How to quit smoking?

Question

I am trying hard but no success. I would like answer from smoke quitters.

Answer 1

I went to my primary care doctor on March 7th of 2003 for something (I don't even remember now) and she noticed I had clubbing on my fingers - a sign of a serious lung problem. She took a quick chest x-ray and came in and told me I had something really bad. I walked out into the parking lot and picked up my cigarettes, lit one up, took a puff, put it out, and never smoked again. I had smoked for about 25 years on and off (mostly on).

When they finished with all of the x-rays, ct scans, and an open chest biopsy, it was determined I had a terminal illness called pulmonary fibrosis. While the smoking may not have caused the disease, continuing to smoke was only going to make things worse. The doctors gave me 18 to 36 months to live. They told me by quitting I might add a few months to my life. Well, I am still going strong. I was willing to give them up just to get an extra month, or week, or even a day with my family.

You can quit. All you need is the proper motivation. Maybe a visit to a pulmonary clinic might help. Take a long look around at the people in the lobby. Many of them are like you (and me), they smoked for years and always had the excuse that it was just too hard to quit. Just think, if you keep lighting up, you can end up just like them. If you really want an eye-opener, go to a hospice and volunteer your services for a month or so. Every time you light up a cigarette, you get one step closer to that for an end. Be strong. You can beat this habit just like millions of people do every year. You just need a stronger reason to quit - at least a stronger reason that the one you use to defend your smoking. Good luck. I know what it feels like to be on both sides of this thing.

Answer 2

Hi Vipa,
Its very hard to quit smoking. I am a 34 year smoker, I have been off the smokes for 2 years now. It has not been easy. I was so addicted I would and still do dream about having a cigarette. I'm getting to the point where now I don't like the smell, where up until about 6 months ago I thought it smelled good. I have quit smoking so many times I cant even tell you. But hopefully this time it will stick.
Heres how I did it. I smoked a pack a day. I started reading how much nicotine was in the cigarettes. I started weaning myself down to the 1 mg cigarettes. Then when I got sick of sucking almost nothing but air I went and bought the Commit lozenges. I have tried the gum and patches they just didn't cut it for me. I started with the 4mg lozenge then went to the 2mg lozenge.

Answer 3

Most importantly, make sure that you are committed to quitting ... if you secretly really don't want to quit, it will jeopardize your chances of success. Also be sure that your family and friends know that you've decided to quit, so that they can support you. That said, you may want to try asking your doctor about prescribing Welbutrin. It's been proven to reduce cigarette cravings and also minimize, if not eliminate, the majority of withdrawal symptoms. For the first few weeks of taking Welbutrin, I'd recommend weaning yourself down on how many cigarettes you smoke. Try taking 1 or 2 out of the pack at the start of the day and just increase that amount until you are down to 0. You may also try Quest cigarettes - they are low-tar cigarettes specifically to help wean you off the nicotine until you quit completely (in 3 stages). It's important for you to reprioritize your spare time that would have been spent smoking. Try a new hobby, get out and & walk/exercise, read ... anything. Remember that cravings only last a couple of minutes ...
Also check out www.quitnet.com for additional help to quit and stay quit (forums, advice, etc). Best of luck!

Answer 4

100% Natural Quit Smoking Magic - http://Go.QuitSmokingMagics.com

Answer 5

dear vipa,first of all i apresiate you for willing to quit smoking.it is all about will power, i have friends who are smokers and one fine day they dont want to smoke and they give it up,the plus point they have is they can fight they reverse syndrome which comes due to breaking of the habbit some people can not and start smoking again.i agree that it is not every bodys job,in such situation you can take medical help,there are medicines avialable which can help you fight the craving you get during the gap you take maimtaining the gap is very important,i have also read of a drug called champex which is presently sold in u.k,which acts on the brain part related to the craving of smoking and helps quit smoking,dont give up this thought keep trying coming out of any addiction is not easy,i am trying to give up drinking tea and cant do it ,its a tough job,keep it up and set examples of others.

Answer 6

my mom quit 9 years ago, my brother is quitting my sister and brother in law quit like 4 to 5 years ago. Mom went on Zyban - prescription- and it helped her....there is a new prescription med that is also supposed to help. it's called chantix. several people i know use it....check it out on www.webmd.com. my brother is using nicorrette and hasn't smoked since Christmas. my sister and brother in law both quit cold turkey.
i'm not saying that one thing is the better than the other. if you've tried quitting cold turkey and been using nicorrette (or commit lozenges) and neither are working, maybe you should get in contact with a doctor and ask. maybe the doctor can help out. also check out the websites used in anti-smoking ads on tv....

Answer 7

To assist people in quitting smoking, helpful smoking cessation Web sites are listed. In addition, information abut the health consequences of tobacco use, tobacco prevalence, and tobacco prevention messages are included.

Answer 8

I quit by using the extended time between smokes

That was a 5 pack a day habit

Answer 9

Need will power. Only few months you will have the problem. Later you will be okay. Medicines or counselling are not the remedy for quiting this habit. That is only for the awareness.

Answer 10

Have you tried the patches or the smoking gum? I also hear hypnosis works as well. Good luck, that's one bad habit to kick.