How can I overcome my addiction to cigarettes?

Question

I decided to quit last Sunday night, but just Friday night, I cheated and smoked two cigarettes. Last night, I was really close to buying cigarettes at 7-eleven but bought lollipops and gums instead. I tried watching a good movie, eating my favorite food & dessert, sucking on suckers, chewing gum, talking to my friends, but I still get the urge. I always try to think about the negativities of smoking, like my health, my looks, smell, money, morals, etc, but I still long for a puff. So how can I get through this?

If you were never a smoker, please don't respond, since you have no idea how difficult it is. It's so easy for you to say, "Just quit." Thank you.

Answer 1

Be a quitter. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. Just don't get up and go buy, just don't do it. It takes more effort to smoke than it takes to quit. Make it through 72 hours, and the worst of it will be over with. Research shows that quitting cold turkey is more successful and usually last longer among those that relapse than with nicotine replacement.

Answer 2

Not trying to be rude but.....get a life! Many people who have become Jehovah's Witnesses used to smoke including several close friends of mine and my Mother. Meditating on a few scriptures may or may not help you. But here goes......

Why is smoking Wrong?
#1 It shows a disrespect for life.
Acts 17:24,25 "The God that made the world and all the things in it...gives to all persons life and breath and all things."
Former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education , and Welfare, Joseph Califano, said: "Today there can be no doubt that smoking is truly slow-motion suicide." Scholastic Science World, March 20, 1980, p. 13.

#2 Smoking is a violation of the divine requirement that we love our neighbor.
Jas. 2:8 "You must love your neighbor as yourself."-Compare Matthew 7:12
"A recent study...revealed that the nonsmoking wives of men who smoke die on the average four years younger than women whose husbands are also nonsmokers."( The New York Times, November 22, 1978, p. C5)

I know it is hard but you MUST quit. I have never had to give up the addiction, but I know it is possible. Keep yourself busy with lots of things.......atleast get through 2 weeks and then you will probably be home free. Your creator will be smiling down on you, you will be more pleasant to be around, your body will thank you and the control that cigarettes have over your life will then be non-existant. Imagine how great that would be. Good Luck! I hope this helped somewhat. I am working on my Dad to quit as well...send me successful vibes.

Answer 3

Keep trying. I quit on my birthday a week ago, today is day 8 and I haven't cheated once. I am only 24 and have smoked for about 10 years. I only tried quitting once before but I cheated terribly. I am using the patch and it works for me. I am definitely not craving the nicotine, but I still crave the habit of it. I have been doing the same things you have...chewing on straws, candy, etc.
Quitting smoking is a true test of will power, you have to believe in yourself and discipline yourself.
My aunt told me to think of a craving as a telephone ringing....just don't answer it and it will go away in a minute or two.

Good luck, I am experiencing the same thing you are. As hard as it is, you (and I) have to remember that it will get easier. Don't give in.

Answer 4

I gave up it was the best thing I have ever done... that said I haven't done that many good things.

Dont beat yourself up if you crumble and have a couple of cigerettes, just immediately say that you are still giving up and start again. It takes time, take yourself out of the situation where you most likely to have a cigerette, its not cowardly its just common sense, once you are no longer chemically adicted it becomes easier to work on the pscycological addiction.

Please keep trying, it does make you feel better, and there really are few true reasons to smoke.. try and put the money to one side that you spent of cigs it soon mounts up and becomes quite motivating... assuming you are not a millionaire!

Good luck

Answer 5

I was up to nearly three packs a day once.
I realized that I was smoking without even knowing it much of the time. One morning I caught myself standing in my running shower with a lit cigarette holding it over the top of the curtain to keep it from getting it wet!! Once, I was clearing out a clogged fuel filter under my VW and it was a good friend who pointed out that I was literally covered in live unleaded gasoline and smoking at the same time. I could have easily removed myself from earth!

I believe that to really quit cigarettes you have to grow to hate them. And then simply quite buying them. You are on the right track. Once I decided it was really time to quit, I began to hate them. Once I hated them, quitting all together was not so difficult. People who vacilate back and forth with smoking have simply not squared with the fact that they still desire to smoke and that desire is more important than the things that smoking costs them. Everyone knows about the health issues and such. When you really want to quit and you get very committed to quitting, then avoiding smoking becomes easy. When you are not committed you will fight back and forth with it.

Answer 6

Stopping smoking is one of the hardest things you will EVER try to do...but you CAN do it. I smoked for 25 years and after 8-9 attempts, which they say is normal, I stopped. COLD TURKEY. It is a psychological and a physical addiction...eating tons of candy is not the answer...you will have problems with your teeth and will probably gain unneeded weight.....both things that will end up frustrating you and make you smoke...again. The first 3 days is the worst....it takes 72 hours for the body to rid itself of the nicotine in your body.....then is when the problem rears its ugly head....drink water if you can when you get an urge, walk for exercise. read a book, keep occupied with non-stressful things if you can......you will have urges for many months, but if you really stay focused (stay away from people who smoke!!!) ...you CAN DO IT. You will be adding years to your life and to the people around you....Lots of luck....it will be the healthiest thing you will ever do for yourself

Answer 7

Find the thing that really motivates you to quit, and concentrate on that when you feel the urge to smoke. Everyone is different, and we all needed to find that one thing that kept us from going back. Mine was seeing my 6' 2" hulk of a father lying in a hospital bed right after open heart surgery, but maybe yours won't be that obvious. Just find it, and use it every time you feel the need. Trust me, if it's the right motivator for you, it will work out fine.

Answer 8

I don't have an honest answer for you. I too am a smoker and want to stop. I am going to set a stop date and follow some ideas others have posted. Thank you for asking this question because it has given me a little more will power to stop smokeing, Wish me luck.....and by all means keep up the good work and good luck to you

Answer 9

you know cold Turkey is the best best way to go but you have to replace smoking with something other and it should be the same thing all the time or you will lose yourself in the fight so pick a friend or walk around or start with a stress ball that's what got me to stop and now i am 2 years clean

Answer 10

I had dreams every night for a week during my cold turkey session. I been off for almost a year and I still get urges.