Eyja,
You definitely have gotten through the toughest part of quitting however usually there will be bumps along the way. Each bump you succeed in passing makes each succeeding bump easier and easier until poof. No craves, no bothers no worries.
You’ll get to a point mentally where you can solidly justify not smoking if only because of all the work you’ve put into the quit. You’ll find smoking is no longer attractive and that you don’t need or thing about the lift that smoking may have brought.
Trickery can help you stay quit. When I had a real big, big desire to smoke, I would say to nicodemon “HOLD ON, HOLD ON” let’s discuss this in an hour or the next day. Then go on from there and repeat the same to nicodemon the next time. Distractions are key until you get well. Then you do what you please as a non smoker. Why it is easy after awhile. Good luck and may time fly for you but please do enjoy your time!
Hi Ron,
I enjoyed your story and the multitude of responses from SCC participates. Yes, I agree with Lolly and laney that triggers can and do come up from time to time.
Your story brought to heart a theory that I have about triggers. A person will be triggered until such time that he, as a non smoker, re-lives, experiences each past trigger at least once.
One example, I was painting our kitchen walls after quitting for 18 months. I found quickly that paint vapors were a trigger and painting work breaks were a second trigger. What a doozy! I gave up painting for the day and took it back up the following day. Vacations are triggers and being around smokers are triggers. So you added strength Ron; you did good!