Quit smoking?

Question

I used to smoke atleast a pack a day. In the last week I cut down to about 4-6 cigs a day. I just can't seem to give it up completely. Any advice or tricks to help me stop completely?

Answer 1

This is a long story, but bear with me:

My girlfriend was once a very heavy and impulsive smoker. She had been smoking since she was an adolescent, and she also associated smoking with personal comfort and positive memories of her father. The odds were against her, don't you think?

She was so addicted that it caused me a great deal of emotional pain. I did my best to communicate with her in earnest how the situation was affecting me, and eventually she found herself in the same position as you--she cut down a lot but reached a point where she wouldn't do any less.

The psychological factor was so strong that it was scary; our relationship nearly ended because a final fight that arose one day after she said and did something that showed she valued smoking over my personal well being. After that, I told her that I did not want to see her anymore so long as she smoked.

Of course, we were too in love to go more than a day without being together, so my ultimatum was put down in the face of a last minute philosophical discussion.

I listened to everything she had to say about not being able to stop: "I need more time," "I've been doing it for so long, I can't stop," "I have to quit gradually." A common thread ran through all of these--in every comment she expressed doubt as to her ability to quit *successfully*.

Of course, I had observed her behavior for several months, and I noticed very typical habits: "I'll quit one day," "I'm cutting down," etc etc. She did lots of things: she smoked less, didn't smoke around me, made promises to stop. I noticed that she was doing absolutely everything--and I mean everything--except ONE thing.

Can you guess what that one thing was? Yeap. Quiting.

So, after logical deduction, I told her, "all you have to do is quit." She thought it out. It couldn't be that easy, right? After all, everyone is telling you all the time that it's not that easy. Everyone is always telling you that you can't, that you need lots of help and have to fail several times. Ex smokers tell you that, current smokers tell you that, non smokers tell you that, the television tells you that. No wonder she didn't believe she could.

After she realized it, she stopped smoking that day. The physical addiction made her feel crummy for only a couple days. I was shocked to hear her telling me after only a week that she didn't experience cravings anymore. I thought, "What the heck?" How could she have so little trouble?

I was once a smoker too, but never addicted--I quit long before her. As a result, I can't comment on the details of her experience, but I do know one crucial thing you absolutely must know if you plan to quit:

Stop smoking.

All you have to do is stop. I'm not telling you this because I think you have to "suck it up" and be tough the way old guys in movies do. I'm telling you this because it's a fact.

We can't help you stop smoking completely. There are not tricks to it either. You just stop. That's it.

Once you make that decision, go on with your life. Find other things to do with your time, explore new things to enjoy. These things will make it easier to stay off, but only AFTER you quit--not before.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

It's a psychological thing. Smoking is like a security blanket.. at least thats how I thought of it. You have to change your schedule and your habits. It's hard work, but you can do it. I quit a long time ago when I was pregnant. I think the only way I got through it was because I got sick everytime I smoked.

Answer 4

I tell myself that I am going to live long enough to see my grandchildren graduate. If I was still smoking I'd be lucky to see my own children graduate. I quit about 4 months ago. I want them and I crave them every day, but I enjoy waking up without coughing myself into a coma. I feel better, I look healthier, and I don't smell like a bar anymore. I am the envy of all my friends and family that is trying to quit. I encourage them every day, but I know how hard it is. I set a date,...May 19, 2006, and I quit at 8:00 PM. And in May or June of 2040 or so,...I might get to see my grandchildren walk up to get their diploma and then their college degree and who knows what else. Smoking is very serious. We hear it every day. We see it on the packs we buy. We warn our family and friends, but you have to make that choice. Do you want to take pictures of your grandchildren? Or do you want them to be looking at a picture of you and wishing they still had you?

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Cigarettes are bad for you and smoking weed is bad too. if you still want to get high but don't want to smoke, get yourself a vaporizer and have fun. If you quit smoking tobacco, you'll live longer. If you quit smoking weed, you'll live longer but you might not enjoy it as much.

Answer 7

Substitute something more healthy.
Hey your addicted, your going to crave a cigarette.
What are you going to do when that happens?
You have to figure out what YOU are going to do instead Until the craving subsides. It could be candy, gum, tooth pics, straws (for those with oral fixations).
Set a date, and STOP smoking. Drink plenty of fluids and take some non aspirin or Advil while your de-toxing.

Answer 8

I quit so many times I lost track of how many times I lost track and then one time it worked. I haven't had a cigarette in 30 years and I have no more desire to smoke one than to stick one in my ear.

Answer 9

cut down to 4, then 3, then 2,, then 1, on consetutive days, then to 0 on your quit day. It takes 3 days to loose the major cravings, 1 week to loose the minor ones and 1 month to forget about them all together. C.

Answer 10

Congrats on wanting to quit! The Patch helps, if you haven't tried already. Good luck!