"Just one"

[Kaiwandrey]

Hey all! I'm new to the forum and i'm on day 4 of quitting after smoking a pack a day for 10 years. It's going pretty great and has been surprisingly easier than I thought it would.

Each day the cravings are easier and easier to ignore but strangely the thoughts of "Maybe I can just have one now and then" seem to be increasing.

Since it has been fairly easy on me it's pretty hard to convince myself "just one" would be really such a bad idea.

Although I have not given in yet, and havent even taken a single puff. I am worried that once I'm 'quit' for a few weeks or months I may make the silly decision to 'reward' myself with this "just one" and im sure this could lead to a full relapse so I worry about that.

So what im wondering is, will this "just one" thought ever really subside? And what do you do to remind yourself that even "one" is a full relapse.

And on a side note, has anyone successfully quit and had "just one" here and there and not gone back to full time smoking?

[mushen Valued Contributor]

Hello and welcome!

Well in my experience, it is never 'just one'. Instead it is one followed by all the others that come afterwards.

I have relapsed 3 times in the past and all because I had 'just one'. The last time I did this I smoked one cigarette and was back to smoking at previous levels literally within hours. I think, that for the vast majority of people, smoking really is an 'all or nothing' activity. It is just so damn easy to get sucked into thinking that one puff or one cigarette won't hurt.

I have quit for just over a year now and what I learnt from past relapses was that it will only take one single cigarette and I know I will be back smoking with hours. If that happens I will have to quit again unless I am prepared to smoke until I die. I seriously do not have the energy to do this all over again. Quitting sucked the life out of me the last 3 times and I don't want to go there.

The good news Is, these feeling really do subside. In the meantime, do not get suckered into this train of thought like I did.

Keep plodding on. You've got this! 😁

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Welcome Kaiwandrey to our community and congratulations on Day 4 smoke free! Well done! I will be quit cold turkey 2 years in September. Been a roller coaster of journey but so worth all the blood, sweat and tears from dealing with life's curve balls to overcoming being complacent that one will be ok at my first wedding, my first funeral, my first birthday, my first christmas, my first concert, my first night out etc... smoke free but I knew if I had just the one, for old times sake, I would be back in Mr Nico's arms sooner or later, because 12 years ago, I quit after reading Allen Carr's book, was off them for a year and a half, then thought I could have one when out for a night out, after about month was back smoking full time - thats how strong nicotine addiction is and why it is the hardest addiction to overcome and a huge achievement to do so, but it is so achievable

What I have done over my almost 2 year journey when I thought the just one would be ok is to think back to the day I stumped out my last cigarette and why I done it (couldn't breath and was likely on the verge of COPD or worse). I never ever want to experience that again.

Wishing you strength and stay close to us especially if struggling at any time....

[Kaiwandrey 1 Year Smoke Free in reply to RoisinO1]

Thank you for the responses, definitely gives me more perspective. I don't know why it is so hard to get it through my thick skull that "one" is just as bad as all, because it will likely take me right back to full time smoking. As it seems to for everyone.

I keep (ignorantly) thinking I could surely have just the one and be fine. "I'm different" (slap me lol)

I've always been one to learn the hard way, but at least this probably needs to be the one time I listen to others from the start.

I'll keep pushing through! Thanks again!

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Kaiwandrey]

Thats the mindset Kaiwandrey , just take it hour by hour and day by day for the moment, your mind and body is now working very hard to rewire, repair and recover but it gets easier, I promise!

[Hercu Valued Contributor]

Kaiwandrey...Welcome to the NOPE club and I am sure you know what the NOPE stands for...It is a very clear "Not One Puff Ever"...It truly must be your pledge every new day and forever from now on...There is no one who had just one and stayed smoke free...!!!!

[Nozmo Valued Contributor]

Hello Kaiwandrey

I've been quit for nearly twenty months and I STILL get the "just one" thoughts now and then. I've tried it a few times in previous quits and I found it leads on to more and more situations where I'm going to have "just one"...until I'm back to full time smoking before I know it!

Also, it tastes disgusting, nothing like you remember.

Try to avoid it...I know it's hard but it's worth it. Best of luck with the quit.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

Hey Nozmo - great to hear from you, missed you around, hope you are keeping well? How did the holiers go in Mallorca?

[Nozmo Valued Contributor in reply to RoisinO1]

Hiya Roisin, good to see you're keeping the place shipshape as usual!

Yeah, I'm well thanks, just got back from hols on Tuesday and actually enjoying the South Shields climate for a change. It was in the mid 30s and very humid in Minorca - too much for me by the end of the week. I had a few cravings on the evenings, especially saying as you can smoke in the bars over there, but nothing I couldn't handle. I took the ecig to make sure I didn't go on the real things... but haven't even looked at it since I got home. It's weird, this smoking cessation business.

You ok? How did your holiday go?

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

Glad you had a good holiday Nozmo and well done for you again to overcome the flight curve ball. I'm grand thanks, holiday down south the wild atlantic way is a distant memory now, but was really fantastic as we got fabulous weather, thank god!

Unfortunately, my good friend I made in college passed away last week from her short battle with cancer - only 47 and has 3 kids, youngest is 7 autistic wee boy, beautiful child - she is at peace now..., still coming to terms with it but have great memories from the short time I knew her....

[Nozmo Valued Contributor in reply to RoisinO1]

Very sorry to hear that Roisin, awful thing to have to deal with.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

Thanks Nozmo , she was such a larger than life character and so positive to the very end, really a remarkable lady

[AlexandriaUK Valued Contributor]

NOPE has to be your mantra, NOT ONE PUFF EVER, you can never ever put a cigarette to your lips ever again, that why its called quitting, your exactly the same as an alcoholic.

Imagine the saying, let sleeping dogs lie, while the nicotine demon sleeps you leave him alone, once you waken him he's going to be even harder to get back to sleep, the road to being smoke free is not easy, remember though that every step you take makes it easier to look back and not yearn for what was, if you think you might be considering lighting up get yourself on here and be reminded why you have got to where you are.

No you can never have another, ever, there's no such thing as a one off smoker.