r/stopsmoking • u/Dazzling_Occasion102 • 2d ago
One Year Smoke-Free – What I Learned After Quitting
One year ago, I quit smoking and vaping. I had been hooked since my teenage years, and for the longest time, I thought I couldn’t imagine life without it. Smoking became a daily ritual, first for the “buzz,” then out of habit, and eventually just because I felt like I couldn’t function without it.
But here’s what I learned: your body wants to heal the moment you stop. Within weeks, I started noticing real changes, my breathing got easier, my sleep improved, and even food started tasting better. The mental shift was just as big. I wasn’t planning my day around smoke breaks anymore. I stopped worrying about the long-term health consequences hanging over my head.
What finally pushed me to quit wasn’t just my health, but also realizing how much life I was wasting. Time, money, energy, it was all going into keeping up a habit that was giving me nothing in return.
It hasn’t been easy, but I can honestly say this has been one of the best decisions of my life. If you’re reading this and still smoking or vaping, I want you to know: quitting is possible, and it’s worth every bit of effort. The first few weeks are rough, but the freedom you’ll feel after is incredible.
If you’re on the fence, just try. Even if you slip up, keep going. Your future self will thank you.
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u/Select_Difference359 1d ago
It’s a psychological addiction for me more than anything. I know the physical withdrawal is manageable but unless cigarettes were unobtainable I just can’t seem to stop! I have immense respect for those who have quit!
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u/Classic_Ad5030 1d ago
Believe in your self, you can do it. It’s been a rough ride for me but it can be done. I was in the same boat as you.
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u/Select_Difference359 1d ago
Thank you! That is encouraging to know. There are many reasons for me to quit but to be honest there is a part of me that doesn’t really want to! Is this the case for everyone? The thought of forever wanting a cigarette, even however fleeting, hugely puts me off even attempting to stop.
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u/Separate-Bench-2656 1d ago
Not everyone who quits wants to quit. We just know we need to. Stop Smoking by Allen Carr helped me with the psychological aspect of quitting. OP description is exactly how it was for me and I am coming up on 9 months
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u/Select_Difference359 1d ago
That’s a great point! I need to stop smoking! That’s absolutely correct! I’ve used the Allen Carr method in the past and quit for around 6 months. Definitely could be worth another go. Congratulations! 9 months is a significant milestone. I’m really pleased for you. It’s really encouraging to hear of successful quits. Makes me feel it’s not so hopeless. It is doable!
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u/Twinkles66 1d ago
Great post and so true Also the diseases you put yourself at highest risk of when you smoke
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u/EarnestFurnace 1d ago
Needed this today. Idk why, feels dumb to say. Thanks anyway. Strong argument about planning the whole day around it, kind of gross and sad to realize. Like setting my alarm early enough to stand in line to get a pack and have 2 or 3 before work like wtf. I quit everything else, kind of overly-nonchalantly cause i knew i'd always have smokes. Now i want to at least make a year so bad cause then i'll know im in charge. I crave the freedom more than i crave the curse. I miss the weight of a heavier coin purse! I am alive; i'll smoke in the hearse!!
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u/SeriouslyIndifferent 1068 days 9h ago
If I had known how much better I would feel everyday after I got through my quit, I would have quit years before I did. Nicotine makes everything worse so it can pretend to make it better. Once you know how much nicotine holds your body and mind back, one might even look forward to quitting.
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u/the_tiny_reader 2d ago
Thank you for the insight. My quit day is tomorrow and it will be for what feels like my millionth try. I want to quit so bad