Quitting Smoking... Tips?

[Vulcan]

I quit cold turkey but be prepared to have a very short fuse for a while. Try to explain to your friends what you are doing so they'll understand or just tell no one so it's your own private battle. When you win, the sense of accomplisment is very good.

[rururu]

I quit with the Nikoderm patches and I highly recommend to those who can't quit cold turkey. I tried so many different ways to quit that I did not know if I really could. Just one day I saw Nikoderm patches in store and thought maybe instead of carton of cigarretes I should buy the Nikoderm. So i did! I put a patch on next morning instead of having morning cigarette and 20 minutes later I realized that I do not have an urge to smoke at the moment. I thought cool, let's see how it goes for the day. It did work fine and I survived (when I did cold turkey before I had dizziness by 10 AM and a headache by 11-30 every time I tried). So next morning I had an urge to have a cigarette, I just replaced the patch and 20 minutes later I was relatively fine.

So it became my daily procedure, I was surprised how well it worked. about 10 days into that I forgot to patch on and went to work. I realized it at 8-30 when I wanted to have a cigarette desperately. I almost asked someone else to loan me a smoke. But then I though no way, went home, put the patch on and by the time I drove back to work I was fine. So I went for 30 days on patches and I felt very strong about this so I decided not to put a patch on purpose, that day was sort of rough but it was bareble. Another month later I was fine, just eating a lot.

All in all it is hard to quit smoking, but I did it and now I realize that it was one of the best things I have done in my life. I was a crazy smoker and if I could quit I believe many people can.

Downsides: I have some slow going depression for about 2-3 months. I can't even explain it that well, it was that I had apathy towards everything else, but good thing I knew it was going to get better soon and it did. Also you get sort of slow, your brain can't think properly and fast enough.

Also, I can't stand smoking places, women who smoke are a huge turn off while before I thought it was sorta cool.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Well, I had a good experience reading this book

After reading it I was able to quit for at least a month , it took 5 tries but on the 5th try I felt a big difference in willpower....

[habernac]

change your entire routine. I quit drinking for about 6 months afterward as well. Start exercising or you will put pounds on. I used Zyban as well and it worked for me. I'm now almost 5 years without one.

[V]

I did quit for about 6 months starting with the patch, and one thing that really helped me with the nic fits was a tall glass of cold water. I don't know why, but it usually lessened the craving so that it was bearable.

[Crazy Flamer]

I've been smoking for about 10 years, never on a regualr basis. The only time I smoke is when I have a drink in my hand. I could go weeks without even thinking of cigarettes and not even have a craving. Then a weekend will come where I go out for some drinks with my friends and I will smoke 3/4 of a pack in one night.

[Jayems]

I have been smoke free for almost 12 months now, after smoking since I was 16. (Now 24).

I had quit for 2 months using the gum, and found that it really worked for me. I couldn't do the patch, because it never satisfied the oral fixation that i craved with my smokes.. So, when i craved one, i'd stick the gum in, and be done with it.

I got back on the wagon hanging out with 2 buddies who smoked, and i just had no will power.

Then, one day, I was outside smoking, and it just dawned on me how stupid it was. I was the one guy who hated anti-smokers (i understood their position, but who the hell were they to harp on me for smoking).

Anyway, long story short, I took the equivalent of Zyban called Wellbutrin.

I was told to keep smoking for the first couple weeks, and not change anything. (other than drinking excessively, since it could cause seizures as a side effect)

For the 1st week, I took 1 pill a day, and kept smoking. Not much of a change, but did find that my cravings were going away, but was still smoking out of habit.

2nd week, I was up to 2 pills a day, and at about the half-way point in the week, I really started to notice that smoking wasn't doing anything for me. (pretty much the point of the pill, is to block the receptors that you associate with nicotine, and the gratification you feel when you have one).

At the end of week 2, i started throwing my ciggys away after 1 or 2 puffs because it was so gross, i couldn't stand it. By week 3, I had totally quit and had no cravings. I finished out the pills ( about 8 weeks or 12, i can't remember).

Coming off the pills was the weirdest experience. I was one grumpy guy, irritable and the works... But it only lasted about 2-3 days, and was pretty easy to control.

Like I said, i've been smoke free for about 11 1/2 months now, but the cravings are still there. I've totally beat the habit etc, and im motoring on the feelings that "i've come this far, don't screw it up". If i'm out at a bar, most of the time, someone is smoking by me, i get really grossed out and can't stand the smell. (Especially now when someone sits by you after just having a smoke outside... Is that what I smelled like all those years? yuck.)

