Smoking and smokers, let's talk about it. (off topic)

[michaelowen]

I think I realised I was gonna kill myself with them to be honest. It's said that some people have addictive personalities, I think I'm 1 of those people.

[toptoon]

If you think about it, only the first two drags on a cig are really nice. The rest of it isn’t that great.
As with most addictions it’s the thought of having a smoke which is much better than actually doing it.
One tip for giving up is trying to avoid situations where you always smoked. If you always lit up with your morning coffee, then don’t have a morning coffee - have a glass of juice or nothing. And then there’s the really hard one- having a smoke with a beer........

[HughieG]

As with most addictions it’s the thought of having a smoke which is much better than actually doing it.

Absolutely. It's always the thought and the feeling of wanting or needing a cig more than actually having it.

One tip for giving up is trying to avoid situations where you always smoked. If you always lit up with your morning coffee, then don’t have a morning coffee - have a glass of juice or nothing. And then there’s the really hard one- having a smoke with a beer........

I think this is where people who have tried or even succeeded in quitting are divided - I haven't quit (yet ), but my friend recently quit and he goes to the exact same places where he used to smoke with the same people that he used to smoke with. And they still smoke. For him it wasn't about changing the location, it was about changing the habits that he had whilst being at these locations. After some time now it has becomem ore than natural for him not to smoke and everybody respects that - so IMO you also need friends around you that are empathic of your situation.

[ex_pat_magpie]

I didn't start until I was in mid 20's and that was after going through a period of 19 months National Service served in Germany where we got them for one shilling (5p to the youngsters) for 20. I was popular coming home on leave saving weeks of allowance and giving them to friends.

Gave up for 8 years then stupidly began again at a party. Had my last one 25th Nov 1975 when buying a house and haven't even laid a finger on one since.

I still must admit when someone lights one up the initial fresh smoke smell I still find pleasant but can't stand the stale smell of exhaled smoke.