How did you quit smoking?

Question

Was it hypnotism? The Patch? The gum? Cold turkey?

What helped you the most? Please share. I'm desperate to stop.

Answer 1

Well, let me tell you my story and let's see which method you choose. I would really like to know.

I have tried all methods you can possibly imagine to quit smoking and I can say that none have worked until the last one.

I have tried the all tough, all will power method - this lasted for a few weeks and then BANG, here I am again smoking at least 20 a day as soon as I have the "excuse" I am stressed, too stressed not to smoke.

I have tried spirituality, and maybe this would work now but I was too young at that time and when I stopped attending the spirituality sessions - BANG, I am free from those religious fundamentalist and hence I can smoke again (they were not fundamentalist by the way, I just needed the excuse)

I have tried the health approach, I bought DVDs and read a lot about the harmful cigarettes provoke, even made a list of the pros and cons of smoking, which I kept with me all the time, joined a gym and became a gym freak, started having a very healthy diet... but then life is not perfect and after a year of this...BANG the stress of life was my excuse at the time. 1 WHOLE year without smoking and here I was again

The time before last, I went for NRP, the nicotine replacement therapy, and it actually worked, or I though it worked. It takes a lot of will power too but you still feel miserable for some days. I managed to be off cigarettes for 2 and half years. Quite good, I have always thought, I don't think I will ever smoke again... yes you guessed it, BANG - because of work, I had to move from the UK an live in Continental Europe. During the relocation I was very stressed and on top of the stress naturally provoked by any move I was burgled. This was what I needed - for 2 and a half years I stayed off cigarettes but I would think about smoking not all the time but too often, especially when I was drinking or socialising - perfect excuse, had only 1 cigarette and before I noticed was hooked again.

Finally, I tried "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking", by Allen Carr. Would never think this would change my mindset but the simplicity of the method actually worked. I don't feel miserable, it was indeed easy and the whole approach was actually completely different from my previous experiences. I recommend the book to anyone that seriously wants to quit smoking.

Don't know the future but I can tell you that it is the easy method and it actually works in a completely different way. We don't have to use will power, as Carr tell us to do, as he believes that this will eventually trick us when we feel down and weaker and will lead to cigarettes again.

Note I have nothing to do with the book, so no profit ;-(

However, to Allen: thanks for your book! Thanks for your dedication to the smoker's cause that ultimately caused your death for passive smoking in late November 2006. I am doing as you asked me to do in your wonderful book, thanking you and spreading the word about your book.

You are right; cigarettes are the biggest scam ever.

Peace
An admirer

Answer 2

I have set so many quit dates ( cold turkey ) for my self. But until now I havent been able to follow up. Well, in Singapore the cigarette prices are so high. S$11.20 a pack of Marlboro. So, if quit, its also a good money saver too. Because my work place all my colleagues smoke, and if I dont smoke, its kinda awkward. So, I also light up one. But I really have to quit, every time I think about it, but couldnt make it.

But impossible is nothing. Everything is in our mind. We can just pray to god that let our decision be firm and we dont miss it again, yet we miss it. Oh, come on ...

I really just dont know how to quit. Sorry. But am still living on a blind hope that one day, I will quit.

Answer 3

I tapered off. First I only allowed myself 1 cigarette on the hour.
If I missed the one on the hour I had to wait till the next hour.

The next week I went to two hours. If I missed . To bad.

I did this until I had about 4 a day. Then quit completely.

It worked. When I started this method I was smoking about 2 packs a day.
I am first to admit it takes tremendous self control.

You need to avoid being around friends or places that allow smoking. When I wanted a cigarette I would always mouth breath. That created the illusion of inhaling.

But I am basically cheap and refused to pay to break a bad habit.

I have always thought that the nicotine gradually leached out of my system. Now the desire was still there occasionally. I had about one a year for five years. Finally the last one was putrid and I was fully cured.

Answer 4

just stop. I mean i only did smoke for 12 years but i was at about a 2 day habit and i just woke up one day and said i didn't want to smoke anymore and stoped. It is really overrated on how hard it is to quit. It is mind over matter if you want to quit bad enough then you wont want to smoke. Just try to stay away from like bars and smoking resturants for about a month or so you'll be good. good luck

Answer 5

I started smoking for a very stupid reason. when i was in college some guy was smoking next to me. Stupid me thought i would try one and that would be that. Boy was i wrong. i came home for Christmas and my dad warned me that i would get addicted. I just did not listen. I have smoked on and off for the past 9 years. My doc gave me a new drug called chantix. you keep smoking while you take the first pack of of the drug (i think its 10 days) and than you stop smoking, but keep taking the pills until you are ready to stop. My advice for those who smoke or are thinking about it. DONT even have one cig.. once you do you are hooked and for those who already do smoke. STOP. i know its easier said than done, but you will feel better, you will smell better and most of all..you will live lot longer.

Answer 6

I used patches, starting with the strongest ones and working down to the lower. I also read the book by Allan Karr 'Easy way to stop smoking' and this helps. I think both together worked well for me. I only used the patches for about 4 weeks and have not smoked at all since. Good luck and remember that if you have one cigarette that you can still quit and it is not a failure! You can do it!!!

Answer 7

I used the patch, look in your area for quite smoking programs, usually they are subsidized by the government and you can get nicotine replacement for free.

Answer 8

I just stopped.
So did my wife, of course she was pregnant so I'm sure that was incentive.
Neither of us have gone back, its been 7 years for me and 6 years for her.

Answer 9

i did stop for a month.how?i try to avoid smokers and keep a pack of gum everywhere i go. but the temptation is always there so i started again.

Answer 10

Strong will power and nothing else..I almost give up on giving up...