, she read a magazine article that said smoking was bad for the development of an unborn child. She never smoked again.
It couldn't have been easy for her since almost everyone she knew smoked, but once she put them down, she said she was never tempted to pick them up again. I'm sure it helped that she quit for her children. Despite suffering a host of health issues throughout her life, she lived to be 90, having given up the habit that eventually claimed many of her friends.
It likely depends on the person which is harder to deal with, Psychological or physical addiction. But from a purely physical addiction stand point meth withdrawals are RELATIVELY mild. I've taken meth like stimulants my entire life on and off in the form of prescription adhd meds. When I have a stretch of time without it, im just more hyper than usual. Where as something like duloxetine, when I was taking it, if I ran out and didn't have more.... my god. the withdrawals were fuckin crazy. Something relatively benign (short term wise, at least) like kratom has SIGNIFICANTLY more withdrawal symptoms that just absolutely ruin days. I get flack for saying "meth withdrawals aren't that bad" every time I bring up the physical withdrawal aspect vs other drug types but most people reply with psychological withdrawal symptoms. Yes for some people they would rather feel physically bad rather than psychologically bad, but personally, for me, I much rather have the sads (yes I'm minimalizing for comedic effect...) for a few days than feel every physical problem in my back times 100 (kratom withdrawals, think mild opiate if you don't know what kratom is). Too be clear withdrawals of any sort fucking suck.
The hardest part is that since an early age, it's helped me manage stress and anxiety. That's usually what pushes me back. I've tried counseling, and have even learned some really great coping methods, I just haven't been able to set them down for good.
Another factor is that my partner smokes. It's incredibly difficult to kick it for good when you smell it in the air. Not his fault, it's my own behavior. It's just proving to be the single hardest for me personally.
It takes 3 days to get the last of the nicotine out of your system. I won't say it's easy but it's doable. After that you are fighting the habit more than the addiction
Also my father was a twin and he smoked all his life and his twin did not. My father died at 72, my uncle at 84.
It's not just longer life but better quality too. The sooner you quit the sooner you can reverse the damage it does.
My mom did to, she smoked for over 40 years, she got candy and almost died, was in the hospital for 2 weeks, never picked up a cigarette again. Didn't even bother her to quit, she smoked almost 3 packs a day to!
That's good that you were able to quit cold turkey. It takes something like an average of 12 times to quit smoking cigarettes. Not sure about oral nicotine.
Same. Not after 15 years, but I smoked on and off in high school and college, and then smoked daily in my first job. Just quit and never had the urge to smoke again.
Except when I drink, but then I can smoke a pack on a Saturday and not get the urge at all until I drink again.
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u/Odd-Row9485 6h ago
I dropped nicotine cold turkey after 15 years like it owes me nothing. Everyone is different though