First cigarette in a long time.

thethinker42 · Dec 10, 2009

Having never smoked anything in my life, I'm clueless about these things, so help me out, yo...

Here's the scenario: A character - we'll call him Joe - has just had one of the most emotionally stressful nights of his life. He's nervous, worried, jittery, the works. He quit smoking about four years ago, and tonight, he's lighting up again.

How might that first cigarette affect him? Would it taste noticeably different to him (or would he notice the taste, I guess)?

If it calms him, how quickly would it take effect?

Any additional input would be helpful. Thanks!!

benbradley · Dec 10, 2009

I've done this, but not recently. It would be a "strong" cigarette, as after all that time he's not used to smoking. But I think he would remember just how much to "drag" from the filter and then open his mouth to inhale the smoke without getting in too much smoke that would make him start coughing.

Anytime I went a day or more without smoking and then smoked a cigarette, it gave me a buzz. It's a quick or almost sudden but slight change in perception, and it would happen fast, maybe 30 seconds after the first inhalation. Maybe the second cigarette would have a buzz too, a little bit. But from then on, all smoking would do is satisfy the urge to smoke.

Kalyke · Dec 10, 2009

It is totally like the Best Sex! You're like OMG! You're head spins! An addict once again joined with the drug of choice. I imagine a heroine addict would feel the same. This is not totally hyperbole. Cigarettes effect an area of the brain effected by both drugs and sex. Nicotine is a very strong narcotic, highly addictive, and too much too fast gets you sick or stoned. I figure your character will need to "sit down" rather quickly, and will puff that coffin nail so fast that the tendons in his neck stick out and his eyes bug. He won't think of anything else but that ciggie. Yum, Yum, Yum.

Cassiopeia · Dec 10, 2009

He'd have a specific brand. For me if I was to smoke again, Craven A's from South Africa, the long ones, menthol. With a cup of coffee or SoCoandCoke over ice to sit and take that first drag with.

I'd take a drink. Wet my mouth and throat and that first drag would be slow, tenuous. Not too deep but deep enough and as I exhaled I'd have a sense of relief. After a couple more drags, I'd feel a slight buzz and smile.

That is, how I imagine it. :gone:

SFLP · Dec 10, 2009

thethinker42 said:
He quit smoking about four years ago, and tonight, he's lighting up again.

How might that first cigarette affect him? Would it taste noticeably different to him (or would he notice the taste, I guess)?

If it calms him, how quickly would it take effect?

Any additional input would be helpful. Thanks!!

Buzzed, immediately, a bit dizzy. I'll notice the way they taste - ack - and they way the smell - good - if I hadn't smoked for a while. They don't taste bad after the first one, though.

To me, a lot of the "calming effect" has to do with the ceremony of lighting a cigarette. I've smoked for a very long time, lit hundreds of thousands of cigarettes (jeeze, that's a scary thought...just actually stopped and calculated it. Thanks TT. lol).

If I'm losing it, the *act* of smoking will calm me down. it's hard to explain, if you're not a smoker...tamping the pack, opening it, getting the smoke, the flick of the lighter or strike of the match, the first puff...a little hot from the flame, so you just sort of puff, don't inhale, then once it's lit, taking a deep drag and...

OK, time for a smoke.

J.

heyjude · Dec 11, 2009

Ditto the brief dizziness, lingering pleasure. (And guilty conscience.)

firedrake · Dec 11, 2009

Ah, yes.

Lighting up for the first time, take a deep drag, feel dizzy.

Beforehand, if he was a determined quitter, he may be justifying to himself why he needs that cigarette, making excuses to himself. "Just one, just to get over the nerves...that's it. No more after that..."

Signed,
Someone who quit for a few months and then drove in London rush hour for the first time.

Puma · Dec 11, 2009

The first smoke after a long time off would be much like the first cigarette ever smoked, but would taste better. After a puff or two there'd be a feeling of light-headedness, but that would be gone by the time that smoke is finished. IMO - there's no rush, what there is is a feeling of calm and the ability to think through things more easily. In my opinion, a smoke is one of the best stress relievers there is. If I'm having a bad day, what I want is to be able to sit down with a cigarette and maybe a cup of coffee (but no alcohol - I don't touch it). Puma

Wayne K · Dec 11, 2009

It's like that first piece of cheesecake after you've crossed the desert. Or that first shot of scotch before a long drive.

thethinker42 · Dec 11, 2009

firedrake said:
Beforehand, if he was a determined quitter, he may be justifying to himself why he needs that cigarette, making excuses to himself. "Just one, just to get over the nerves...that's it. No more after that...".

That's not an issue...with the day this guy has had, I think anyone would forgive him for backsliding.

Thanks for the info, everyone!

Kitty27 · Dec 11, 2009

How dare you?

I haven't smoked in four years and you ask this question. Now I feel kind of tempted.

Many things would happen. There would be the feel of the cigarette. The feel of the cool paper and the smell of the fragrant tobacco would make his mouth water. His fingers would tremble as he caressed it, and for a moment,he would stand there,inhaling deeply and his body begins to shake as anticipation builds. Then he lights it and the first pull sends him swinging. Pleasure,relief and a reunion with an old and dearly missed friend. His jangled nerves are soothed,a sense of serenity takes over and he slowly smokes it,savoring every pull. Regretfully,this sweet union must end. But there is always another one.

*stares happily at Newport pack*

ETA:Slaps self and eases out of thread

sunna · Dec 11, 2009

God, I've done this twice. And now I want to do it again. Argh.

