Congrats - go tell your son!
Ogre congratulations, and one thing I want to reiterate is do not let your guard down. EVER! I have quit a few times before, one for a month, and more recently I made it over 3 months. Both times I thought I beat it, the craving stopped, the urge stopped and I thought I was in the clear. The problem is, at some time,after you reach that point, something will happen that will make you suddenly without warning really want a cigarette, at a time when one just happens to be readily available. You have to always be prepared for this. even if you make it past a year or 2.
What happens is you convince yourself since you no longer feel cravings at all, you’ve beaten it and the wicked, dormant, but still addicted part of your brain suddenly awakes and fools you into thinking it’s the reasonable part of your brain, and rationalizes that, hey, you’re past the addiction, and having a puff would be really nice, like old times when you first started,and since its been so long, you’ll really get that nice head rush like how it was in the beginning.
And you’ll think that it’ll be ok, because it takes a while to get addicted, and you’re not addicted anymore, you beat that, 'cause you don’t have the urges anymore. And you’re different than everyone else that warned you about this, because they must have still been addicted without knowing it, but you’re not, 'cause you don’t have the urges any more. You’ll just have this one because you deserve it as a reward to yourself for beating it, and it will be really nice because its been so long, and you’re only doing it because it’ll be a really nice treat, not because you need it or anything. Besides, just one or 2 can’t make you addicted, it took a long time to actually be addicted, and since you’re not addicted anymore, it’s just like starting from the beginning. Except THIS TIME, you’ll get it right. Only one occasionally, as a treat. And what makes it worse is that it IS a treat. It is like in the beginning, when the hear rush made you a little dizzy. It’s so good that before you even know it you’re sucked right back into
Yeah. So anyways,watch out for that
I appreciate the warning, and yes, I’m on the lookout for that (since that’s exactly how I ended up smoking again after a 4-year hiatus - At a party. Drunk. Having a good time. One wouldn’t hurt, right? WRONG.)
But your post was hilarious. 
I had a few the night of my 40th birthday party, 9th Jan but have been grand other than that. Woke up the next day and didn’t need or want one. Haven’t really done much drinking since though so it seems drinking is my hurdle.
Still though that means 3 smokes since xmas rather than the up to 200 I would have normally smoked in that time period.
Oh and well done Ogre looks like you’ve broken the fucker’s back.
Thanks, yojimbo. Happy birthday!
Since quitting, my experience is similar to yojimbo’s. When I’m drunk, I want to smoke like crazy, and often have one or two. When I’m sober, even the thought of smoking repulses me.
Sober Lab and drunken Lab scheme against each other a lot.
I’ve had one when I was drunk, too (a few times,) but I never want to continue the next day. I rarely finish it either, it tastes like shit. 
And I hate the stinky smell on my clothes when we come home from the bar. I can’t remember the last time I’ve really wanted one - it’s probably been over a year. These days when I have the passing thought, it’s quickly followed by, “Eww! It tastes nasty!”
Congrats on your continued success, Ogre!
Ogre, yer my new hero.
Well done, my friend. And what **Bootis **said: keep yer guard up. Nicotine is a gold-plated SOB and will sneak up on you when you least expect it.
Stay strong. It is SO worth it in the end.
CHANTIX! CHANTIX! CHANTIX! I took it for one week before quitting. I took it for 7 weeks (not the 12 recommended) after quitting. This was in Oct. 2009. I had smoked for 32 years. I had little to NO cravings, I was actually amazed how easy it was to quit (and my husband still smokes, so I am around it). I have not cheated. I have a little post-it on my computer that says “Never pick up another one” - advice i was given by someone who had quit themselves. I never have, never will. Maybe not ‘everyone’ can take it successfully (the aforementioned husband got nauseous from it) but it worked fabulously for me.
Damn, so that wasn’t just me then? Or were you taking dictation in my head?
LOL!
I thought I knew my triggers. Turns out I had no idea.
Things I thought were triggers:
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A nice meal, after which a cigarette is only natural. NOT my trigger.
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Alcohol. What smoker doesn’t light up more when drinking? It’s practically a cliche. NOT my trigger.
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Driving. It always seemed like the most natural thing in the world was to crank the car, roll down the window, and light up. I was 100% sure this would be a major problem. Turns out it’s no big deal.
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Disc golf. The ultimate smoker’s sport. I always smoked a few during a round. Especially if I had a beer during said round (see #2 above). Meh. Hasn’t been a problem.
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Band practice. Used to smoke like a chimney while playing. Don’t miss it. Go figure.
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Morning coffee. Used to drink a cuppa on the porch in the morning while smoking. Was blissful. Totally don’t miss it at all.
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Bedtime. Have a smoke, then brush teeth, wash up, and go beddy bye. Awesome, right? Eh, not so big a deal.
Things that have been 100% identified as triggers that give me the screaming willies for a smoke:
- Early evening.
What? Yeah, that’s all. Just “early evening”. Doesn’t seem to matter what’s going on. Could be raining. Could be sunny. Might be eating at home. Might be going out for a bite with the Ogress. Might drive home and be in heavy traffic, or might breeze all the way there. May be late, early, or on time.
It just doesn’t seem to matter. Almost every night, from about 4PM to about 8PM, regardless of what’s going on, I seem to have a shaking, full-on nic-o-fit.
I never would have suspected that in a million years. How very strange.
I’m still smoke-free, but yeah. It’s not a coincidence that I’m posting this at 5PM, Central Standard Time. I am about to leave for home, and I’m jonesing like a junkie.
I just want add my support for Chantix. In Canada we call it Champix. I’ve quit smoking twice with it, Yeah I know, but the first time I realy beat it and yet I thought perhaps I could get away with just one smoke. The point is I was a heavy smoker for 45 years and found that several weeks of Champix while continuing to smoke took me to a place where I was actually felt comfortable to make the DECISION.
Ogre, Keep at it!
My husband is 6 months and 4 days clean. He still has an occasional craving. The way he gets past it is to talk about what that first 30 days was like. He never wants to go through that again.
DO NOT give in.
it’s all psychological for you now. you’re past the physical. your body doesn’t need it, your head just wants it.
distract yourself. go carry the Ogress off to bed! have wild hot monkey sex!