Congratulations on your sobriety.  Wow, I can totally relate.  Like you, I have experience in this area and completely agree; by far, kicking the cigs has been the most difficult and challenging.  Really, really tough. 

I’m 43 and have been smoking for 25 years.  (Caffeine and cigarettes - that’s me. Oh, carbs and sugar, too.)  I’m a heavy smoker - 2 packs/day.  I’m horrified to even admit that “out loud”.  The logical part of my brain knows that continuing to smoke is actively shortening my life, preventing me from saving money, etc.  I KNOW it’s treacherously unhealthy, disgusting, expensive!  (Paying $12.00/pack here in NYC is ridiculous and I can’t believe I do it again and again and again, day after day.)

I do believe - well, more like, have an uneducated hunch - that ADHD and related impulsivity plays a role here and helps to explain why it is extra challenging for people like us to quit smoking.  It’s like, I’m only able to deal with what is right in front of me - that I WANT a cigarette right now.  Ten years, one year, sometimes an hour from now -  does not exist.  My ADHD brain cannot grasp that concept.  I just wish I knew what to do about it.  It would seem that ADHD meds “should” help, if the challenge is indeed related to impulsivity, but that has not been my experience.  Actually, I’m concerned that maybe Vyvanse is causing me to smoke more, but I’m not sure about that.  Needless to say, after having failed quitting a few times, I’m back to the “thinking about quitting” phase.  Back to square one. :(

Have any of the substitution/replacement therapies worked for you?  Or are you doing it cold turkey?  In the short term, the patches have helped me with the minute to minute anxiety related to not smoking.  I found that while wearing the patch, I wasn’t quite as fixated on constantly thinking about smoking, or NOT smoking, and it took off the edge.  But, even as dangerous as it is to do so, I would still rip off the patch several times a day to take a few puffs.  And then eventually I would just give up and quit - quitting.  For me, Wellbutrin had no affect on my smoking or ADHD, unfortunately; but I do know others who have found it very helpful.  It is definitely worth trying if you haven’t.  Currently, I’m reading about Chantix and plan to discuss it as an option with my psychiatrist. 

I’m sorry to hijack your post.  Just wanted to let you know, you are definitely not alone in this.  Since being diagnosed w/ ADD last year, I’ve often wondered if there was a connection - if having ADHD makes quitting smoking more difficult.  I understand that nicotine is a stimulant, which probably explains part of it.  Anything involving intense concentration or focusing and I smoke like a chimney.  For example, when I’m working on the computer - I will easily smoke one right after the other if I’m not monitoring myself.  And like you, without them I really struggle to focus.

Thank you for your post.  There are so few smokers anymore, it was a comfort to me reading what you wrote and realizing that I’m not the only one having an extra hard time giving them up.  (I love this forum.)  Hang in there and good luck!