Just lighting up for the first time after a long break feels amazing, and the act of pulling in that first drag is an instant soporific. If it's been a long time, it's going to taste bad - like ashes and dust on his tongue, and it will make his mouth dry and this throat tighten up a little. It might make him cough. Even then it will feel good, at least on a psychological level. And then the buzz will hit, on the first drag or the fifth, it depends-- and he'll be dizzy, lightheaded, and a lot calmer. In another few drags he'll be thinking more clearly, breathing deeper, and probably leaning against the nearest wall because half the muscles he didn't even realize were knotted up just relaxed.

....Okay, I'm going out to buy a case of gum now.

thethinker42 · Dec 11, 2009

I hope I didn't just make a bunch of former smokers relapse. If I did...erm...my bad!!!

firedrake · Dec 11, 2009

thethinker42 said:
I hope I didn't just make a bunch of former smokers relapse. If I did...erm...my bad!!!

No, still smoking but I sure as hell enjoyed that first ciggie this morning!

SFLP · Dec 11, 2009

And I've been smoking all night long - boy am I going to feel like crap once I finally go to sleep and wake up again.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 11, 2009

Although it would probably taste as good as he remembered (once he stopped coughing), I think he'd get dizzy, possibly even sick to his stomach. I know I did the last time I tried to smoke. The rush of nicotine to my system was too much, I had a queasy feeling, intense dizziness, almost like I was on one of those spinning rides... its like motion sickness. He'd probably have to lie down for a while until he got over it.

But I don't think it will calm him. The reason cigarettes calm smokers is because they are suffering from drug withdrawals and craving the nicotine. A cigarette to someone who hasn't smoked in years, that's an influx of amphetamine directly to the system. Calm? No, they'd be shaking, along with the stomach distress.

That first cigarette after a long time is a horrible feeling.

sunna · Dec 11, 2009

firedrake said:
No, still smoking but I sure as hell enjoyed that first ciggie this morning!

*sticks fingers in ears*

La la la...

Nah.

I just remind myself that I haven't gotten pneumonia for the last two winters. I used to get it at least once a year. This is definitely better.

SFLP · Dec 11, 2009

And hey, Lori - lol - knowing that I've probably smoked 400,000 cigarettes in my lifetime, that's a good thing to know. It actually makes me want to quit.

backslashbaby · Dec 11, 2009

I thought it tasted awful -- too strong and like the smell of an ashtray. Cigarettes taste different when you've been smoking them a while. By the 2nd or 3rd it'd taste normal.

I got jittery instead of calm, but I think it's the knowledge of how I 'should' feel that made me finish it. I knew exactly how it could make me feel better, but I can't say that 1st one worked. In a few days, my friends were smoking with coffee and we were chatting and I wanted just one more. So sometime that day I was a smoker again, and I don't even remember a big experience -- it just slipped back to being a need.

It's the 'thinking clearly' feeling of smoking that keeps me so hooked (well, the withdrawals do more!). So interesting to hear so many folks mention that.

JulieHowe · Dec 11, 2009

thethinker42 said:
Having never smoked anything in my life, I'm clueless about these things, so help me out, yo...

Here's the scenario: A character - we'll call him Joe - has just had one of the most emotionally stressful nights of his life. He's nervous, worried, jittery, the works. He quit smoking about four years ago, and tonight, he's lighting up again.

How might that first cigarette affect him? Would it taste noticeably different to him (or would he notice the taste, I guess)?

If it calms him, how quickly would it take effect?

Any additional input would be helpful. Thanks!!

I smoked socially. Meaning, when I was around friends who smoked, when we could still smoke in bars and nightclubs (it's against the law now), I'd smoke a cigarette, so I've gone months and even years without smoking. The first smoke is absolutely fantastic, and I'd even get a little buzz. Every cigarette smoked after that is a weak attempt to chase down the first buzz, and in fact, I can rarely finish smoking a second cigarette, because it starts to taste like s---t, and I really notice the smell of the tobacco smoke, in a negative way. With Kools Menthols, at least for me, the first one is great. The second one I smoke absolutely disgusts me.

Wayne K · Dec 11, 2009

"Hey Sue, do you smoke when you're done having sex?"

"I don't know, I never checked."

kuwisdelu · Dec 12, 2009

Having already answered you elsewhere, I'll not bother with it again.

But reading this shows just how much experiences will differ. Seems to me just about any reaction would be realistic to someone.

Kitty27 said:
*stares happily at Newport pack*

ETA:Slaps self and eases out of thread

I'd slap myself too if I thought about smoking a Newport.

JulieHowe said:
With Kools Menthols, at least for me, the first one is great. The second one I smoke absolutely disgusts me.

That's because you're smoking Kool Menthols.

dgrintalis · Dec 12, 2009

Let's see, the first cigarette I had (after the last time I quit) tasted terrible on the first drag. The second drag though? Pure bliss. Yes, I got very light-headed, but the feel of the inhalation and exhalation of smoke was damn near seductive. Sort of like a kiss from an old friend you haven't seen in a while.

Aschenbach · Dec 12, 2009

Smoking after a long lay off, for me, follows the same predictable course.

The first drag tastes harsh and bitter and I don't understand why I ever started smoking in the first place.
The second drag is, miraculously, bearable.

By the third drag I am wondering why I ever quit.

The cycle repeats ad infinitum.

thethinker42 · Dec 12, 2009

Thanks for the info, everyone!

Very helpful.

First cigarette in a long time.

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