Inspiration for the Psychologically Depended Cigarette Smoker

There has been a dramatic change in my life recently. A change that has already affected my life financially, physically, and psychologically. I have given up cigarette smoking - for good. No... seriously.

When I purchased my first pack of smokes nearly 3 years ago, I would've never imagined that quitting would become a real problem. I didn't think it would ever be an issue. I casually began smoking like many of my peers did when they first started going to college. However, for me, smoking was never really a social thing or something I did to create some sort of false image of myself. To put it simply, I didn't do it to "be cool" or for acceptance.

I genuinely loved everything about it. From the smell of an unlit cigarette to the satisfying feeling I got when opening up a fresh, new pack. I loved that I could now "officially" take smoke breaks and enjoyed the pointless, small talk I had with fellow smokers. It was an instant 5-minute vacation that I could take any time of the day - a pause button. But like a wise man once said, "All good things must come to an end."

Cigarette smoking obviously quickly became something that I was psychologically hooked to more so than the nicotine and chemicals that chained me in physically. It came to the point where if I saw someone lighting a cigarette up, I wanted one. If I heard the words "cigarette" or "smoke", I had to have one.

Smoking became an act that was a little more extreme than daily routine - having to have one once waking up and then several more before I could start my day. A pre-meal cigarette was crucial and don't even think about asking me about dessert, I'll take another smoke please.

It was an activity of leisure, a reward after a hard day, a miraculous stress reliever, and perfectly complimented my cup of coffee in the morning. But somehow, cigarette smoking crept into being an act that my happiness and overall mood depended on. Not only did this silent killer begin draining my body out during the day, it began draining my wallet even more. I almost had a heart attache after I actually sat down and did a little bit of math.

a pack of cigarettes in my state = approximately $5.50 a pack
a pack of cigarettes everyday = approximately $38.50 a week
= approximately $154.00 a month
= approximately $1850 a year

I finally succeeded after numerous attempts at giving up this habit. Secretly, I didn't want to quit and it took me a while to realize that's exactly what the problem was. I was undecided and though I'd practically forced myself to stay away from gas stations and convenience stores I would always give in.

No techniques worked and all the advice and encouragement I got from friends and ex-smokers went into one ear and straight out the other. But as soon as I decided to put my foot down and knew for sure there was nothing in the back of my mind that would lead me back into the lifestyle, it became so much easier to not go back.

I believe that no real change will happen and "quitters" will always go back to smoking cigarettes religiously until they want it to happen.