Quitting Smoking?

[dash_zero]

Basically, I'm kind off tossing up between quitting smoking now, and maybe continuing at a low level for the forseeable future.

I'm 22, never touched a cigarette untill I was 20, smoked occassionally for a about a year, and for the past year have smoked about 2-3 packs a week.

The thing is, despite all the anti-smoking campaigns, I don't really have the concept in my mind that this will kill me.

I do see middle-aged people who look terrible from smoking, and hear the horror stories, but also see people who look healthy, attractive, successfull etc in their 30s smoking and it doesn't seem so bad.

I do REALLY enjoy it when drinking, hanging out with friends, and image does play a (small) part (though not in a peer-pressure way).

Tonight, I started searching the net for facts, images, stories etc so as to be more emotionally and logically aware of the possible outcomes of continuing smoking-and hopefully quitting as a result. Some were good, though one really backed my opposing desire:

"if you stop smoking before the age of about 35, your life expectancy is only slightly less than people who have never smoked"

So where I am, and I guess where I turn to you for thoughts is:

1. Part of me would like really to smoke socially, say about a pack a week, maybe till my early 30's. And, according to the above, maybe it'll only mean something like living till 78 instead of 80 -but have the benefit of enjoying smoking now, and the social side of it in the best years (socially).

2. Another part of me really doesn't want to get cancer etc, and knows I will feel better in the general health sense.

3. Then I also wonder about if I do 'quit', and have a ciggarette on occasion, is that really so bad?

Thanks for reading all this, and many thanks in advance for any answers posted, cheers.

[Ethel]

What exactly are the benefits of smoking? Standing outside the pub in the pub? Fidgeting in the cinema because you can't smoke?

Dreading a long flight?

Looking a right prat sucking on burning leaves wrapped in white paper?

If you manage to quit - forget about having the occasional cigarette. I know very few people that can do that without starting smoking regularly again.

And it's currently costing you around �700 a year. I'd rather spend it on a holiday

[yogasun]

Sorry, but I agree with Ethel.
Added to the points she made - what about the smell on your clothes and breath?
I started smoking at 18 socially but gave up about 30 years ago. Even though I didn't smoke that many it's amazingly addictive.
Part of my job is teaching people correct breathing - you can tell the smokers even though there's only about 5% of my students that smoke now.
Give up before it takes a hold. Good luck!

[Jugglering]

I can't quite understand the *enjoyment* factor - surely any *pleasure* gained from a cigarette is really just relieving the craving for nicotine - ie satisfying the addiction. If you continue to smoke, the hold that nicotine has over you will get stronger and stronger until it has taken over your life... to the extent that you won't be able to enjoy a situation unless you know you can have a fag - no long haul flights for holidays to far away places.... no being able to enjoy a meal or an evening with non-smoking friends without having to nip outside frequently..... etc etc - in other words it won't be you in control of any situation.... now that would do my head in ! (And that's apart from the health and financial benefits of not smoking, mentioned above)

[ceejay123]

I am " stopping" at the mo' after smoking for 40+ years.
I stopped on July 1st when this government banned it.
I never smoked those tipped cigs but roll ups instead and have to say that I enjoyed them but not those tipped things.
I have had about 2 per WEEK since July and enjoy an occasional fag but no not enjoy having to stand outside a pub, t's degrading i feel.
The worst thing is that I drive a taxi, only one day per week and when a smoker gets in the car the smell is VILE .
The second problem is that I have put on 2 stone and my clothes are becoming tight!

So my advice "dash" is to stop. If you want to try an occasional one do so but scrounge it.
DO NOT BUY ANY or you will end up smoking them all!!
Chris

[spudqueen]

As someone who has been smoking for 30 years I can assure you that the best thing to do is quit NOW. Yes, I enjoy smoking, but believe me, the longer you smoke the harder it is to quit. No, the occasional cigarette is not bad, but I have known people to give up smoking, then start to have the odd cigarette when they've gone down the pub. The next week they've bought 10 instead of scrounging then within a couple of weeks they're back smoking again! If you do quit than quit!

[Bathsheba]

I have a few friends who only smoke occasionally- and funnily enough, it's always mine they smoke!
You're obviously not addicted yet, so stop while you're ahead.

[dash_zero]

Thanks a lot for all the imput. Has made me think about the dangers of the hold becoming stronger and stronger.

Life was enjoyable before smoking, so I don't want it to increasingly become an accompient to all pleasures.

Think the best path is to stop buying full stop, and get the occasional one off friends etc. for a bit