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Atma's avatar

@HBI

I quit smoking, Irish drinking, doping (to include almost the *entire family of psychedelics) on my 31st Birthday. Prior *to that, I quit smoking once, because I thought "should". That lasted for about five days. ).

Every human body differs from every OTHER human body, but prior to my 31st Birthday, I discovered something "magic" about giving up addictions. When I finally found something that I wanted FAR more than I wanted the substances, and when attaining what I wanted *while serving my additions was a *mutually exclusive proposition, things changed. I was then able to walk away from the substances AS IF I had *never been addicted to them in the *first place. And, at that point, I had been smoking for 17 years.

So, for me, "will power" worked like pushing back the ocean with a bulldozer. Things go *great for the first 18 or 20 feet (depending upon the grade of the sea table), but then those waves come CRASHING over the top of the 'Dozer Blade.

I know that "will power" has served others, it was just not *my "path". As soon as I wanted something MORE than I wanted my "vices", and I could not have *both, I was able to wave "so long" to my vices, 42 years ago, without ever *once "looking back" !

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HBI's avatar

I was never hooked on anything except the smoking. I enjoyed the weed and hash when I was in high school, but basically barely have touched it since then. Though I enjoy the high when it has happened, not enough to make me try it again anytime soon. When I retire, otoh, i'll probably be stoned 24/7.

Diabetes and drinking do not mix so that's right out. Probably got done a favor in that regard.

My grandfather was a 4 pack a day Camel unfiltered guy. I never smoked more than half a pack a day and quit many times, sometimes for as long as 5 years before taking it up again. I gave up the ghost in 2017 or so at last. The gum vs death by smoking was what did it for me. The head rushes are gone but I can breathe freely. Shaking the gum for me is hard because I can hardly see the point...saving money on gum?

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Zenitram's avatar

Wow, that’s is exactly what it’s like. For me it was love. I’d fail repeatedly while drinking and smoking. Quitting changed everything.

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