It is now almost exactly a year ago that I stopped smoking, and perhaps time to take stock and share experiences. Especially for myself - if it helps others, so much the better.

First of all, stop with the smoking is possible and much less difficult than you think. And this is the case: I'm addicted and I will spend the rest of my life. Although the physical withdrawal symptoms have virtually disappeared after 2 weeks, contribute to insidious psychological mechanisms, even decades. I have already written in previous reports from my experience that the trouble is on the inversion of the cigarette smoking as a means of enjoyment out a means to suppress withdrawal symptoms. In other words, while the cigarette is a great drug - to me it always tastes good yet, I like the gesture and the smell, I like the light, volatile high for the first cigarette in the morning, the aftertaste in the mouth and the immediate relaxation of the drug - addiction leads to the fact that you smoke 20 cigarettes, and only 2 of them enjoys.

I bring you an example. I was at the Oktoberfest this year, all have smoked, drank all, everyone had fun. Of course, I also smoked, I was far away from it all and wanted to just let go a few days. I think everyone knows das Ex-Smokers Only, I've considered and weighed, then I bummed (Thanks, Lanne) and then I bought a pack. Toll was, tasted the cigarettes again, it beautifully enhanced the effects of alcohol and, in general there was again something to do with your hands.

Sometimes a cigarette is no automatic trigger for relapse into addictive behavior, the assertion that one should only smoke a cigarette to immediately fall back into the old Suchtmuster resistance, is nonsense. Humbug. Nonsense. A cigarette is a cigarette and when each one has the freedom of the will to burn it or not. When I suggest is that a cigarette would be fundamentally stronger than me, I do not need just stop. So now and then I could actually smoke a cigarette. Actually, no. Because the addiction creeps in a much more subtle and dangerous: At the moment in which I allow myself a cigarette, has crossed the border and it is very difficult for his body to explain why he should not treat themselves for yet another. One only. Why should I deny myself the matter? The one right now but will not cause lung cancer.

Power they do not.

Is exactly where I remembered that is the reasons for which I stopped smoking At the time, the first in the morning tastes great and has the gewünschtenEffekt, any further, I only smoke out of habit and because it is in fact not care whether I 3 or 4 day smoke. Or 5 Or 6 You see my point: In a few days, one has the effect, which makes smoking so false ... "A small cigarette, but no harm would be soooooo good now, but I do at the moment" ... "now I really should be on every day this little pleasure to give up? For the rest of my life? "And just at the point it had managed to nicotine, reprogram me: For the health and mental trouble enjoying the one or the other cigarette at special occasions (against the pure no objection) is in a few days of combat withdrawal symptoms.

From the positive thoughts, "I treat myself now because I like the taste and the effect" is negative "and afterwards I have to do without the rest of my life?" So it ceased to be the effect of a cigarette (positive or negative ), but the body and psyche of the addict kaprizieren is now restricted to the periods without cigarettes, the deficiency. And these phases even in heavy smokers for much longer periods than with a cigarette - after it calculated? And here is the addiction talking, all alone addiction. It is the addict just not possible to smoke a cigarette or other without thinking that one through the smoke-something denied. And that is nonsense! Smoking has all the arguments for themselves: I feel better, smell acceptable, more money in their pockets have, I am fitter, sleep better, have no more heartburn, and drifted for almost a year regularly. I have no desire to give up everything for a single 2-minute fix in the morning. Constantly stressed out, whether rich cigarettes. Train? Fast smoke another one! 5 minutes until the bus? Cigarette out. 50 euro bill? Since (after deduction of the rod remain Chesterfield) or 15 euros for me. And so on ...

Nope, I did not want on it. No more cigarettes, and in fact I deny myself anything, quite the contrary. Non smoking I am now, even if I intended at the climax of the celebration, if I really go well and I really did buck on it someday infect a. So I am and I can live well with it. But smoking? Never again.