Giving up smoking?

Question

Ive decided that its time i really tried to give up smoking. Ive tried before a few times , any tips on giving up? I smoke about 10/20 per day

Answer 1

My own experience:

(a) Most important: Set a date, do it cold turkey, and stick to it.

By all means cut down in the lead-up to that date - let's say to five, then three - but after D-Day, THAT'S IT. The mentality of : 'Oh, just one more won't kill me, after all it's probably the 32,756th cigarette of my life - it's not like my body can tell that I didn't stop at 32,755' is FATAL. It's giving yourself permission to go down the slippery slope again. Don't do it.

(b) Coping is hard. But you CAN cope, and win.

As it's not your first time, you know the withdrawal symptoms.

HEADACHES: The worst part. Lots of water, painkillers if really, really necessary. Passes in 3 days, did for me anyway.

FEELING LIKE YOU WANT TO KILL SOMEONE: Your body's crying out for nicotine like a heroin addict for his fix. You aren't satisfying that craving, so Mr (Ms) Body ain't too happy. And he wants you to take it out on someone else.

The best way, I found, is to turn the irritation INWARD. Tell your body firmly that your willpower is way too strong to be overcome by a miserable little chemical compound. I found that making sarcastic remarks to my own body (in a mocking voice) e.g. - 'Awww, diddums, u dyin' for liddle ciggie? Grow up, already, wimp!' actually helped.

Listing the benefits day-by-day will help. Tell yourself as you wake up on Day 3: 'Cool! My lungs are going to start clearing mucus today!' (That's right, think of mucus first thing in the morning - always helps ; ) A list of benefits per day / month / year, can be found at http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com.

(c) Get some help - off the shelf, or from a friendly shoulder.

I never tried nicotine substitutes, patches or hypnotherapy. If they help, then sure. (Some of the substitutes can be equally addictive, though, so be careful.) Here's one thing that's cheaper (and works):

Buy a good pair of trainers, and take up running.

Helps a LOT with the headaches & Jekyll / Hyde mood trips. Also keeps your metabolic rate up, so that if you do start eating more, at least it won't go to your hips and tummy.

May also help if you persuade a friend to quit at the same time as you. That way you can keep each other's spirits up (not to mention doing 'mutual police work' for lapses!)

Final thought: Seriously, it's just about wanting it enough. Think it through, plan it through, set your D-Day...and HANG IN THERE.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I gave up smoking 4 years ago after smoking 30 a day for over thirty years. During that time, I tried patches, hypnotism etc. You name it, I tried it. What worked in the end? The right motivation. My wife was pregnant and I promised that I would give up smoking the day she came home from hospital with our baby. Shortly after, I was in hospital with chronic heart disease and that gave me even more motivation. Patches and hypnotism will not do the work for you. You must WANT to stop. Find a good reason and concentrate on that. Promise yourself a good holiday and save the money that you would have spent on cigarettes. In the UK you would save about 1250 pounds in a year at your rate of consumption and that would get you a bloody good holiday. Another thing that was recommended to me and I found helpful: Don't finish your last pack. You will think more about smoking if you don't have any in the house. I kept my last pack for over two years as a sort of trophy to mark my achievement. You CAN do it but you must believe you can do it.

Answer 3

There is no medicine available on earth that can make a person quit smoking. It is the strong will power that helps to get rid of bad habit. The Nature has given tobacco to mankind for medicinal use but the humans have used it for intoxication. Tobacco even in small quantity consumed is bad for health. For an example, when you smoke, the smoke is thrown out by the body and it is an indication that the body can not tolerate its contents. Same way, when the tobacco is consumed by chewing, the person has to spit many times before gulping the same because the body tells the person that it is not good for health and through it out of the body. Even the animals never ever enter a tobacco field for gazing, whereas humans have consumes uncounted tons of tobacco since generations. If you have decided to quit, your have come to a right place and right person. It would be very nice and wise of you to quit smoking and save lots of money and health. Just imagine, would you prefer to hear the worst news of your life from a doctor explaining you that you have been diagnosed to have cancer or some other serious diseases? Don't allow this to happen. Tobacco kills. I smoked for almost 25 years but gave up the bad habit of smoking seven years ago without turning back, because I have a strong will power. I enjoy a very healthy life now and save lots of money spent on tobacco products. My family is also very proud of me. No one can minimize smoking gradually because it is very difficult in practical and it has to be done once for all. After you quit smoking, you will never gain weight since this is a wrong judgment as regards quitting smoking. Quit smoking if you have decided to and you will not regret. Take care and be in good health.

Answer 4

Ye dude, ive stopped many times. If you start again ( hopefully you won't) just keep trying to stop you will eventually work out the way that suits you best. i started smoking when i was 14 the 1st time i tried stopping i was 20 and i remember being really dissy and headaches also. The more attempts i made the more i learned how to cope i'm 36 now i've stopped only a week this time and i'm confident this will be the time. Good Luck dude.

Answer 5

I was on about 30 a day a few years ago. The main thing that I feared about giving up is that I would not feel complete anymore and would always miss smoking. But trust me thats just the nicotine working on your addicted mind. I read Alan Carrs book which was good also used nicotine patches. But don't use the 24 hour ones they give you the craziest dreams!
Good luck, it will be worth it in the end.

Answer 6

Go to the doctor and ask for ZYBAN...it is a pill you take WHILE you smoke.
You don;t get cravings etc and it makes you WANT to give up smoking...but talk to the doctor about it..it may have side effects.

I used it and gave in smoking in 4 weeks, and I had been smoking for 25 years.

9 months without a f a g and not a problem.

Go ask the doc.

Answer 7

Just do it Angel. you thinking it is the right time is a great start. Make it happen. Big tip- tell all your friends and family and ask for their support. If they smoke they may be less inclined to do so in front of you (or at least they should be). They can help take your mind off things as well.

Answer 8

Instead of saying to yourself, and others, that you are trying to stop smoking just try saying that you don't smoke, as if you have already managed to stop or, indeed, never even started. People accept this and don't keep offering you a ciggie and, psychology, you can even convice yourself! It worked for me donkies years ago and I've never started again. I used to smoke about 15/20 a day.

Answer 9

Smoke like three packs in a very short time. Well, enough to make your self physically ill, and then your body will associate the illness with the cigarettes and your cravings wont be so bad.

Answer 10

yes u can give up smoking,if u have intension to do it no one can stop u .u must have confidence ur self.u have to forget of that silly cigerate.when u have tension dont smoke ,u should do some prayer to god.
u must attend some yoga classes,b'se it gives concetration patience , confidence etc to give up smoking.it is also useful to contact a good doctor to leave smoking

Answer 11

see smoking nurse at Dr's for something to help you the chewing gum is great and helps because when you stop you get bored and your used to picking up a cig