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GogglesOff's Guide to Calling BS on Relapses
Goggles O. ... posted A Year Ago, Circa 2018
Once you have been a member of Quitnet for a while, it can become a little like Groundhog Day at times, with relapses happening all over it seems. Members will post that they have relapsed sometimes explaining WHY they have relapsed (notice I use the word relapse and not slip - they have not landed flat on their @rse, ergo it's not a slip it's a relapse - call it for what it is people.
I am here (thankfully with lots of others) to call b@llocks on any, and all, excuses given to choose to return to smoking.
1. Stress. I had too many stressful things happening all at once. Answer - B@llocks. Everyone has stress in their lives. I can guarantee that there will always be someone worse off than you. Are you seriously saying that you're going to smoke every time life gets too stressful for you? If so, prepare yourself to smoke until you die. You know what is really stressful? Cancer, COPD, and all the various other illnesses that smoking contributes to. Arguments with spouses, children, bosses, complete strangers can be dealt with choosing to not smoke.
2. Bereavement. Very, very sad and feel for anybody going through a bereavement. But using it for a relapse is still b@llocks. Say you've been quit 30+ days, a bereavement will provoke some serious craves. Say you choose to act on these craves. What happens? Nothing has changed, the person you love is still dead, you don't feel any better - in fact you have a sore throat, maybe a sore head, you stink and now you have re-opened the door to your addiction and it has returned with a vengeance.
3. Weight gain. Also total b@llocks. I get it, I really do. However, getting a little fatter is not a reason to choose to return to smoking. In the 4+ years since I've quit smoking, I've put on weight, lost it, put it all back on again and am in the process of losing it again. Weight gain can be dealt with later, or at the same time if you so wish. It is another CHOICE, we aren't forced to eat barrowloads of junk food (well, after the first month anyway).
4. Illness. Biggest b@llocks excuse ever. This BS I hate more than any other BS. Only an addict would claim that they had to smoke due to illness. Any sane, reasonable, non-addicted person realizes that the worst possible thing to do when you are ill is to breathe toxic fumes with sh*tloads of chemicals into your lungs. Like you're really going to say 'Ah, I can feel that 3000+ toxic chemicals doing my (* insert illness here) the world of good! Biggest b@llocks excuse ever!
Now, the only way to be free from smoking is to CHOOSE not to smoke when you face these issues, and you will face most of these issues and probably more. You will not get through the rest of your life without facing stress, bereavement and illness. These triggers lose their power when you choose NOPE. What else can you do? Wait until you're physically unable to smoke cos of COPD? That's what my Gran did. She didn't want to stop smoking but became physically unable to. Her last 10 years weren't pretty - she was unable to leave her house as she got totally breathless just going to the bathroom. Don't let that be you!
There is only one reason that you smoke (not excuse) and that is because you are ADDICTED. Free yourself from the addiction by researching what's called 'stinking thinking' and romancing the smoke, because if you think that smoking a cigarette actually helped you or your situation - well, that's just total b@llocks.