Evolv-ing Thread

[Alexander Mundy]

We are all different when it comes to the level of addiction. I have known a guy for 20 yrs or so that is a former smoker that quit cold turkey about 10 yrs ago but still has the occasional cigarette. He can go without for days, weeks, or months and says he doesn't have cravings just likes the occasional buzz. Another friend from long ago went down the addiction rabbit hole progressing to harder substances so hard he is no longer with us. Sad, he knew where he was headed but couldn't stop himself.

 

[BillW50]

We are all different when it comes to the level of addiction. I have known a guy for 20 yrs or so that is a former smoker that quit cold turkey about 10 yrs ago but still has the occasional cigarette. He can go without for days, weeks, or months and says he doesn't have cravings just likes the occasional buzz.

I was smoking in the 70's 3 packs a day. In the 80's I quit cold turkey for 10 years. And after 10 years without a cigarette I looked back and asked myself was it worth it? I said hell no and started smoking again.

 

[BillW50]

"To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know, I've done it a thousand times."
Mark Twain

 

[Steamer861]

I was smoking in the 70's 3 packs a day. In the 80's I quit cold turkey for 10 years. And after 10 years without a cigarette I looked back and asked myself was it worth it? I said hell no and started smoking again.

I did the same from 86 to 96 I was a non Smoker!
I quite Cold Turkey, I has some help from an Old Timer I was working with, who had done it years before.
It was hard but I Did it!
I was working a job in TBay, far from Home & all alone ( no friends) there was a 2 hour bus ride to the Right of Way & 2 hours back.
It was a winter job, so it was going to last 12 to 14 weeks.
I figured every one was smoking on the bus So I would to.
Stupidly thought I could just quite again at the end of the Job.
By the time I left TBay 12 weeks later I was Hooked again!
This time I couldn't just quite like before It was harder! It took vaping to do it again.

I'm sure! I could become a smoker again if I was Stupid enough to let my self

 

[SlickWilly]

Actually I read a study (I can get the link if you want) that found nicotine itself isn't addictive. But they did find that nicotine combined with thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke is highly addictive. So it is nicotine plus something else.

There was also a reporter (video is on youtube) who never smoked. But being curious about vaping, started to vape with nic. He planned on quitting after 6 months to do his story. And after vaping for 6 months he put it down and didn't miss it at all.

It is only us who had been addicted to cigarettes that are screwed. We need our nic.

Could be, I read that smoking was right up there with the top addictions probably 30 years ago, maybe it was wrong. I do know if I go more then a half hour without a vape I get the same urgent cravings as "I need a smoke" and it goes away quickly after picking my mod up, same as when I smoked. Something in my brain is telling me I "need" that vape ASAP and nic is the only connecting dots between a cig and a vape so... Really I don't care, all I know is vaping has been the only way I've been able to stay away from smoking with success, I have no desire to smoke and I sure as hell don't miss the stink on me, my clothes, in my car and house.

 

[dwcraig1]

For me smoking a cigarette again would be enough to gag a maggot........just my opinion

 

[Steamer861]

For me smoking a cigarette again would be enough to gag a magot........just my opinion

Ya It was kind of like that the First time! I remember all most puking, head spinning, sick to my Stomach, Didn't stop me from lighting up again Then!

 

[tiburonfirst]

 

[mikepetro]

 

[dwcraig1]

 

[awsum140]

I think if I "relaxed" I could go back to smoking. Sometimes when I catch a whiff of a freshly lit cigarette it smells so darn nice it almost makes me want one. Then, when I get closer to the smoker, that stale tobacco smoke smell hits and that urge goes away, very quickly.

I quit cigarettes, three packs a day plus, multiple times, sometimes for several years at a time, but always went back to it. The last time I stopped, coming up on six years ago, I did it cold turkey and switched to vaping exclusively. The first week was a little hard to get through, but after that it was relatively easy.

I may not be addicted to nicotine, at least not badly addicted to it, but I am heavily addicted to the whole "ritual" of smoking. The hand/mouth motions, the taste, the throat/lung hit and the "clouds" that are produced. As long as I can get those without tobacco I'm a happy camper.

