It's backtoreality, here. I quit smoking on January 18th, 2017. I started back again last night. I feel such self-loathing after being so over the moon and happy with my success. Maybe too much? I have been cheating my quit by having "just one" and felt that I could go on that way forever. One a week! The best of both worlds. I couldn't believe it when the first three days of hell were over (because I knew that nicotine only stays in the system for 3 days having done some exhaustive homework and reading these forum entries.) It seemed only too easy, if that makes sense, and I really want to be a nonsmoker.
After each "freebie" I swore off of them again and managed to put together 18 days with a single cigarette a week. By week 3, they were tasting foul and I would get a dizzy feeling. But then my dog got sick. No excuse, but I used it as one.
After smoking 10 cigarettes in a two day period, I bought a pack. When I went to work, I left it at home. Then I bought a pack at work! What a bone-headed thing to do to my still fragile quit. And now I have to start all over again. I am feeling so low.
I let myself down.
So how did it happen?
I picked up a cigarette and lit it and breathed it in. I got cocky and thought I could Cheat the Monster of Nicotine. I let myself not think about the future and how one turns into a thousand for me. I went to my favorite corner store and didn't let it sink in that I might never have another quit in me and that I will likely die of the complications to my health once smoking was normalized in my brain. I didn't pick up and read my Allen Carr book. I didn't use my S.O.S message. In short, I blew it. And a lapse turned into a relapse.
I feel so hopeless, but I'm really not. This evening at dinner I took the packs I bought over the last 2 days, soaked them in water and threw them away. Here's to a new resolve and slowly getting back to where I want to be. Smoke free from here on out.