In your life, have you ever quit and 'relapsed' back into smoking? What was it like? - A Dubd1c3 Poll

[dubd1c3]

I'd like to collect some account as to what going back to smoking was like.

This poll is not to imply that you returned to smoking after using PVs.

This is a general relapse poll about any time you ever relapsed.

I don't really like the term 'relapsed.' I will say 'returned to smoking.'

Select any statements that apply to you and/or discuss any relapse experiences below.

Participate in these polls as well...
T/F : A "State of the Union" Poll for All Vapers- A Dubd1c3 Poll
Please classify your first cigarette experience for my research- A Dubd1c3

Thank you!

 

[Vocalek]

They told me, "Your health will improve and you will feel so much better."

It didn't and I didn't.

They told me, "Gaining 5 pounds is still healthier than smoking."

I gained more like 40 pounds.

They told me, "Those withdrawal symptoms are only temporary. They'll go away as soon as the drug has cleared your system."

After 6 months, the drug had had plenty of time to clear my system.

Those 6 months I spent abstinent from nicotine were the most excruciating decade of my entire life--well, it felt like a decade (or two).

I could tough out most of the symptoms: the depression with suicidal ideation, the anxiety, two weeks of splitting headaches caused by jaw-clenching, the weight gain, the sleeping 18 hours a day. What I could not handle was losing fifty IQ points. I couldn't think straight, couldn't concentrate, couldn't remember things. I did not feel like me anymore.

When the doctor made clear to me that there was no medication that would fix the cognitive problems, I chose to return to smoking after 6 months of abstinence. Obviously, at that time the benefits of smoking far outweighed the benefits of not smoking. (Those were my three selections in your poll.)

Even though this was 20 years ago, I understood even then that it was not the smoke I required, but adequate amounts of nicotine. At that time only smoking could deliver those amounts.

I didn't enjoy any noticable physical benefits from smoking/nicotine cessation because not enough damage had been done by smoking back then. By the time I discovered electronic cigarettes, I was being kept awake by the sound of my wheezing and had what the doctors call a "productive cough."

So this time when I stopped inhaling smoke, I did experience noticable improvements in my physical health. But this time, I wasn't forced to pay for smoking abstinence with my cognitive and emotional health. The benefits of vaping far outweigh the benefits of smoking.

 

[dubd1c3]

VocalEK, thanks for that account. I have been cruising your blog- it is AWESOME!

 

[BradSmith]

I don't like not having my nic. I am hard enough to put up with as it is. I have quit a few times and for varying lenghts of time. Basic training and AIT was thirteen weeks of hell and the single worst part was not being dogged out and the physical part, that was a breeze, the hardest part was not smoking. Yes I snuck out and bummed cigs at night but it was still rough. In the field or in combat you didn't smoke at night, but I got through with snuff and chew.

On an interesting note. During my first tour of combat in 1989 they actually supplied us with packs of cigs. It really was a moral booster as we were often in the jungle for weeks without any stores around. Although we could get Pepsi, don't ask me how Pepsi could make it's way that far out. Some of the San Blas people had never even seen a man with blue eyes before but they had Pepsi.

My second major attempt at quiting was when I went to work at a hardboard factory. There was always so much smoke in the air and other chemicals that I couldn't stand the thought of adding more crap to my lungs. Stress put an end to that.

I started pinching Kools from my dad when I was around 11 or 12 years old. This is the only time I have ever stopped smoking and not been an ... to be around.

Long live e-cigs!!!!

 

[CaptJay]

I tried to quit once, I think it lasted a couple of days. I got patches, which made me feel really ill; I felt irritated, violent, jittery, couldn't sleep - and the gum I got was just awful - it went hard in seconds and tasted disgusting. It also made me want to smoke - I mean literally as soon as I started with it I wanted a cig. That never happened when I was smoking, I just didnt crave like that. I did tell tell the chemist my cigs were ultra light and he told me to use the lower patches but they still 'felt' too strong. I also got a rash where the patches had been on my arm.
After about 3 days I went back to smoking and felt healthier (seriously, the patches are evil I'd never recommend them).
On the PV my intention was NOT to quit at all but my desire to smoke became less and less. Since the PV I dont crave cigs, I never feel ill, violent or anything else. I vape 12mg, 6mg and 0 nic juices.

 

[zoiDman]

I guess you know that you have it bad when you answer every single poll choice except the first.

 

[satoshi]

One of these days, I will have to accept that I cannot just have 1 or 2 cigarettes

Until then, I'm still smoking analogs along with my e-cig. I don't know why. But I can say the e-cig has dramatically cut my analog usage...more so than NRT.

 

[nansc]

I have quit many times but anxiety and stress always started me up again.

 

[rpittman]

I have relapes twice hope not a third.I always let stress get the best of me.I've quit for 18 months started again. Got that smokers hack [as I call it] and I'm trying to quit again.We shall see.

 

[CountCaffeine]

I just started vaping 5 days ago now and I am hoping this is the last time I quit. I have quit 4 times in the past and then something insanely tragic happened in my life each time after that so I started right back up.