Still can pass someone in the crisp morning and get that smell and I just love the smell sometimes...

But, it feels good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zyban

[SaskaBushFire]

I smoked for 9 years, at my peak I was over a pack a day, I averaged around 3/4 a pack a day. I loved to smoke, it was fun, especially on fishing trips. I quit cold turkey nearly 9th months ago. Things that really helped me, find something you can substitute for the smoke when you start craveing. I used carrot sticks (wored really well cause you can eat so many without getting full) and rice cakes (samething). You can put yourself in the situations you used to as long as you WANT to quit. You have to want it. If you want it no matter what it won't bother you.

Most importantly though is tell everyone. Make a post here, phone your parents, your brother, sister, tell your dog, your cousins, your co workers your friends, tell the mailman, whatever, just tell them. The more people you tell, the more people who are proud of you and say good job, the less likely you will be to smoke again no matter how bad you are craveing it. You will feel guilty letting all those people down who are so very impressed with your will power. Trust me, try it for other things to.

It will be the best move you have ever made, now that I quit smokeing I just can't ever picture myself smokeing again or figure out why I shelled out 11 bucks every 2 days to kill myself. And good for you for quitting, we are all so VERY VERY PROUD OF YOU.

[V]

I'm not proud of you.

Quitter.

[chockfullofgoodness]

Quick question: can you buy the patch over the counter, or is it strictly prescription?

[PYroMaNiaC]

Over the counter, but you may have to ask the pharmacist because they're usually kept behind the pharmacy counter for easier access for them to fill prescriptions for those who do have one.

[Winsor_Pilates]

No advice, but good luck

[chockfullofgoodness]

Thanks, pyro.

[Flames_Gimp]

take up binge eating.. when you have a craving eat some junk food!

[Brick]

Stay out of the bar and avoid drinking alcohol. I found that the two go together too well. I quit drinking and then smoking, saved a heck of a lot of money by doing it. The first 2 wks. were the worst for me, I quit cold turkey after "trying" to cut down, etc. too many times. Treated myself to a trip to Hawaii later on with the savings, then couldn't understand why I had so much money all of a sudden ever since. Stick with it. Tell yourself firmly that you are a non-smoker. "Trying is lying", just do it! You are worth it!!

[Dion]

Glad I never took up the habit.

Best of luck anyway.

[ken0042]

One thing a few friends have done with the patch; keep buying step 1. When you are ready for step 2, cut it in half, and I can't recall if you cut it into 3 or 4 for step 3.

Each box costs the same and has the same number of patches; but the "juice" is the same all over the patch.

Me, I just don't smoke. Every time I do the Flames lose the Stanley Cup.

[boobaloo]

Repeat after me: "I AM a non-smoker" every time you want a cigarette. Chew lots of sugar-free gum. Put 10 bucks in a jar every time you would have bought a pack. See how much money you have there in 6 months. Went to Hawaii for a week with my savings. It was a lot easier after that: Kill myself smoking, or go to Hawaii every year. A no-brainer.

But seriously, it's pretty tough for the first couple of weeks, but then it's a lot easier, and you'll be glad you did. Avoid things that are related to smoking.....booze, mostly, sometimes coffee (or at least change-up the times you drink it)(make it a different time you used to have a smoke), and any other habits you associate with having a cigarette.

Stick to it, you won't regret it.

[daveyboy]

Smoking is an addiction like anyother addiction, it is just a bit more socially acceptable then cocaine or alcoholism. Lots of things that help people get clean and sober work with smoking too.

Just don't have that first smoke no matter what and you'll be okay. I know that's easier said then done. When you have a really strong urge you can just take it an hour at a time or even 10 minutes at a time. Phone a non-smoking support person when you have a craving or engage in some vigorus physical activity or meditate and the cravings pass. It takes time and effort but there will come a day when you no longer crave cigarettes.

I think doing it cold turkey is the way to go, I did use the patch but I wish i would have done it cold-turkey. The patch or the gum is just replacing one addiction with another, but it did take the edge of.

Best of luck with your quitting, you should keep us updated

[V]

Originally Posted by daveyboy

It takes time and effort but there will come a day when you no longer crave cigarettes.

I don't know, my mom quit smoking about 20 years ago, and she gets cravings from time to time.