I can't believe it myself - I've been off of cigarettes for 4 months

[Aerows]

I've had dreams about them, but I haven't backslid except in my dreams, and even then I know it is wrong to smoke.

Anybody trying to quit - hang in there. We can all beat this!

(I had another smoking dream last night, but I guess it's a nightmare, really)

[arcane1]

1. Damn right we can!!!

The dreams are, fortunately, pretty normal. Eventually, your dream-response to lighting up will be "WTF am I doing??" and you toss it

[Aerows]

3. I hope it fades

I saw myself opening the pack of 6 cigarettes that I decided would be the last of the pack. I sealed it really well and keep it where I can see it to remind me of the goal of staying away from the damn things.

In my dream, I used every beautiful lighter I have ever owned to light it, but it reduced to ashes when the lighters kept failing. I was distraught in the dream, but then I woke up.

It was really intense, but I'm hanging in there.

[arcane1]

5. Sounds intense! But the outcome was not smoking

Our brains don't like this one bit! It's like a lost loved-one to the brain, and takes some getting used to.

And the dreams are a great place to get the urges out of our system

[Laffy Kat]

2. Twenty-five years for me and I STILL have the dreams.

Congrats x1000, Aerows. So happy for you and those who love you.

[Aerows]

4. Thanks for the support

I felt like an idiot that caves to smoking again for a minute and then twitched awake in my bed and realize I was dreaming.

The cat reinforced the idea by biting my foot, which made me, thankfully, quit thinking about smoking.

[Laffy Kat]

18. It's weird.

When I dream I'm smoking again I feel (in my dream) like, "Why did I do this?" and I don't enjoy it. It's always such a relief when I wake up and realize it's only a dream. On some level, perhaps I'm still processing the addiction. ?? Don't know.

[kcass1954]

6. Congratulations! I know how tough it is...

I'm at 8 years and counting, and I still have that dream occasionally.

[Aerows]

7. Thank you

and everyone in this thread. I didn't realize how common it was to dream of them even after you have quit and are determined to stay quit.

I have exactly six cigarettes in my dwelling at present. They are completely closed, but I've been using them to be an incentive to remind me that they are garbage I don't need.

I just get a weird feeling when I go to throw them out.

I will *NOT* smoke them, but they are like some sort of conscience security blanket.

[IrishEyes]

8. Good for you.

You are doing great. My dad and step father both quit smoking over 40 years ago before I was born. They are both in their 70s and in great health.

[Aerows]

9. Thank you

Quitting smokes was far worse than quitting caffeine, and I was a major coffee drinker. I realized, though, that there was no way I could quit smoking until I got off of the hyper coffee train/cigarette buzz joy that was the morning.

I can't believe I didn't quit earlier some days, but other days I realize I didn't because it is a pain in the ass. Once you summon the courage, though, and say I hate these damn things, you realize exactly how much a coward you are.

I shook in my boots, but somehow, I've ended up feeling better than I have in a long time. I want to grab a cigarette and choke it, not smoke it!

[Flying Squirrel]

10. It can be tough

The cravings still come nearly two years later for me (usually when I'm angry or stressed, or when soneone else is smoking). Helps to do it with someone else - my girlfriend and I quit at the same time and we still put money in a jar every week that would have gone toward cigarettes, and we use it for an annual vacation.

[Aerows]

11. I keep dreaming about the damn things

It has gotten better, but I feel so bad in my dream when I try to smoke them. And I say try because it ends up being a jumble of my favorite lighters that don't light, cigarettes that are wet, and other weird things happening.

Hopefully it will lessen as time goes by, and it already is a hell of a lot better outside of the smoking dreams.

[Flying Squirrel]

12. Well I never had smoking dreams

But I only smoked half pack a day at most. I did get some drinking dreams (quit drinking over 6 years ago). Good luck, I'm sure the dreams will subside!

[Aerows]

15. I haven't had any dreams about drinking

and I've never done illegal drugs, so I can't speak to that, but I can tell you that getting off of nicotine is like wrestling a Grizzly bear with bad breath and a propensity to use it's claws.

[Flying Squirrel]

17. Yep, worse than heroin I've heard. nt

[Aerows]

13. By the way

I want to thank everyone on DU that has supported me in quitting.

I might not have quit without the persistent cajoling and encouragement that DU offers in its subtle ways.

So I quit.

I would not want to dishonor the folks that have spoken to me and helped me to quit.

That's about as emotional as I can get.

Let's move on to the ISIS flag at a Gay Pride parade!

[roody]

14. Congratulations! Freedom!

[Aerows]

16. It truely is

It was an addiction and huge expense that I didn't need.

[Tobin S.]

19. You are doing awesome, Aerows.

I quit smoking almost three years ago. My anniversary is coming up on July 5th. I feel a lot better since I quit smoking, but something that keeps on the straight and narrow just as much as good health is the money I've saved: almost $10,000 in three years. That blows my mind.

[steve2470]

20. Congrats Aerows!

Not to be a nag, but don't forget that relapses do happen even after many years, from what I've heard. Many good wishes to you!

[Phentex]

21. It's really great!

That seems like a long time to me. I know you can keep it going. I'm happy for you!