Stopping smoking?

Question

I'd love to be able to stop smoking and I've tried quite a few methods of stopping but none seems to work. I'm allergic to the patches and the gum makes me sick others have failed. How hard is it to stop without any nicotine replacement?

Answer 1

Hi there, Congratulations on trying to quit. It is hard, I know, I have been there. Honestly, I have found that you have to really want to stop for yourself,and for your own health reasons. When I stopped, I literally cried every night for a week or so, as I felt so dependent on cigarettes. But I just had made the decision in my mind and there was no going back. I was determined in other words. Avoid places where you know it would be difficult for you to be, ie where you would normally smoke. For me, I just kept thinking of how awful I would feel if I gave in (again!) and also the horrible taste it leaves in your mouth. Not to mention the terrible smell that surrounds smokers, or lung cancer etc. It's just not worth the health risks is it? My children kept on at me how bad it was, and I thought how bad I would feel if they took up smoking - I would feel so guilty. There are herbal remedies that can help, but it is your state of mind that will get you through. Trust yourself and you will be able to do it - no problem!

Answer 2

The mint lozenges aren't so bad......... but the non-mint ones are better if you're out for a drink and your craving can go thro' the roof (they're also ok if you don't want to stop smoking, but equally, you don't want to go out in the pouring rain while all your non-smoking pals are cosy inside)

Another new option that you can get on prescription from your doctor is 'CHAMPIX'. It's basically not a nicotine replacement, but rather triggers a reaction in your brain to make you less inclined to want to smoke. You have to be fully determined to quit for this to succeed. The treatment takes the usual 12weeks to complete and whilst taking it during the first week you can still smoke, altho' you should try to decide on an actual point between the 8th and 14th days to stop completely.

Tomorrow will be my 24th day since starting this treatment, and my 14th smokefree day. I still have the odd craving, but although it's not recommended as it has never been tested, when this happens I take a lozenge..... so long as I'm not smoking, I'm happy!!

Good luck.

Answer 3

Extremely hard. But doable. There are 3 parts to being addicted to smoking and all of them need to be addressed.
1. Physical - This is the part paid most attention to, the addiction to nicotine. This is a proven physical addiction that occurs in your brain and there are all kinds of patches, gums, inhalers, etc. that provide you with nicotine without the negative effects of smoking.

2. Habitual - For most smokers, smoking becomes a part of a ritualized routine. While driving, on the phone, after sex, when drinking, taking breaks from work... The brain starts to associate nicotine with these activities and eventually expects to get "buzzed" when these activities occur. You need to be aware of these times and find something to replace your smoking, like gum chewing or sucking on a lollipop.

3. Psychological - I think this is why people screw up the most often. Smoking is a stress reducer. If you don't find something else to release the stress you accumulate during your daily routine, it will eventually store up until a breaking point and when you're placed in a stressful situation (family tragedy, road rage, lose your job) you'll surely crack and start all over again. Take up jogging, yoga, or become a Buddhist. Smoking is awesome because it helps chill you out. Find something else that does too.

By far the most successful aid my friends have used is the book, "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" by Alan Carr. He states that not finishing the book is one reason people continue to smoke. While I was reading it, I stopped smoking. But I stopped reading it and I still smoke. Everyone I know who has successfully quit has read it.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Set a goal to buy something special with the money you save.
And keep track of how much you are are saving, do not waste it.

My husband and I both stopped cold turkey when we got married. It just takes will power, we both smoked 2 packs a day.

I did chew the heck out of nicotine gum.

Failure means you quit trying. If you smoke one cigarette. Be done with it and go back to none. Get back on the wagon and keep on not smoking. You will not fail if you keep trying.

For five years after I quit I had to go to a sales meeting in Atlanta once a year and everyone smoked so I would have one at the airport waiting for the flight with everyone else.
By the fifth year they made me sick. Now I cannot stand the smell anywhere near me.

You can do it just have faith in yourself.

Answer 5

It all really comes down to how badly you want to quit. If u think you do but are unsure then you will never be successful.. Best thing to do is completely rid your self of smoking any where that is comfortable. Right now is perfect with it being cold outside. No smoking inside of anywhere. Even your car. Stand and be cold, it will discourage you from wanting to actually doing it.

Answer 6

I went to a nhs stop smoking clinic and was prescribed Champix tablets , Those combined with willpower and being in a group of people who are stopping with you have helped me to not have a cigarette for six days now, That`s the longest i have stopped smoking in 30 years and i dont intend to start again.

Alan

Answer 7

I used chantix for 8 weeks and quit. Your suppose to go 12 wks. but I had side affects. I have been smoke free since August 24,2007. This is my second time I quit and I will never smoke again. You can do it to if you really want to. But do for you and your health you will feel good believe me you will.

Answer 8

if you can get thru 4 days then your over the hump..chew gum,lollipops,start knitting anything that you will enjoy to keep you distracted...there is a new medication called chantix out on the market.you need a prescription from the doc.there is a man they call the "mad russian" (google his name) he uses bio energy. he is in massachusetts.my brother went to him and hasnt had a ciggarrette in 2-3 years.he was a heavy smoker!!! all you do is listen to this guy talk to you and a group of others that are trying to quit.he takes you into his office,a minute later you come out smoke free!! this guy has worked on some pretty famous people. just google his name the mad russian...good luck and god bless!

Answer 9

My dad stopped last year, and he tried all the methods but had no success. He found the best way to quit was to just go cold turkey, throw out all your ciggarettes and then you won't have anything to smoke.
Good luck
x

Answer 10

it's all about will power, how much do you really want to quit and really what are the benefits of smoking? I quit cold turkey and have never looked back.