Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves, as you have already observed.
Congratulations on completing the first week - you are over the worst, but still need to maintain your resolve. It's just so easy to start thinking that just one won't hurt, but it does. Just one achieves nothing except feeling the need for another. Whatever you do, don't have just one.
Here's a few home-brewed tips that might be useful.
It's not just nicotine addiction - there are 50+ chemicals in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.
We have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something', which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!
We will have a few bouts of feeling or even being short tempered. We must try to bite our lip, and control; ourselves. Recognise the short temper as being the removal of toxins which are trying to find a way out. They went in through the mouth, and they try to get out that way to. We must learn to keep our mouth closed, and force the toxins out the other way.
2006-10-18 23:36:17
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Natural Quit Smoking Magic
2016-05-20 06:19:03
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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It sounds like you have the determination, which is the only thing you really need, so cold turkey is an option - it worked for me.
Rely on your friends and yourself for encouragement. Allow yourself to have any kind of snacks for the first week or two. Remind yourself that it is not impossible - many people have quit, who are no stronger than you are. Drink lots of water, including every time you want to have a cigarette.
It's largely a head game. Initially you will be seized by cravings often, but when it happens, remind yourself that it will pass, and over time the frequency will decrease. Take pride in how long it's been since you had one, and spend more time congratulating yourself on progress than thinking you won't make it.
Try to get more sleep - it puts more hours between you and your last smoke, with no effort at all.
When I really felt at the end of my rope, I used to chew on a peppercorn, and the spicy inhale afterwards helped as a substitute.
But above all, stay determined. If you really want to have one, think about how discouraged you'll feel after you put it out, realizing that you could have made it by holding off just a few more moments. In such cases, make up your mind to delay for just 5 minutes - you can do it! After 5 minutes if you still want one, delay for another 5.
If all else fails, just tell yourself 'no'. If that isn't enough, say it again and again and again, however many times it takes untiil the urge passes.
I used to smoke 2-3 packs a day, and haven't had one cigarette for the past 5 years. I'm no better than you, and if I can do it, you can do it.
Good luck!
2006-10-18 14:26:41
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answer #3
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answered by Ed 3
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hello, congratulations on finally succumbing to the social pressure! JOKE. I was just saying to my daughter yesterday, you know, i cant believe I used to smoke!! Its been five years and i havent looked back - honestly. I tried to quit a hundred times at least. I used to get stressed, get crabby. then one day, I did it because I wanted to. I gave myself an activity every evening which was incompatible with smoking. I bike rode, swam, danced. Stay away from smokers AND DO NOT have the old....just one....it is never just one it is an admission to yourself that you want what you are not having. You need to really want the alternative. Kiss a non smoker. Get happy. Spend the fags money on your kids or on lovely things for yourself. I smoked for over 20 years too. I dont agree with patches or gums because to my mind they reinforce that notion of dependance on nicotine. the sooner its out of your system the better. those programs where you phone someone sound good. they have lots of great facts like after 3 hours the level of nicotine in your brain drops and after 12 hours your lungs are starting to begin repair work. I honestly cant believe I used to smoke. I mean, im still scared ive done bad damage to myself but i just so do not even think about lighting up. ever.
2006-10-18 13:58:52
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answer #4
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answered by asiwant 3
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Quit Smoking Cigarette With QuitSmokingMagic - http://Go.QuitSmokingMagics.com
2016-01-30 00:38:48
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answer #5
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answered by ? 3
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I used a combination of wellbutrin and the Nicotrol inhaler. I took the well butrin for 3 weeks before "quit day" and then I used the nicotrol inhaler (essentially its like smoking a cigarette. Its a little cigaretter holder looking thing that you put nicotine cartriges in and inhale like a cigarette.) if you enjoy the habit of holding that cig, than this will work for you. Plus the wellbutrin helped with mood swings and cravings. I have tried to quit before using the cold turkey method, and also the gum, and both times I was a raving lunatic. i was so bad, that my husband told me that he rather I smoked than to be like that. This has actually worked! yay!
2006-10-18 13:57:38
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answer #6
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answered by lonijean 3
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Call your local county health department for assistance. Most have great resources including groups, reduced cost of patches, etc. I quit after 10 years, and you can, too. You have to realize it won't be easy, but you have to start by leaving them behind. Get them out of the house. Stay away from others who smoke.
2006-10-18 13:55:50
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answer #7
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answered by Ken M 1
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Cold Turkey!! Also try to break habits...like if you always smoke when you get in the car try replacing it with another habit...like chew a piece of gum or candy instead. I just quit myself...I feel better too. Good Luck!
2006-10-18 13:57:50
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answer #8
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answered by Heather 3
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I used the patches, there expensive but they worked for me, I used them two weeks and was patch free! Get up one morning,go cold turkey, throw the patch on, and have gum available. It does a good job of killing the craving. Use level 2 patches which are the mid level nicotine patches, friend of mine started with the strongest and they made him sick, So went straight to medium and they where fine. Also, get ready for some really bizarre dreams LOL
I smoked 25 years, 1 1/2 packs a day.......DONE
2006-10-18 13:51:30
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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I too am a smoker and think about quitting everyday.
It concerns me every time i inhale this thing that clearly states that" it kills" ,not even not even an "IT COULD KILL".
I'm scared, and normally a strong person, but this is going to be hard.
I support you in your adventure, it will be so good for you.
I'm going to set a goal, I've herd that it helps, cravings are only supposed to happed for 5 minutes, so maybe try a new routine...
I'd like to know how you do, please try to keep me informed.
Kriss
2006-10-18 14:05:57
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answer #10
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answered by girlscanfishtoo 3
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