Can you give me any words of support or encouragement?

Question

I am trying to give up smoking after 25 years of it.
Today is my first day,i am taking nicotine lozenges and have been chewing gum like mad all day.
I'm just about ready to start climbing the walls now.
What can you say to encourage me not to light up?

Answer 1

Okay , first of all, it sounds like you are taking your own approach to this. Two forms of nicotine and using like mad. It sounds like you need a more proven and safer technique so you don't overload on nicotine. There is a 10 or 12 step program that is much healthier, and doesn't require drugs. But if you are going to go that route, I would make sure you talk to your doctor about what is the safest and most successful program he has found works. Also ask your druggist as he may have heard of some that have worked well. There are some more natural products that are less toxic to the body. In any case, you need to first distance yourself from friends and family who smoke as they won't be of any help, just be a temptation. Find the non-smokers in your life and ask them to help support you, be there when you need to call and then they can talk to you or take you out to distract you from thinking about it. Also , when ever the buttons go off, like sitting in the car, answering the phone, getting out of the car, having a cup of coffee, etc. instead of having a cig, replace it with another oral act. When getting up, instead of lighting up, brush your teeth, the taste of the mint is distracting, Or drink a glass of orange juice. At the other times, chew a regular stick of gum, or suck on a candy cane, or lollipop. eat a stick of celery with peanut butter. Something with flavor to give you satisfaction,and fool the cravings , with something else. Also if all else fails, put a bunch of cigarette butts in a bowl of hot water and put it on the kitchen table while you are eating your meals. It will turn your stomach so that you won't be able to stand the thought of a cigarette and even if you try it you'll gag at the taste. After a while you won't be able to stand the smell of cigarettes anywhere. I know you can lick this. Back in the "80's", my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told her , I wanted to have her around a lot longer. She asked how she could do that. I told her I wanted her to stop smoking. She said , "Can I have until New Years?" I said yes. She said , you must want something else. I said no that's the best gift you could give me. And she stopped on New Year's and never smoked again. Years later she was diagnosed with heart trouble , she is on medication and has only 20% of her pumping capacity, but is now 81 and still lives in the same house where she takes care of my 89 year old dad, and still keeps plugging, The doctor said, that if she hadn't stopped smoking when she did,she would have been gone ten years ago. So I know you can do it. You have to want it bad enough and not just for yourself , but for those you love. If it means giving up some friends and family, and the bars, then so be it until you've kicked the habit. My mom said that after just a short while , she couldn't stand the smell of cigarette smoke, and realized how good food tasted again. Her eyes looked clear and her beautiful blue, and her complexion looked healthier and younger. The damage starts reversing the second you stop. You should join a gym and start a healthier habit, that will help to erase the damages of smoking. Then you will be surrounded by healthy people, who will encourage you. Good Luck, you deserve this. I want you around for a long time too.

Answer 2

Well, that scare therapy some people are telling you did not help me either. In fact, it makes some people want to smoke more.

Ya know, think of it this way. You can do it. It's okay... the chewing of gum is okay. Think of happy things you can do with the money you're going to try to save. Yes, even if it's a small amount per month. Think about the places you might be able to go, to actually climb a wall (of stone or rock), and not because you need a smoke. Think about writing a short book about the adventure you want to have, after you make your goal. Do chores around the house or stay busy with your job. Keep your mind occupied at all times.

It's not much, but it's a start! Hey, man! Good luck! and God bless!!

Answer 3

The urge will eventually go away, just have some self discipline. That is all it takes, you have to personally be stronger than the addiction the drugs have on you. Want some motivation? Go to a hospital and see all the cancer victims that got there from smoking and see how they are suffering. Think of your health. Think of all the times you saw someone you thought was hot but they were turned off when you lit a cigarette. Think of your rotten breath and smell from the cigarettes. Think of the ash try odor of your home/car/clothes. Think of your stained teeth. Think of all the tobbaco execs in suits making millions from the addiction they got you hooked on.

Replace that habit with a healthy one, I chose working out. I now have a good body, and I'm 10% healthier and happier. Everytime you step outdoors, take a deep breath and think of the nice clean air going into your lungs instead a cloud of toxins. You are slowly killing yourself by smoking, this is not fiction but fact. And it's a slow death which will burden your family and love one's emotionally and financially. The real question is, why would you ever smoke again? Are you really that weak?

