Quitting smoking?

Question

I have decided to quit my obsessive 21 year habit does anybody have some hints or ways to help kick the habit?

Answer 1

You have to realize that it is not a "habit" - it is an addiction. There is a big difference. And if you don't find your way to that realization, I doubt if you will ever have any luck quitting.

If you have been smoking for 21 years, you will have a very hard time quitting. Try cold turkey, and find what hell is like.

95% of people who try to quit cold turkey find themselves smoking again within 6-12 months. That is the same rate of recidivism as heroin - did I mention this stuff was addictive?

90% of people who try to quit with help (NRT, Zyban) become former ex-smokers inside of 6-12 months.

The new Pfizer medication, Chantix, has been shown to be very effective. If you are serious about quitting (and you may need to try a few times to find out if you are), try it.

http://www.chantix.com

Good luck.

2-1/2+ years smokefree.

Answer 2

I quit semi-cold turkey. I bought that Smoke Away stuff, but I never took the daily pills. What I did use were the little nicotene mint things that they through in there. For the most part, whenever I got a craving, I would substitute a ciggy for an Altoid or a piece of gum. That seemed to work the best. It helped that I was quitting for health reasons (baaaaaaad chest pains) and not just for quittings sake.

Answer 3

A Simple Trick To Help You Quit Smoking

Answer 4

Congratulations! You are at step One, "You want to do it"! Remind yourself often that this is what "you" really want to do, make a list of the benefits: better health, money saved, smell better, feel better, your bad cough will decrease, you don't hop into your car to get a pack because you ran out (gas money saved). You won't go crazy looking for one, even asking strangers.
Ask yourself what benefits has smoking had for you? This is important believe it or not, it's a matter of thought process and acceptance of the change needed!
Like any bad habit; it is hardest in the beginning! Your body will crave it and you will make excuses for having it (weak moments)!! My favorite one when I wanted to give up something was; "ONE MORE TIME WON'T HURT ME, I'll give it up tomorrow"! The vicious cycle, Sounds familiar? DO NOT GIVE IN, FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO! When you get the urge for a smoke talk through it; Ask yourself why do you want it, why do you allow it to control your life, why do you need it?
Do Not Give In to it!

Find a family member or a friend to help you through the weak times. Remember that once you do "STOP", temptation will always be there knocking on your door. Do not give in!!!

Good Luck and All My Best!

Answer 5

Zyban does help a lot. So do the nicotine lozenges. The gum tastes horrible and irritates the mouth.

Some guys switch to chewing tobacco for a while....

Aa long time ago, I quit by running about 5 miles a day.

But I am back to smoking, and all I try to do is breathing and lung-cleaning exercises, to compensate , plus lots of water drinking throughout the day.

Answer 6

Yes. It depends on whether you really want to quit. If you are serious about it, then quit. It is not necessary to use all those products advertised. And remember, after the first 72 hours, the phisiological addiction is gone. The rest is a head trip. Hang in there and much luck to you. You're doing yourself a tremendous favor.

Answer 7

Set a date and then throw out all tobacco products. Try to go on vacation or do something to change your usual patterns. Do something that will occupy your mind in your spare time. Give yourself a small negative feedback whenever you think of having a smoke--like an obnoxious but not harmful pinch on the forearm, or drop for 20 pushups.

Answer 8

Exercise and everytime you have to stop for a break, and you feel like you're coughing up a lung, remember you were the one that chose to smoke. If that isn't enough motivation... I don't know what is! My Father just quit after 50 years of smoking within the last month... he uses the patch and his mind!

Answer 9

buy lots of gum and hard candies, drink lots of water. I used the nicotine patch system. Avoid triggers like drinking, coffee etc. Situations where you are tempted to smoke. Try not to remain idle, keep your hands busy. (My husband got quite a bit more lovin') I also brushed my teeth alot. Just some of my "hints" that worked for me. Good luck. First 3 days are the hardest.

Answer 10

It may seem a little simplistic but when I quit (about 33 yrs ago), I decided that I wasn't going to smoke anymore, & threw away my almost full pack of cigarretes. That was it, no patches, hypnotism, gum, treatments, or anything. The cravings knawed at me a bit, but I was determined enough to quit "Cold Turkey" that after a few weeks I never thought about it anymore.
My wife later quit about 15yrs ago, she went to Smokenders.