How to live without cigarettes?

Question

I've tried to quit soooo many times before but never succeeded for more than a couple of days. I have a child who I don't smoke around directly but I'm sure must be affected by it passively, I can't actually afford to smoke, and now I've developed a viral infection I find I can't actually breath properly and have been told I may well have asthma which I haven't had for years. Giving up nicotine doesn't seem that hard a thing to do, especially with all the nicotine replacement inhalers and gum etc.

But how do I live without cigarettes? What do I do when I'm stressed? What do I do when I need to take five minutes out to de-stress because my toddler's drawn on the walls? What do I do while I'm waiting for someone to show up?

It's not giving up the drug that bothers me, it's the habit.

This is all well and good in intentions - but can anyone answer the actual question?

I'm not quite sure how smoking can be considered "not a physical habit" given that I spend five minutes out of every waking hour of my day doing it. That's quite a large portion of my life I spend smoking.

To not do it anymore would be to no longer lead the life I lead and that's pretty damn big.

Telling me it's bad for me really isn't going to cut it is it? I already know that yet I continue to smoke.

So can anyone answer the actual question here please instead of just going on that smoking is bad for me so I must stop immediately?

Answer 1

i know exactly what you mean. it was smoking a ciggie after meals or with a cup of coffee that i found hardest, because it had become entwined in my life. The only thing i can suggest is to replace that part of your day to day routine with something else. If your toddler writes on the wall instead of grabbing a packet, i don't know, grab a book and read it to him/her or draw a picture. just find something that makes sense for you. If you're stressed, cook something or clean the room, do something positive to replace the worry of stress. the good thing is that you want to give up because if you don't want to and you quit because you feel you ought to, it never works. You'll find that you can become less dependant just by being positive. Best of luck.

Answer 2

That is a very smart and in depth question. Most people don't even realise it's the habit of having something to do that's hardest to break. Firstly, anytime you go to light one up, think about your child. Do you want them to get the health problems associated with this? Do you want them to learn smoking is alright and do it themselves? Obviously you have to learn other ways to deal with life, because life involves a lot of stress! I am not a smoker, but when I am stressed I always just try to turn it around and look at the positives. For example, if my child draws on the wall... It's only a wall, it can be cleaned or repainted, and how blessed I am to have her in my life. Or that there are worse things that could have happened, like she could have ran out on the road and been hit by a car or something, at least if she's drawing on the walls she's inside, she's healthy and happy. Usually I take a few minutes to take some deep breaths before explaining to the child what is wrong. Maybe try drinking a glass of water, chewing gum, having a shower, going for a brisk walk or ride on a push bike, ringing a friend... These are things that I sometimes do just as a distraction for a bit so I can realise that what has happened really isn't the end of the world. The other technique I use is the "how important will this incident be in ten years time?" I know that it's not going to effect my daily life later on if my child has drawn on the wall today. As for the waiting for people, try to be aware of what your thoughts are, I find a lot of smokers smoke because they can't handle their thoughts. I know a lot of people who only smoke when driving and can't figure out why, it seems to me that it's because they are forced to sit still and having nothing to do but think. Sometimes our subconcious thoughts are very destructive, but if you become aware of them, you can start to change them to something more postive. Aside from that, I have heard many people's success with hypnotherapy, might be worth a try. Good luck

Answer 3

When you're stressed, you go clean something. Do something consructive! It's just a filthy habit, especailly with a child. Whenever you THINK you need a cig, just look at your sweet baby. In two weeks, you won't even miss them anymore. You and your clothes will smell nice, and look at all the money you'll have saved!

It's a MENTAL and EMOTIONAL habit. Not a physical one. Just be strong for your child . All it takes is a little willpower. I've done it, and I'm proud to say, "I don't smoke." :)

Answer 4

Look at the alternatives, you have, +carry-on smoking, with an intensity of the conditions you have on going now, leading to eventual demise+.
, Or, get some sense into your head, if only for your child's sake,
For goodness sake you are an adult and, the mother of a child.
Pull yourself together, no one in this world can resolve this but you , And the options are laid out for you, in this posting.

Answer 5

I was a smoker of 40 a day, last year i wanted to try for another baby so i decided i would stop smoking to give my baby a healthy start as i smoked with my first born and he was born tiny, i never had any problems giving up and have been smoke free now for 15 months,, However my hubby as found it more dificault and failed with patches gum and all sorts of things but after being given a new drug called champix he has now succeeded and been smoke free for past couple of weeks, hes been trying to give up for years and failed but now im proud to say hes got there.. so speak to your dr about these..

Midnight~Angel :)

Answer 6

What did it for me was when my then 5 year old said he couldn't wait until he was old enough to smoke just like me. I thought of that every time I had the urge to smoke. Good luck to you, its very hard, but you can do it!!

You might also try putting the money that you would normally spend on cigarettes away, then use that money to reward yourself with something you normally wouldn't buy.

Answer 7

If you give yourself lung cancer and die your child won't have a mother.

You have the power to stop that happening.

So, what's it gonna be? Be there for your child? Or risk depriving your child of a mother?

If you love your child you will find a way to give up.

Answer 8

try as hard as you can to quit
just wean yourself off of them

Answer 9

No no no the question is how to live with cigarettes?

Answer 10

try patches .