Answer 4

Go! Don't stop now. However, you might consider asking your physician for the new drug Chantix. I stopped smoking after two weeks of being on the drug. It stops the receptors in your brain from needing the nicotine, which is a drug, that the body craves. The medication is taken for only a few months and by that time smoking will cease. You will not have the cravings and climbing wall feeling either. But in the interest of your health and the health of those around you, don't give up. You can do it.

Answer 5

Good for you for trying! Hard to quit something as addictive as nicotine. The web has a lot of forums for online support:

http://whyquit.com/
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm
http://www.quitsmokingjournals.com/

Here are some tips:
Change habits that you associate with smoking. If you typically smoke while talking on the phone, talk in a different room, hold the phone in the other hand, or sit in a different chair. If you usually smoke while sitting in your favorite chair, avoid that chair for a while.

Keep busy. Take up a hobby, go to the movies, go for a walk, work around the house, call or visit friends, write letters, read a book, use online support message boards… the possibilities are endless. One ex-smoker we know of built a beautiful deck on the back of his house while he was quitting smoking!

Keep your hands and mouth occupied. Try sugarless mints or gum, toothpicks, cinnamon sticks, carrot and celery sticks, crushed ice, or water. Typing messages keeps their fingers busy and gets them support during a strong craving.

Good luck, and don't be discouraged if you need a couple of tries!

Answer 6

It'll be okay. Usually takes about 2 weeks to get the nocotine out of your system.
Find someone to talk to when you feel like you wanna smoke. Like a sponsor in AA. And try to remember the reasons you're quitting.. Not to mention how fliiping expensive cigarettes are. Think about NOT having to wake up the middle of the night for a cigarette. Think about NOT having your chest burn because it's been an hour since you smoked.
Think of how good you'll smell when the smoke isn't your cologne. And much better your breath will be for that special someone. If you have kids, think about playing with them and NOT wheezing after a few minutes. Think about NOT spending the end of you life in an oxygen tent.
Hope this helps at all. Fellow smoker.

Answer 7

That you are doing it for YOU, your health, you lungs won't look like burnt, tarry swiss cheese, you're not going to smell anymore, you'll have TONS of cash. If you feeling like smoking, take a walk. Have something to fidget with at all times. If you drink coffee in the morning with a cigarette, skip the coffee or take it on the go. If you smoke after dinner, take a walk after dinner. BTW: I HATE the gum- I was a patch girl, but they give you CRAZY dreams.

Make an appointment to get your teeth cleaned. Tell the receptionist, the hygenist, the dentist. Tell everyone and they'll all say "GOOD FOR YOU"

YOU CAN DO IT!

Answer 8

It's not easy, but it does get less hard. I quit 20 months ago after smoking for 23 years. Limit your time around people who smoke for now. Being around smokers makes it all that much harder to not light up. In a week or so, you'll smell the stench of a smoker (when they're not smoking) and you'll ask yourself, "Did I smell like THAT?" You'll cough less, breathe easier, and taste food better. Get rid of all cigs, put away your lighters and ashtrays, wash all of your clothes, hats, coats, gloves, towels, sheets, blankets, rug, and walls. It'll keep ya busy! No, really, getting rid of the stink and the grime on the walls will help you realize how dirty cigarette smoking can be. Once I cleaned the yellow film off my walls and ceilings, I didn't want to light up! If you're still reading, best of luck to ya!!

Answer 9

Distract yourself. Find something to do that interests you. Go for a walk, stay on the computer, research the bad effects of smoking, list the reasons why you quit, or call someone you know that has successfully quit smoking. What you are feeling now is uncomfortable but only temporary. Your cravings won't get worse but will continually lessen in severity.
(Think of how much money you'll save and what you could buy with that extra money.)

Answer 10

yay! you're doing better than me old chum. I've stocked up on the requisites but still haven't done it yet. Just think, you'll smell better, food will taste like it's meant to, you will be less likely to have blood clots developing, you're reducing the chance of horrible cancers, so get more nicotine into your body, go see the NHS stop smoking service and get patches and use those with your gum or lozenges, they really do work! stick at it, you'll do it when you're really ready. Having a stinking cold seemed to work for many of my friends, but I'm not suggesting you dash out and get one of those.