 

[dwcraig1]

My friend in Pa. that I shipped a couple of mods to, the one that uses zero nic was describing to me how he has that "addiction" like attachment for it. Says when ever he forgets it at home he has to go back and get it. That 2nd kit arrives for him today.

 

[dwcraig1]

I use about 5 to 6 Ml of 12Mg a day, I claim (just guessing) that I have either a slight or no addiction to nic. I realize I may be just full of it, wouldn't be the first time. Maybe it's about time to find out, not quit vaping just use zero nic.

 

[SlickWilly]

I'm sure I told this story before, years ago early into vaping I headed out to a big city up north, a few hours round trip. Once I got to the city the one mod I had (Twsit) died, I knew there was no way I'd make it back home, I stopped and picked up a pack of cigarettes. After that day I made sure I had redundancy in atty's, mods and juice with me at all times, I never again wanted to be in a situation where I couldn't vape. If I had my wits about me that day I could have used the juice that was in the atty to get me home instead of getting that pack of cigs, when I go to concerts or shows I'll take a small squeeze bottle of juice with me and put a few drops on my tongue when I get the urge.

 

[ShamrockPat]

I'm feeling very old right now . Mike posts a very fine coffee picture, and here I am noticing the almost broken right turn signal on the bike, and that it's a full swingout garage door .

 

[Rossum]

I use about 5 to 6 Ml of 12Mg a day, I claim (just guessing) that I have either a slight or no addiction to nic. I realize I may be just full of it, wouldn't be the first time. Maybe it's about time to find out, not quit vaping just use zero nic.

Les us know how that goes.

 

[mikepetro]

Cigars still smell good to me, and on occasion I am still tempted by them. So I try to avoid "trigger" situations.

There is a bar that my GF likes a lot near her house, its a high end whiskey and cigar joint that does a lot of tasting events etc. Hehehe it is a renovated old Jail. They have a full walk in humidor and a smoking room. I went there with her once, told her I didnt want to go back.


Funny thing is have been clean & sober 30 years and all the wonderful Scotchs didnt bother me near as much as the cigars did.

 

[Boobsley]

I hear ya. 15 yrs. without a drink or drug. The booze isn’t even a thought, but the smell of a good cigar is tempting.

 

[CMD-Ky]

Cigars still smell good to me, and on occasion I am still tempted by them. So I try to avoid "trigger" situations.
...
Funny thing is have been clean & sober 30 years and all the wonderful Scotchs didnt bother me near as much as the cigars did.

I hear ya. 15 yrs. without a drink or drug. The booze isn’t even a thought, but the smell of a good cigar is tempting.

I think these are interesting experiences. In my life before retirement, I had a position in which I came into contact with many people and many problems but never had this experience told to me. Now, two in a row, I don't know what to make of it but I sure find it interesting - booze, drugs, no problem; tobacco, a problem. Mentally filed away in my otherwise cluttered mind for further thought.

I appreciate these posts.

 

[SlickWilly]

I think these are interesting experiences. In my life before retirement, I had a position in which I came into contact with many people and many problems but never had this experience told to me. Now, two in a row, I don't know what to make of it but I sure find it interesting - booze, drugs, no problem; tobacco, a problem. Mentally filed away in my otherwise cluttered mind for further thought.

I appreciate these posts.

You can add another, I hit rock bottom 16 years ago, I have no desire to have a drink, the thought of feeling the buzz or being drunk is literally disturbing to me. I had an easier time giving up the booze then I did smoking, although I did relapse a few times early on and drank, that ended after six years so in truthfulness it's been ten years since I had a drink, 16 since I made up my mind booze was bringing me and my family nothing but pain.

If not for vaping I probably be dead by now, I was that far along that smoking was making me very sick and was told I'd have to live with COPD and inhalers. Since vaping my lungs have cleared up, I don't use inhalers anymore and no more wheezing, last scan of my lungs showed them completely cleared, my pulmonologist was amazed.