Yes, it is possible to never smoke again! I am proof!
I smoked for about 10 years and tried many times to quit with many different options. One day I finally told myself screw this and stopped. Cold turkey. It was HARD. I would have rather went through long, agonizing labor with no meds than to do that again. I had withdraws like crazy. I associated everything with smoking. Eating, drinking, gum chewing, sex, tv, the computer.. every.thing. A week or so after I stopped I actually sobbed after sex. SOBBED! But then, it started to get easier. The key for me was to stop associating everything I did with smoking. It took awhile, at least 6mths to a year before I really stopped having those thoughts throughout the day about wanting to have one. And I did this while living with a chain smoker!
Within all that time I started noticing that I could smell better, food tasted better and most importantly I could breath. It took quiet some time to get all that crap out of my lungs but it's worth it. I have been smoke free for about 4+ years now. In my opinion, most people need that detoxing period. It is a drug, an addiction. No different than what the alcoholics and drug addicts go through at rehab/detox. And it is worth it. If you can get through at least a year I say you have a real good chance of never picking one up again.
However, I know people who have stopped smoking for 3 years and then started back up again. But to me, it just isn't worth it. The damage it does to your body, the smell that follows you.. can't do it. Will power is the greatest thing in the world and you need to believe in yourself that you do not need that poison to control your life.
I congratulate you on giving it up! And I hope that the rest of your days without smoking will go as well as your first. For some people it is easier than others. As long as you believe you can do it, you can!
