How I Became a Smoker

In today's world, how does one end up as a smoker? I’ve been aware of the dangers and costs of smoking my entire life; I’ve lost loved ones to lung cancer. Yet, by the age of twenty, I found myself consuming a pack of cigarettes daily.

My smoking journey actually began during my high school years, although it took about five years to fully develop. Initially, I experimented with hookahs, which were popular at the time. I convinced myself that using a hookah was not "real" smoking since it was more of an occasional treat. I thought it was a harmless way to enjoy tobacco without long-term consequences.

However, once I entered college, my hookah use increased significantly. Eventually, I switched to cigars because the hassle of setting up a hookah became too much. For several months, I smoked one or two cigars daily, still not considering myself a smoker. But soon, I started craving nicotine in the mornings, which led me to buy cigarettes.

Before long, my intake escalated from a few cigarettes to an entire pack each day. I was twenty when my pack-a-day routine fully took hold, and I struggled with it for another twelve years before finally quitting.

Trying to Quit

I began attempting to quit smoking just a few years into my habit, yet I found little success. After graduating from college, I sought therapy to help with my smoking addiction. My therapist and I explored various methods to quit, including:

• Nicotine replacement therapies (patches and gum)
• Fake plastic cigarettes
• Hypnosis
• Low-nicotine cigarettes
• Meditation

None of these approaches worked effectively for me. At times, I managed to stop for a day or two, but I always returned to smoking.

A close friend suggested that I read Allen Carr's The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. He had successfully quit his pack-a-day habit after reading it, so I gave it a shot, but it didn't yield results for me either.

By the time I reached my mid-twenties, I felt as if I had exhausted all possible options. I feared I would be trapped in this addiction forever. During this period, I also developed a significant alcohol dependency, which intertwined with my smoking struggles, marking my twenties with a cycle of failed attempts to quit both.

Quitting for Good

I finally managed to quit smoking at 32 years old. Now, over three and a half years later, I can proudly say I haven't touched a cigarette or any form of nicotine.

There wasn’t a miraculous method that made quitting simple. Instead, a combination of strategies led to my success:

1. I got sober. By the time I quit smoking, I had already achieved sobriety for several years. Many people try to tackle multiple addictions at once, but I found it easier to focus on my alcohol use first before addressing smoking.
2. I quit cold turkey. After years of relying on nicotine patches, I realized they only helped me temporarily. Once I transitioned to lower-level patches, I resumed smoking. Ultimately, I decided to quit without any nicotine replacement, which made the initial days tougher but helped me stick to my decision long-term.
3. I avoided cigarettes. This may seem obvious, but actively steering clear of cigarettes was crucial. I avoided stores selling them, didn’t watch smokers on the street, and distanced myself from friends who smoked, including my best friend.
4. I visualized failure. Contrary to the common advice to envision success, I focused on the consequences of failing and returning to smoking. I imagined the ongoing struggle to quit and the grim possibility of dying from lung cancer, like my grandparents. This sobering thought provided the motivation I needed.

Even with these adjustments, quitting smoking was a significant challenge. Now that I’ve been free from both drinking and smoking for several years, I can confidently say that cigarettes were the more difficult addiction to overcome.

Nevertheless, it is possible to quit. If you're on a similar journey, I hope these four strategies prove helpful. They may seem straightforward, but their consistent application can lead to substantial change. Wishing you the best of luck!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you’re interested in learning more about addiction and recovery, consider subscribing to my weekly sobriety newsletter.