After several start-stops, I decided to give it another go during Rosh Hashanah with the idea that I would not bring it with me into the new year. The past few times I have quit, I have managed to stay off for 5-6 months. It feels a bit like the anti-depressant trap of "I feel better, so I'll stop." Or in this case, "oh, I'm not addicted anymore so it must be okay for me to have a cigarette every now and again at parties or hanging out with so-and-so," which quickly spirals.
This Summer, I learned that I was using nicotine to self-medicate ADHD and anxiety which is a catastrophic plan since nicotine dependency and the attendant mini-withdrawals of smoking addiction massively exacerbate both conditions. I am now in the initial stages of treatment for both so I am guardedly optimistic that this quit will go better.
And yes, I have read 'the easy way to quit smoking'! :p Great book up to a point.
I am so looking forward to it! Me and my friend live in different cities and get to ride our bikes together about once a month. We used to be about the same speed but it was appalling to me how much slower I was getting over the past few rides.
I started distance running and it's so much more rewarding than smoking. You'll get there!
That's awesome! One of my comrades wants to start going to a yoga studio by my work together so hopefully that can displace a lot of time I would spend smoking. :p