im trying to give up smoking anyone have ideas?

Question

i have the patches the gum in the inhalator ready to start tomorrow i know will power is a main factor but can anyone give me anymore advice on how to combat this

Answer 1

Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves.
Congratulate yourself on having the desire to stop - then 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. Beware - alcohol will weaken your resolve.
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.

After we have stopped for a while we will begin to feel that just one wont to any harm.
All that leads to is a desire for just another one. We must guard very strongly against the desire to have just one.

Answer 2

I have been a smoker for almost 15 years. I quit 4 years ago and still smoke free....no cravings what so ever!!! I can NOT even stand the smell of smoke! I was on the patch. The patch worked great!!! But I had trouble with the physical part. Basically, what I am saying is...for example...When I am sitting in the chair watching a movie...I reach on the end table for the pack of cigerette to light, then I realized that there is no pack on the end table. So, what I have done to help with that is...I place a hand sized ball of playdough right where I would reach for that pack of cigerette. When I go to reach that.....I would automatically play with that playdough...(to keep my hands busy while I am watching a movie)...or if you can crotcet a blanket... then crotcet...basically find something that keeps your hands "busy". Also, with that patch...after the first week, to week 3...that is hell week! You have the will power to fight that urge...keep your hands really really busy. Let me know how that works out... They say smoking is addicting...from my experinence... I say smoking is phsyical...keeping your hands busy....that is what makes it addicting.... PS I have 4 sons and a hubby...(they do a great job trying to drive me insane...hence...if I can quit then you can too :) You have the will power) good luck!!!

Answer 3

Trying to stop smoking can be rough, I would give myself an incentive like figure up how much you spend a week and plan a trip someplace that you really want to go or maybe something that you want buy. Sit down and figure out how much it would cost and how long it would take if you saved the money to get the trip or whatever it is you want to purchase and save the money instead of buying the smokes. Once you hit the mark take the trip or buy what you want. You may also need some outside help because trying to stop smoking can be a bear.

Answer 4

Several of these answers are patronising and clearly come from people who don't smoke. Telling a smoker to 'just stop' is so ignorant. Try Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking. It's a very good book and the most effective method I know of.

Using nicotine replacement could be a mistake because most smokers are far more psychologically addicted to smoking than they are physically addicted to nicotine. I've tried all three you mention and the only one that worked even slightly was the inhalator.

I recommend Allen Carr. It really does put smoking in a different light.

Answer 5

Take up a hobby that will keep you busy- a lot busy. And start exercising. Once your body gets used to not having that gunk in it, it won't want it.

Another thing, something that the makers of the nicotine gums don't want you to think about: You're just replacing one source of nicotine with another. You might want to start keeping other chewing gums as well so you can satisfy the act of putting something in your mouth without it being something harmful.

Good luck!

Answer 6

If there were a successful intervention it would be front page news. I suggest the following to patients. Write down on a piece of paper each of the following steps, sign it, and put it where you will see it daily - it is difficult to break your word. Begin each month with a new goal - 2 packs daily - 1 1/2 packs daily - 1 pack daily - 1/2 pack daily - 1/4 pack daily - none. Each day count out the precise number of cigarettes and at the end of the day destroy any remaining cigarettes. I have enjoyed good success.

Answer 7

I got a plastic tub with a lid. I taped the lid on and cut a slot in the top to shove my money in. I put the money I would normally have spent on fags. I bought myself a treat after 1 month, and again every month after that.

Just stop. Yeah I know its not easy, but you can do it. Believe in yourself.

Think of the money. . .

Add it up, how much would you save in a month? £100 ?

OOOH you could pay off a bill, buy something you have been after for ages but haven't been able to afford,

January sales will be here soon!

Good Luck!!

Answer 8

Try talking to someone who has smoked for many years and listen to their breathing and then perhaps you might not want to be like that in years to come. The other way is to visit someone in Hospital during their last few days of life, suffering from Lung Cancer and ask them if they wished they had never smoked.
Been there. Done that. That's what made me give up. Good Luck and I hope you succeed.

Answer 9

Hey Flower,,you and me both mate,,I'm battling against the wife and kids to quit the habit,,but man is it so hard,,I wish you luck mate coz I still have to admit I love a smoke,,you name it and I'll smoke it,,it's so easy for the people who don't smoke to tell you to quit,,I'm a truck driver and I find a *** keeps me cool(for the Americans,,a *** in the UK is a cigarette) especially in traffic,, I drive an artic,,a 40 footer,,here I go again making excuses,,I have smoked since I was in the Army,, I'm 47 now and it's not easy to just give up like that,,so I wish you luck with this,,as for me,,Feck it,,I'm having a smoke.

Answer 10

with all things in life, you won't change unless you truly want or need to. A friend of mine stopped smoking when she knew she was pregnant, cold turkey. I did the same a few years back. It's truly the only way.