[easygenes]

I'm not/haven't been a smoker, but appreciate the anecdotal reassurance that the urge to smoke doesn't have to be something that lingers with people who quit.

I think you see similar things with alcohol addiction. As I understand, AlAnon has the philosophy that people are lifetime alcoholics, even if they haven't drank in years. Perhaps that is true for some, but the tendency to sensationalize that into a universal truism seems like it does more harm than good.

That said, negative habits and motivation are odd things. In support of those on the other end of the spectrum, where being told "You can just do it, use your grit and resolve and don't dwell," can lead to feelings of inadequacy and failure when it isn't so easy for them, well there's no one right path to growth and change. Just don't lose hope and keep looking for what works for you.

[RulerOf]

>I'm not/haven't been a smoker, but appreciate the anecdotal reassurance that the urge to smoke doesn't have to be something that lingers with people who quit.

Everyone is different. Some former smokers get to the point where they practically hate cigarette smoke.

For me, it's been five years since I quit. I still love it. If I'm in close proximity with the stuff, I get "satisfied" very quickly and the appeal wears off for hours or days. I'll have very weak cravings. None of those cravings are great enough that I have ever felt it's worth crossing that line. As much as I miss smoking — and I absolutely loved smoking — I prefer not being a smoker.

[wyre]

> AlAnon has the philosophy that people are lifetime alcoholics, even if they haven't drank in years

Yes, because addiction and addictive tendencies don't magically go away with sobriety.

It's easy to justify 'one time won't hurt' that becomes a slippery slope back to old habits. I've quit smoking several times now, but it wasn't until this last time that I realized that I absolutely cannot allow myself to smoke or vape because it will put me back on the path of addiction. My personal experience with porn and cannabis addiction behaves the same way.

I'm very fortunate I was able to quit drinking and now 3 years later I can have a healthy relationship with alcohol, but I've had multiple friends in the past where one drink during sobriety will turn into spending nights at the bar.