Suggestions on quitting

POSTED BY: goat
UPDATED: Sunday, August 27, 2006 16:59
VIEWED: 4850
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GOAT

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:33 AM

Has anyone here managed to quit smoking?

If so, how did you find the motivation to do it? I really want to quit but once I get the resolve to actually try, that resolve is gone within a day and I'm back to puffing my life away again.

I've tried convincing myself that I should quit because smoking is bad for me, tried bribing myself with anything from a new computer or mp3 player to ice cream but every time I've tried quitting I've failed. Today being no exception, unfortunately.

Anyone have suggestions or experience they'd care to share?

KANEMAN

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:43 AM

Smoke away my friend..You only live once...and without resolve why bother?

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:44 AM

Goat

I just quit. I know that will piss some off. But the day I got married 19 years ago I quit. It stuck (now I did start again 7 years later for about a month) but then quit again and now I just don't smoke. I wouldn't mind a cigarette here and there, but I just don't.

We are The Forsaken - We aim to burn! and we don't need no stinkin levels!

one of the Forsaken TM

DARKJESTER

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:47 AM

I had a little extra motivation while I was quitting - I was living in my parent's basement after my divorce. I couldn't stand the idea of my mother smelling smoke on me after she told me she was SO proud that I was quitting... I kept a pack on my nightstand, and at work when the cravings hit I'd tell myself that I just had to wait till I got home. Then once I was home, I couldn't bring myself to light up, for the aforementioned "mama-guilt" reason.

Plus, I used the patch. REALLY helps with the physical cravings, but the psychological ones are almost tougher. I quit going on 5 years ago, and I still occasionally get the urge, especially after a big meal.

One other thing that seemed to help was not trying to quit. Like Yoda said, "There is no try!" Just keep telling yourself that you're not a smoker anymore. You're not trying to quit, you already have.

Those three things together did the trick for me. About the toughest thing I ever did though.

MAL "You only gotta scare him."
JAYNE "Pain is scary..."

http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

JOSSISAGOD

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:49 AM

I really don't have experience with smoking, I tried one cigarette, and, one puff later decided to never picked up another. My suggestion would be, cut at least one cigarette out of your day, after a week, see if you can cut one more, and so on, until you're down to one cigarette a day, then try cutting that last one out. This could take a while, I don't really think there is a quick fix for smoking. Also, while in the process of quiting, pick up a hobby to keep your hands busy, Modeling perhaps, and chew gum to keep your mouth busy.

Well, there's my suggestion, see if it works for you.

JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

ECGORDON

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:49 AM

I smoked for approximately twelve years, and many of those years it was a heavy habit. Primarily either Camel or Lucky Strike unfiltered. Filtered cigarettes made me gag, there was such a metallic taste to it.

Like you I tried quitting quite a few times but kept going back to it, sometimes quickly, sometimes I might make it weeks or even a month. I never tried the patch or gum or any other method, but I did finally quit. Cold turkey.

I can't say it was easy. There were times I would have nightmares about having a cigarette in my hand and not being able to put it out, or if I did another one magically appeared already lit and waiting. But I did get through it.

I don't have any words of wisdom to impart. Everyone has to do it in their own way. All I can say is that I finally decided that if I really wanted to quit then I was just going to have to do it and stop talking about it. So I made a promise to myself one day, twenty-five years ago this November 17th, that I would never again even pick up a cigarette, much less light one up. I've kept the promise.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

MANWITHPEZ

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:53 AM

I'm still working on this. My last cigarette was 9 days ago, and its been hard, truly hard. I won't say that I'm a nonsmoker yet, because its a fragile thing, the want and need for a cigarette. Or rather, the ability to fight off the need is a fragile thing.

I was around someone who didn't used to smoke and, then the smell of them drove me away. I couldn't stand it, and at the same time, I had to ask "Is that how I smell?" Of course it was...And, I just did't want to be like that anymore. Plus, financial reasons, health reasons, etc...

And, the time will get to spend with loved ones. That's reason enough for me. As for a suggestion...I'd have to stick with the above one of tell yourself that you have quit smoking...there's not trying to quit...there's quit and smoker...that's it!

Only a Sith deals in absolutes...and the occasional Jedi...

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

NCBROWNCOAT

Friday, August 11, 2006 2:58 AM

My mom finally quit smoking at age 71 after almost 55 years of smoking, bad COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphesimia) and a bout of smoking induced neck cancer (she's one year out of both extensive surgery and intense neck radiation, if that's not a reason to quit I don't know what is)by using a combination of Zoloft (an antidepressant), peppermints and a good old fashioned lecture from her doctor. He told her basically she would die if she kept on smoking.

COZEN

Friday, August 11, 2006 5:11 AM

My experience (rant) with it is here,

http://strangefinger.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=215

Short version: cold turkey, suffered the mind games, the mind games passed, at which time I became an idiot about it. Then I got over being an idiot about it, and I wish you well.

***
Relax, Pez, I'm over the idiot stage, right?

SIGMANUNKI

Friday, August 11, 2006 5:53 AM

I'm tired, so the below may be somewhat random.

I pretty much quit on a whim. Just though during my last cig of the day, that it was the last one in my pack, and that's that. Went out and bought some Nicorette gum the next day.

Now the deciding was the easy part, the next two months were a living hell for me and those around me. But, I pushed through.

Please keep in mind that I did try to quit several times before that and failed. You'll probably go through the quit and start up again cycle (you're probably already there right?). Point is, one time it'll take. Just keep trying, you'll be healthier for it. Hell, if this is your first time trying to quit, maybe you'll get lucky and kick it.

If I have one peice of advice going through it though, it would be tell the people around you what you are doing. It's only fair to warn them that they're going to have to put up with your sh... nicotine fits, for the next little while.

And make sure you have something to do with your hands. When I quit I was something of a gamer. Needless to say, many virtual things died those couple months

Oh, and a warning. When you quit, there is the possibility that you'll get nicotine fits out of the blue from time to time afterwards. I got them for a couple years after, and still get in very stressful times. Not everybody does, but just thought I'd give you a heads up that it's possible.

And now onto a more theoretical point of view. There are two components to smoking. Namely, the habit and the physical addiction. I know that there are herbal cigs around. So, what you could try (if you want to) is get the herbal cigs and Nicorette and kick the physical addiction first. That's the easy one, IMO. Then you could tackle the habit, which IMO, is the hard one.

Good luck

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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