Quitting smoking seems impossible

Re: Quitting smoking seems impossib

To anyone who's considering quitting, I HIGHLY recommend the patch.

It took me three tries, but it was much easier than when I had tried to quit cold turkey. I've never tried the gum, but I know of others who started chewing the gum to quit smoking, and then kept on chewing the gum for years. The patch kind of irritates your skin and gives you really crazy dreams, so it's hard to want to keep it on after you finish the 8 weeks.

The best way to explain how it works is that you always feel like you just finished a cigarette. Even if someone offers you one, you feel too "full" to really want one.

Of course, it gets harder as the dose drops, but it's manageable. I smoked for 8 years, and quit 5 months ago. I can't say I don't still want a cigarette once in a while, but it's pretty easy to talk myself out of it.

One thing, though, if you do really want to quit, you have to stop going out drinking for a while. It's almost impossible to stay on track in a bar after a couple beers.

Good luck!!

 

Re: Quitting smoking seems impossib

A few rambling coments.

You may cut down on smoking and quit, but the cutting down isn't going to really help in quiting.

A person has to decide they are going to quit. Period.
There has to be a total commitment. Some can do it cold turkey, others use aids such as gum, the patch, Zyban, mints, etc. to help. You may cut down and quit, but it won't be the cutting down that will do it. It will be because at a point in time you made the commitment.

If the commitment is not made, after cutting down you will start smoking more and more again.

I quit smoking in 1991 (4-5 packs of Pall Mall a day)
I have been on Nicorettes since then, up to over 50 per day. Last month I cut the Nicorettes down to 2-4 per day, and now back up to about 12 per day.

If I could only chew 2-4 Nicorettes per day or only smoke 2-4 cigarettes per day I wouldn't even think about quiting.

I may make that final commitment or I may not but I do no what it takes.

Have you thought of going to a smoking clinic? I have never checked into it but they must have them. (I'm talking about private. In March I am going to a VA Clinic)

The funny thing is that when I quit smoking, health wasn't the main concern. It was the ashes all over, the burns in clothing, car seats, etc., people not wanting me in thier car or house, my friends saying I smelled, nicotine on the wall, furniture. I even hated the smell myself. The point is the social stigma was my greatest incentative.

Think about your incentatives, get professional help, make the commitment, and I know you will quit, and for Gods sake don't get on the gum.

jay

 

Re: Quitting smoking seems impossib

Trina
Chicago you say, what a great town!! (Except in the winter maybe.) ?) I was there for a couple weeks of school in the 70's. Can you imagin a Cajun out of the swamps on State street on a Saturday afternoon in that mob! A cop or two as broad as a barn on every coner. Then the walk every night from the Holiday Inn on Bayshore drive to Rush street for a night of ......festivities. (As I recall that area had the largest Airline Hostess School in the Nation)

What a great two weeks, with many fond memories.

Anyway keep me up to date on your progress, and I will be pulling for you. I am going to get this nicotine monkey off my back!!!! All I have to do is practice what I preach......COMMITMENT"

BTW once you make the bic C there has been a lot of good advice in the previous postings to help you stay on course.

jay

 

I quit many years ago. I added up the $$ I was wasting and what I could do with that money. ( good thing I am cheap )

It took me 4 months to stop, gradually reducing the amount I smoked.

By stopping, I saved enough to put my kids through university. The added benefit is that I can climb the stairs now without being out of breath. Plus my house, car and clothes don't stink anymore.

Cigarettes are $10.05 CND a pkg now. Damn glad I quit when I did.

 

It IS almost impossible! ) It is a wonderful thing to do though. After TEN YEARS of smoking 1-2 packs a day, Pop and I both quit and everything is so much better.

He went two rounds on the patch and I went with the morning sickness "therapy" -lol- If you throw up violently every time you even smell a cigarette it really does help you stop wanting them!!

I had a one week relapse after my daughter was born (while he was still smoking) and after that I made the ultimatum - too tempting for me to see him smoke and such - then he went his second round on the patch and I went cold turkey again.

We have been smoke free since! Our home and vehicles smell nice and so do we! You don't realize how terrible smokers smell until you quit.

 

Re: Quitting smoking seems impossib

Well, I just quit last night. I went on the patch. I am 23, and I have smoked a pack + a day since I was 14. I have never once even considered quitting, until recently. I decided when I finished my carton, that was it. It has been about 26 hours since I have had a cigarette. I can't believe I am doing it! The only weird things are that I drank about 3 pots of coffee and have been eating candy all day! I figure that anything is better than smoking! Ha Ha!

 

Re: Quitting smoking seems impossib

I am still smoke free. The patch is working wonderful for me. I am using the generic walgreens brand, which is about half of the price of the name brand. The only problem is that the patch doesn't want to stick very well. The first day was the worst for cravings. Now I only crave after I eat, and when I am in the car. I am also having some wacky dreams, but they are kind of amusing, so I don't mind. I wake up laughing! I can't belive a nicotine patch could give you bizarre dreams! A couple of questions for anyone using the patches... Do the name brand patches stick better to the skin? Where is the best place to put them? And where you able to ween yourself off of them faster than suggested? Thanks!