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The trick to quitting smoking is simple, you have to really WANT to quit. You have to really want to quit, then it's easy.
I don't agree. And I didn't think it's easy for everyone. It depends on how addicted you are/were. I could never have quit permenantly (26 yrs ago) if I had thought "this is it." I just kept saying to myself, "one more day," "one more week," etc. If I'd thought back then that I could NEVER have had another cigarette, I would have jumped off a cliff. But by the time all those months went by, when I considered having "just one," I reminded myself how hard it was to go through the physical and emotional withdrawal again....and again....and again.
I grieved for a whole year. "I can't believe I have to go through New Year's without a cigarette." Same with whatever the next holiday, work crisis, wedding, birthday, whatever major event, etc. Do whatever it takes to psych yourself into it. For me it took a solid year not to want to run into a store and buy a pack, just to have "one." (Since, unlike others, I could never have one; I would have been back to my pack-a-day habit.)
I did the same in October of 2010. Quit cold turkey. And haven't smoked since.
I know alot of people who are into the e-cigs, and all they're doing is trading one addiction for another. It's sad, really!
I tried the e-cig last time. Really, all it did was make me want to smoke a real cigarette. And yes... when do you decide to put those down?
As my cousin said "it's easy to quit when you're not drinking." So, after a week with not 1 cig... my new test is this weekend! I know I will pass - but having a beer or 3 with no cigarette is going to be a heavy mental challenge. Any advice from those who quit, but are drinkers to make it easier for me?
thanks again! still 100% smoke free and staying that way
the other thing I found VERY helpful was to "smoke" straws cut in half. the are the same feel as a smoke, you can inhale (air) and exhale. you can tap them like you do a smoke and even chew the end if need be. they give you the hand to mouth thing and as silly as it seemed they truly helped a lot. some men like to use a toothpick. I think there is always a reluctance to quit, even when you really want to. the trick to being successful is to use your entire set of tools to quit. from nicotine replacement, exercise, mentally changing your outlook and a some luck as well. just be determined and stubborn in your knowledge that you can do it, look forward and take it a day at a time. do what ever you have to do to not smoke.
the other thing I found VERY helpful was to "smoke" straws cut in half. the are the same feel as a smoke, you can inhale (air) and exhale. you can tap them like you do a smoke and even chew the end if need be. they give you the hand to mouth thing and as silly as it seemed they truly helped a lot. some men like to use a toothpick. I think there is always a reluctance to quit, even when you really want to. the trick to being successful is to use your entire set of tools to quit. from nicotine replacement, exercise, mentally changing your outlook and a some luck as well. just be determined and stubborn in your knowledge that you can do it, look forward and take it a day at a time. do what ever you have to do to not smoke.
Thanks much. the nicotine gum is very helpful. the toothpick works exactly as you said. . . just have to bring the toolbox wherever i go!
My drinking trailed way off when I quit smoking. I'm down to a handful of drinks a YEAR.
My husband's uncle died - of lung cancer, no less - about four months after I quit. True Irish, the after funeral party was held in a pub. Lots of people smoking and drinking. I was really sweating that. I sat with my SIL who smoked but also talked me through it. I had a couple of White Russians or something like that. I was fine. So it can be done. But I just don't drink like I use to. It makes me too darn nervous.
I just don't use any of those "tools" like gum, straws, e-cigs. I just tell myself I'm better than all of that, I don't need it. It just works for me. Besides, I'm too afraid that if you use something like that you open up an enormous can of worms. Everyone will start talking about your quitting. They could start teasing or just talking about cigarettes. That was something I didn't want to constantly do for the first several months. I'm a firm believer in removing yourself from a situation. I don't think people that quit using drugs should sit around talking about it all the time. Or drinking, smoking cigarettes. There are studies that show that doing something else, substituting a behavior, and putting the bad behavior behind you really works.
My drinking trailed way off when I quit smoking. I'm down to a handful of drinks a YEAR.
My husband's uncle died - of lung cancer, no less - about four months after I quit. True Irish, the after funeral party was held in a pub. Lots of people smoking and drinking. I was really sweating that. I sat with my SIL who smoked but also talked me through it. I had a couple of White Russians or something like that. I was fine. So it can be done. But I just don't drink like I use to. It makes me too darn nervous.
I just don't use any of those "tools" like gum, straws, e-cigs. I just tell myself I'm better than all of that, I don't need it. It just works for me. Besides, I'm too afraid that if you use something like that you open up an enormous can of worms. Everyone will start talking about your quitting. They could start teasing or just talking about cigarettes. That was something I didn't want to constantly do for the first several months. I'm a firm believer in removing yourself from a situation. I don't think people that quit using drugs should sit around talking about it all the time. Or drinking, smoking cigarettes. There are studies that show that doing something else, substituting a behavior, and putting the bad behavior behind you really works.
Yeah, I agree. I come from an irish family as well... so there really is no avoiding drinkers unless I never speak to my family or friends again! But, I couldn't agree more about drinking making you nervous. Nervous that you will compromise your will, etc... say 'screw it' then regret it later. So... this weekend I did have a few beers on both friday and last night. I was around cigarette smokers - but it was easier than i thought. Like you said, I really make it a point to not think about this, not tell everyone "i've gone one week without smoking!" etc etc. To me, the more of a big deal that gets made of it > the more I think about it > the bigger chance there is of me submitting to those thoughts/urges. I would rather just act like I've always been a non-smoker. Much easier.
That's where a smoking alternative needs to be put in place. For so many years we didn't know what was in a cigarette and we smoked them anyway. Do your research and check out the e-cig. You can start here E-Cigarette Forum
I've been smoke free since September 3, 2010. Doctors do not consider e-cigs to contain smoke and therefore you will be smoke free when using one. If they were really bad for you the FDA would have already banned them.
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