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Quit smoking for 4 months, still dream of smoking and wake up scared! Doctor shares 'three don'ts, four do's' to prevent relapse

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Former smokers who successfully quit for four months report still dreaming of smoking, sometimes waking up startled.
  • Doctors emphasize that smoking is an addiction and advise a "three don'ts, four do's" strategy to prevent relapse, alongside potential medication and professional help.
  • Personal accounts highlight the challenges of overcoming cravings, with some individuals finding relief through methods like chewing gum, drinking water, exercise, and utilizing quitlines.

Even after successfully quitting smoking for several months, the urge to smoke can manifest in dreams, startling former smokers awake. This phenomenon was shared by participants in the '2026 Quit Smoking and Win' competition who underwent re-testing four months after quitting.

Smoking is not just a bad habit, but an addiction problem, and relapse prevention is necessary after quitting.

— Guo Fei-ranDr. Guo Fei-ran explaining the nature of nicotine addiction and the need for ongoing prevention strategies.

Dr. Guo Fei-ran from the Department of Family Medicine at National Taiwan University Hospital explained that smoking is more than a habit; it's an addiction. He stressed the importance of relapse prevention strategies, recommending adherence to "three don'ts" and "four do's." The "don'ts" include not keeping cigarettes, not buying them, and not accepting offered cigarettes. The "do's" involve chewing sugar-free gum, drinking plenty of water, exercising, and calling the quitline at 0800-63-63-63.

Several participants shared their experiences. Huang Cheng-tien, a 41-year-old taxi driver who previously smoked up to three packs a day, found himself dreaming of smoking and waking up in a panic. He credits his success to constantly reminding himself that one puff would undo his progress and avoiding secondhand smoke. He now saves about NT$12,000 per month on cigarettes.

Don't keep cigarettes, don't buy cigarettes, and don't accept offered cigarettes.

— Guo Fei-ranDr. Guo Fei-ran outlining the 'three don'ts' of relapse prevention.

Lai Chien-hung, 60, who smoked for 35 years, also experienced similar dreams. He noted significant improvements in his health, such as reduced coughing and easier breathing, after quitting. Yang Cheng-yi, 71, with a 52-year smoking history, discovered colon cancer during a check-up after starting smoking cessation treatment. He believes quitting, along with medical intervention, saved his life.

Chew sugar-free gum, drink plenty of water, exercise, and call the quitline at 0800-63-63-63.

— Guo Fei-ranDr. Guo Fei-ran outlining the 'four do's' of relapse prevention.

Younger participants like Hung Sheng-chun, a 25-year-old police officer, used a water bottle to combat cravings, drinking ice water to stimulate his throat. He also used nicotine gum occasionally. He found his sense of smell improved, making the smell of smoke unpleasant. The money saved is being put towards his wedding fund. The article also features advice from past winners who have maintained their sobriety for years, emphasizing the importance of professional support and medication to overcome withdrawal symptoms and successfully quit smoking.

Just one more puff and all the effort will be in vain.

— Huang Cheng-tienHuang Cheng-tien reminding himself of the consequences of relapsing.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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