My quitting thread...

[Domski]

Well after 15 years I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to quit smoking

I've had a couple of halfhearted attempts before but this time I'm going to a stop smoking group and have today started taking Champix (interesting side effects I believe).

Hopefully the drugs will work but I wondered if anyone had any good suggestions for alleviating the urge to spark up.

I'm still puffing away for another week until the tablets take effect so the hard part really starts next week

Dom

[NBVC]

I have never been a smoker so I know it is not easy...

.. both my parents were able to quit cold turkey... although my mom restarted after my younger sister passed on and hasn't kicked the habit again...

I don't really know anyone that has used aids to stop smoking.. so can't offer any more.

Good Luck. Wanting to quit is the first step!

[zbor]

I'm not a smoker, but as I see from people around me: lot of them quit temporary trying and using lot of stuff - but most of them start smoking again.

On the other hand I know lot of people that just... quit. From now on. And didn't smoke ever after.

So smoking is just mental adict.
If you decide to quit you can do that without any help.
If you don't want to quit, just hoping that something else will do that for you, then no aid will help you.

[Ron Coderre]

Two stories:
1) My Father
For many years, my father smoked 3 packs per day of Pall Mall unfiltered.
He would get up in the middle of the night to go buy more cigarettes.
In 1963, when I was only 8, I remember him reading in the newspaper that smoking
was dangerous to health. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and put it out. That
was the last cigarette he ever smoked. The next 3 months were sheer hell for the family. The man
was truly physically addicted. Every day until the end of his life, he won his battle against smoking.
I'm so proud of him. Because of his example, not a one of his 5 children smoke.

2) My In-Laws
He smoked a fair amount, but not a lot. She smoked like a chimney.
She passed from lung cancer several years ago...wasted away to nothing...then died.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer the next year. The last weeks of his life were spent
gasping for breath. He died in panicked agony, drowning in his own blood.

If I were you...I'd take quitting very seriously.

[romperstomper]

I quit about 4 years ago (after smoking for over 20 years) and the best advice I can give you early on is... (you won't like this)... DON'T DRINK!

[Domski]

So smoking is just mental adict

Not quite true. I would say it is 25% physical addiction and 75% mental addiction/habit.

Whilst just stopping and going cold turkey obviously works for some people it hasn't for me in the past. I'm happy to accept whatever help is on offer if it might make a difference.

Dom

[sweep]

Good luck Domski.

I quit cigarettes 4 years ago, and substituted them with dried apricots (I don't like gum)

Remember this: 20 minutes after your last cigarette, you'll crave another one. 1 hour after your last cigarette you'll crave another one, but you won't crave one more than you did at the 20 minute mark. The cravings don't get worse.

Fingers crossed for you.

Dave

[Domski]

I quit about 4 years ago (after smoking for over 20 years) and the best advice I can give you early on is... (you won't like this)... DON'T DRINK!

I don't have a cigarette until I finish work in general and that's usually on my way to the neaby bar for a couple of post work pints. This is one of the habits I have and I have already decided to give the after work beer a miss for a few weeks at least.

My wallet isn't going to know what's going on at this rate.

Dom

[romperstomper]

It's funny - I was expecting to have a lot more money when I quit (since I used to smoke 20-40 a day) but somehow it all just disappeared elsewhere! I can't help but think that my wife may have diverted it somehow...

[pixifaery]

Good Luck Domski and thanks for all the fab posts!

I was a smoker, managed to give up when I split from my ex, using nictotine replacement therapy (and lots of encouragement from my little boy). It's worked a treat, I no longer smoke and wouldn't smoke it you gave me one.

It's back fired tho, I'm still addicted to the NRT which costs me more than smoking ever did!! So please let me know how you get on with the Champix!

I'm into complementary therapies and EFT (tapping) is effective ....don't know if you'd be into that but it's definitely good for the hands! I've got no excuse really, with the knowledge I've got, just lacking will power!

Good Luck!

[zbor]

Not quite true. I would say it is 25% physical addiction and 75% mental addiction/habit.

Well, if that delusion make you stop smoking then go ahead

[ratcat]

All I can say is Good Luck !!!

We know you can achieve your goal.

Cheers

RC

[oldchippy]

I quit in 1977 probably before you were born, went to work one day stopped at the shop to get my usual packet of cigs and realised I’ve left my wallet at home. From that day on I never smoked again. So try leaving your wallet at home!

[Domski]

Cheers for all the encouragement.

I'm not sure if the Champix has started to work as yet but I'm definitely feeling less of an urge to spark up. It's a bit odd having started the process but still having to smoke but it's only until next week.

pixifaery - I know someone who did exactly the same thing. They bought one of those electric cigarettes off the internet and now smokes on that far more than he ever did cigarettes, at least it's not harmful (apparently). I'll keep you posted on the tablets as they might help you. They stop the production of the endorphins that the nicotine causes which you will still get from the NRT.

Anyway, off to go and buy some carrots.

Dom

[martindwilson]

i've tried loads of times but the urge is there, and the 20 min thing doesn't hold true, it gets worse and worse as time goes on! longest i lasted was a week (well i was in hospital and was too ill to smoke).
good luck on giving up tho, i'm going to try again next week(but i'll probably only last a day)