Zero interest in why we smoke cigarettes.

[RickyShakaZulu]

I’m on year 4 of being smoke free. Every day is a waisted day. I’m not happy or happier after quitting. I’m worse off and doing terrible. My life is not better. People only think you need to quit and job done. Quitting has only caused more problems!!! The simple truth is cigarettes fill in what’s missing for some people. Take that away and you lose something. I’m lost, I’m not happy. Doctors don’t like to talk about this part of quitting.

[Blueruth]

Welcome back. I'm glad to see you are still smoke free. Considering how miserable this is for you I think that is really fantastic. I hope you see the changes in your health so far.

Have you started doing any of the suggestions we have given you?

[hypercat54]

As a smoker I totally get where you are coming from.

[bonkers65]

That's why I haven't quit. My anxiety/depression is bad enough as it is. If I was to quit I don't think I could handle it.

[Sleeplessme]

There's absolutely nothing good about smoking. If you find yourself questioning the decision to stay off smoking, get a copy of the book by Alan Carr (no, not that Brit comedian) it's the book that got me off over 10 years ago and I've been happy about that every day since. Ill health, smell like an ashtray, huge expense .. I'm sorry you're having problems, but not smoking can't cause problems, you need to look past that and find the real cause. I genuinely hope you get past it and realise how amazing it is that you quit.

[RickyShakaZulu in reply to Sleeplessme]

The big two I always hear from people. Health & Money. If you smoke cigarettes, you don’t care about that. If you did, you wouldn’t smoke. Now I’m quit and haven’t had any good things happen for me. My marriage is almost over, I have no friends, I’m a mess. I’ve wasted 4 years of my life and no help in sight. Quitting is a joke. I see now why so many people go back to smoking. There is no good that comes from quitting. If you smoke, people want you to quit. But they don’t think about what to do after you quit. Why did I smoke?

[Sleeplessme in reply to RickyShakaZulu]

It's not about what other people think, it's about you. And it's not about opinion either. Cigarettes are extremely bad for you and cost a fortune. For every example of "oh but so-and-so smoked and lived to 100" there are thousands of examples of people dying well before their time because of smoking. It's really not debatable, it's fact.

You're clearly going through a hell of a time, like most of us, but blaming giving up is just looking for a scapegoat.

[RickyShakaZulu in reply to Sleeplessme]

If smokers cared about health or finances, they wouldn’t be smokers. I have nothing positive to say about quitting. That upsets people, doesn’t fit their narrative. Wasted 3.5 years so I could be miserable. I know They are killers but they filled a hole in my life. Now I’m empty and that’s the issue I have with quitting.

[Honestyalldatime]

Ricky congratulations on 4 YEARS!!!!!!

Found your blog and read all of it from day one!!

So I am team Ricky. Cigarette smoking has claimed so many of my family lives that I am happy that you are not smoking.

So if you have tried almost everything try accupunture 2 times a week and try to see if their are free /low income sliding scales as they can be expensive. Their are so many Pro's and healing aspects and detoxifiers while doing this technic its unreal. Even 1 time a week could work , spin class can work, as well as mountain biking or tennis. Being active somehow MMA etc.

So I hear you when you say that your body is reacting to you not smoking any more. As I see it that's your warning that if you go back to smoking and continue down the road with that if you choose, your body will seriously hate you later.

I believe in you and that you will find something that will work and keep you motivated(paintball, video games of somesort)

I believe in you!!

[qru55]

Ask your dr for a prescription of Wellbutrin tablet , it will help you a lot !

[RickyShakaZulu in reply to qru55]

Head pills are worthless. I’ve tried anti anxiety and anti depression meds. They do nothing for me. Found out during my first vasectomies that Benzos don’t work either. I can eat them like candy, do nothing. So now I am pure straight edge. No drugs, no nicotine, no alcohol. I find it a sad lifestyle and regret quitting cigarettes every day of my life. 4 years wasted for what? So k can be miserable?

[Snook179]

Agreed. I gave up also 4 years ago after being a 30+ years smoker (20 of them heavy).I do not feel this wonderful invigorating life I was, told of. I can't even taste any better.

I did it cold, turkey too.

Physically, I've been worse. I have a cough I never had when smoking & now gave to have cardiac investigations (altho that is thanks to an anti depressant that caused a defect). Thank you medical profession for that too.

I really can't say I physically miss the cigs now BUT they definitely are a crutch I miss mentally.

[RickyShakaZulu in reply to Snook179]

I’ve been to so many doctors now after quitting. Every year I see someone new. I’m done with doctors and councilors. Worthless people who never think about the “why” we slowly killed our self and payed to do it. People think you quit and all is better. I hate being a part of the group of people who treated me like shit when I smoked. Now I hate non smokers even more. I’m not happy, I’m not healthy. We need to look into the why of this addiction and not just the quit.

[fauxartist]

It's a habit...habits fill that virtual: 'hole of need', in the middle of some of us. Some drink, drug, exorcise or work to excess, gamble, eat, etc.... so If you think smoking will do that for you... then smoke. I have a lung issue from Covid and don't like the smell or taste, plus no one around me smokes so I don't want to invade their space with my smoking... but if you have no issues about smoking ... then that is your choice.

[Hidden]

Sometimes you would be just as miserable being a smoker or nonsmoker. I think some people smoke because that’s their way of not eating and not gaining weight, but are you really healthy? You know you’re not. You’re addicted to a substance. I really don’t have any issues with anyone going outside to take a smoke break, it becomes a problem when you’re living indoors with someone else and they just light up whenever they feel like it and secondhand smoke does affect people living with you. They become way more prone to having allergies and asthma. No one is going to want to listen to you coughing and hacking away on your cigarettes when you get older.