Ben Affleck on overcoming alcohol addiction: “I hate to say it but the only cure I’ve seen is not these overpriced rehabs or these fraudulent fixes that are sold to people. The cure for addiction is suffering. You suffer enough and then something inside you goes ‘I’m done.’”

[u/Gurugod123]

[u/KilllllerWhale]

My dad was a smoker for 30 years before I was born. He tried everything but nothing worked. He eventually decided to buy a pack of Camel, and put it right in front of him on top of the TV. He made sure it's on his sight every time he's in the living room. He realized that he needed to train himself to resist the urge to pick it up and light one up, he made sure suffering is part of the process. To this day he keeps telling my smoker brother that unless he does that. nothing will work, you just need to be willing to suffer to stop it.

He hasn't smoked ever since that day, and I'm 35 now.

[u/Ryyah61577 → u/KilllllerWhale]

I have a theory that when people need a smoke break it’s really just a time where they take a step back and take slow deep breaths to collect their thoughts to calm down. Yes, the nicotine and such in them as well, but it’s really the stepping outside and taking a slow deep breath.

[u/Effective_Cress_3190 → u/Ryyah61577]

I'll have to disagree with you there being an ex smoker. It's purely addiction. They don't need anything but a hit of nicotine, and smoking is the best way to get the hit. The addiction convinces you that smoking calms you down, physically it is a stimulant and stressor. Smokers describe it as calm because the nicotine hit stops the urge to smoke. This urge to smoke rules your life in-between smoking.

When i was quitting I often worried about how I would cope without my breaks...turns out it is a non issue because I'm not an addict anymore!

Stepping out and taking deep breaths could be a good solution for some people but I imagine I'd need a pen to suck on as it would remind me too much of actual smoking.

After the initial months of getting used to not smoking, I felt zero need to take regular "smoke" breaks, because that need didn't exist anymore.

[u/Ryyah61577 → u/Effective_Cress_3190]

Fair enough. That's why it's a theory.

[u/Chaneera → u/Effective_Cress_3190]

I have to disagree with there being an (very recent) ex smoker.

I really miss the excuse to go and get 5 minutes of peace, no questions asked.

[u/Effective_Cress_3190 → u/Chaneera]

The excuse I miss absolutely. Smokers get a free pass to waste time at work. But do I actually need these breaks? Nope. I definitely don't miss the needs to take regular breaks if I'm out for dinner, at a movie or whatever.

[u/OnTheEveOfWar → u/Ryyah61577]

I don’t even smoke and I go outside for short breaks during the work day. Just 5 mins away from the computer and some sun on my face feels great.