re: When does quitting smoking get easier?

An old man once told me if you can drink 4 beers without smoking a cigarette, you've got it beat.

Makes sense because it's not easy to do.

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I just can't go without when I'm drinking.

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Yes you can, you're just being a pussy like I was. I came to the conclusion that I needed to dive head first into the situations that made me crave so I knew I could get over it. My reasoning was that I didn't want to hold a grudge against quitting because it was making me miserable AND keeping me from the things I like to do. I thought the grudge was bigger than the actual quitting...

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Have an honest question here. What possesses someone to put nasty smelling cigarette in their mouth for the first time. All I can come up with is to look cool. Can someone enlighten me please?

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What possesses someone to drink for the first time? You know you didn't love your first beer, or your first sip of whiskey. But you did it, then grew to love it.

I was never a habitual smoker. Socially I'd buy a pack when going out. Or if I was taking Adderall, it calmed the nerves while doing an all night study session. That carried over to stressful times at work. But again, only maybe a pack a month, and I could go 2 months without touching one and not even noticeand often did. I was lucky. About a year ago, I just decided it was stupid and completely won't touch one. Mostly because I have a son now and never want him to see me smoking. Hated having to wash my hands and use mouth wash in case I still smelled just so I could hold him.

As someone else said, I think the only way to quit is to tell yourself that smoking even 1 will be a complete failure. My MIL has taken pills, used patches, gum, everything. She gets so proud that she only smoked 3 cigs that day. I just want to yell that it's not going to work. Then next visit, she's outside puffing away again. Even with my tiny habit, I always gave myself an excuse why it was okay "haven't had one in months and I won't for months afterwards". In reality, it was going to stick around forever unless I just said enough is enough.

As far as cravings. I never had serious ones in the first place. I liken it to really wanting a beer if you are not an alcoholic. You really want one, but don't have to have everything it.