The icky 3s – How they can make you get back to smoking

You might remember the various stages in which you evolved as a smoker. From the first cigarette to the first packet, to the time you upturned your entire house to look for that hidden cigarette. Just like you don’t become a regular smoker in one day, you don’t become a non-smoker in one day either. Unfortunately, picking up smoking is much easier than quitting smoking, and this is what is filling the coffers of tobacco giants in our country and worldwide.

One of the common terms often used in smoking cessation groups and forums is ‘The icky 3s.’ Even though, personal experiences may vary, it is assumed that the 3 day, 3 week and 3 month mark after quitting smoking are the most fertile for relapsing. Let’s take a deeper look at these three problems.

1. The 3-day mark

It takes 72-hours for the nicotine to be flushed from your system. It’s difficult to last that long if you are addicted, but once that period is over, the cravings hit an all time high. Additionally, the excitement of quitting fades away a bit. One might think that having just a cigarette as reward for all the hard work is justified, but it’s not. One cigarette will put nicotine back into your system and will not make the cravings stop forever. Only staying quit will.

The trick is to not fall prey to junkie thinking, and believe in making yourself a better and healthier version of what you are.

2. The 3-week (21-day) mark

By this time, you are already used to resisting smoking urges and your reasons to quit must have been strong to make it this far. While your body has somewhat adjusted to being without nicotine, your mind hasn’t. Having resisted for so long makes you feel happier from within, and in your braggadocio, you might find yourself giving in to an urge.

I remember that right after completing the first month mark, I decided to try out a cigarette, just to see what it feels like. It did give me a temporary buzz and some momentary relief from the urges, but the sense of despair five minutes after smoking that cigarette was much more intense than any relief.

3. The 3-month mark

After 3-months, you’ve pretty much said goodbye to smoking. But, you shouldn’t drop your guard just as yet. A lot of people try out one cigarette thinking they’re over the stick and won’t fall into the same trap again. Such whimsical decisions are often taken under the influence of alcohol and smoker friends. You need to know that once you become a smoker, you can never become a non-smoker. You’ll always be an ex-smoker.

Cigarettes are always bad and they’ve never actually relieved stress or made anyone happier. All that they’ve done is filled people’s lungs with poison and accelerate the rate at which their skin is ageing. Here are 9 tips that helped me stay off smoking.

Sameer Jha was a regular smoker for five years, and would smoke 10-20 cigarettes a day. He was extremely addicted and struggled to go an hour without a cigarette, let alone a day and believed that only death could make him quit smoking. In a series of posts, he shares his experience about how he was able to silence the beast that nicotine addiction is.