I have been there and I was able to break free from it

For 11 years, I struggled with smoking.

I tried to quit more times than I can count. I relied on willpower, promised myself this time would be different, stayed strong for a while… and then relapsed. Every time it happened, I felt disappointed in myself. Like I had failed again. And I know I’m not the only one who knows that feeling. The truth is, willpower doesn’t work for everyone. It certainly didn’t work for me.

What finally helped me wasn’t counting how many days I lasted. It was understanding why I kept going back.

What was I feeling right before?
Was I stressed, overwhelmed, lonely, tired?
Was there a thought that always showed up before I gave in?

Once I started noticing the same emotions, the same time of day, and the same thoughts repeating, everything began to make sense.

That awareness is what helped me break an 11-year smoking habit. Because relapse isn’t failure. It’s a data point.

That experience led me to build Nixia which is focused on understanding the emotional patterns behind habits rather than just tracking streaks. It’s something that can help with any emotion-driven habit — doomscrolling, checking your ex, procrastination, porn addiction, and more.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in that cycle of trying, relapsing, and blaming yourself, I built this with people like us in mind.