Giving Up Smoking.. Help Wanted!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pacific
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Giving Up! Help Wanted!
How can I give up the dreaded weed? tobacco that is..
Down to 25 X 1mg a day, have tried to quit altogether, and have gone 6 months once. Seems the moment something awful or something really good happens I'm back on them again.
Any "quitters" in here? How'd you do it? Any suggestions I'd be grateful.
Down to 25 X 1mg a day, have tried to quit altogether, and have gone 6 months once. Seems the moment something awful or something really good happens I'm back on them again.
Any "quitters" in here? How'd you do it? Any suggestions I'd be grateful.
Last edited by Hawk; 16th May 2003 at 05:50.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is all to do with will power, nothing else!
A variety of 'help aids' are available on the market, quite expensive too but they are simply crutches.
Once you have made your mind up you don't smoke then don't smoke! Pack all the ashtrays away, get rid of any cigarettes you may still have and then save the money you would have spent and plan to use it for something useful - you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you are saving, (I got a colour TV).
There are a whole stack of things in life that you simply wouldn't dream of doing - make smoking one of them.
There are no easy answers, as already said, it is will power and a desire to feel more healthy.
Best of luck!
A variety of 'help aids' are available on the market, quite expensive too but they are simply crutches.
Once you have made your mind up you don't smoke then don't smoke! Pack all the ashtrays away, get rid of any cigarettes you may still have and then save the money you would have spent and plan to use it for something useful - you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you are saving, (I got a colour TV).
There are a whole stack of things in life that you simply wouldn't dream of doing - make smoking one of them.
There are no easy answers, as already said, it is will power and a desire to feel more healthy.
Best of luck!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Rhode Island, USA
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I gave up smoking in 1987 the night I got engaged. Started again 12 years later when I found out she wanted a divorce. I quit on 12/31/02 and was fine for three months, multiple stresses all hit at once and I started to sneak em again. BUT since I had announced to all my friends and all the bartenders that I had quit, it was hard to sart up again. There is no secret to quitting, I just can't ever have another cigarette EVER. I take zyban to ease the crunchies it helps, but I realize that I can't ever have another.
For what its worth, when I quit the first time, I was relieved to be free of the expense, smell, and all the other stuff thats part of the ugly side of smoking. I look forward to getting there again. Keep trying.
Good Luck
For what its worth, when I quit the first time, I was relieved to be free of the expense, smell, and all the other stuff thats part of the ugly side of smoking. I look forward to getting there again. Keep trying.
Good Luck
Gave up 16 years ago as well - you just have to grit your teeth and bear it. About 9 month to 1 year after quitting I found the hardest. I can't stand cigarette smoke now - and seem to be able to smell it from miles away!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Behind the P2
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best help I ever got was from my Doc!
"I will sign you off this time, but if you come back in 6 months, sorry! no medical"
Made up my mind that I don't smoke anymore, hard for about three weeks, but stayed determined. Now I hate the smell, dirty ashtrays, lingering whiff on clothes, smoky breath....yeah I'm a reformed smoker, a real pain in the ass where the weed is concerned.
If you are offered a cigarette, say "I don't smoke", not "oh! I just gave them up" less pressure and makes you feel a little better. Stick at it.
"I will sign you off this time, but if you come back in 6 months, sorry! no medical"
Made up my mind that I don't smoke anymore, hard for about three weeks, but stayed determined. Now I hate the smell, dirty ashtrays, lingering whiff on clothes, smoky breath....yeah I'm a reformed smoker, a real pain in the ass where the weed is concerned.
If you are offered a cigarette, say "I don't smoke", not "oh! I just gave them up" less pressure and makes you feel a little better. Stick at it.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try "The Easyway" by Allen Carr. Lots of my mates have used it and the success rate is high.
www.allencarrseasyway.com/main.htm
www.allencarrseasyway.com/main.htm
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: tracy island
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
gave up in 1996-got a nicorette pen type thingy with a cartridge and just sucked it all day long.. pretty soon i did nt need the cartridge and bang..it just happened..its something to do with your hands .. after that even when u feel like it the craving goes after a minute or two and for the rest of the time you dont even think about..they say the system begins to flush after 24 hours and in 7 days you have a gained a day on your life
good luck.. oh reckon i also saved about 8400 quid possibly??
now to sort out that last beer before home problem
good luck.. oh reckon i also saved about 8400 quid possibly??
now to sort out that last beer before home problem
Guest
Posts: n/a
Paintbox,
I quit 13 years ago (took 3 attempts) from 20-30 Camels a day.
The thing I really remember was that, after the first couple of weeks when the physical addiction was broken (that was the easy bit!), I had to seriously change my habits to avoid those occasions / situations where the mental craving was at it's highest.
I avoided pubs for (quite) a while, I got up after eating instead of sitting back and craving the delightful post-prandial ciggy. It worked.
I also allowed myself any food anytime anywhere to get over the cravings - black olives and tortilla chips seemed to hit the back of the throat in a vaguely satisfactory way!
As others have said, having a specific (tangible) use for the money you save is another good thing - I spent my money on learning to fly gliders.
Scare yourself - go visit a cancer ward. My mother (still) works at a hospital that specialises in treating cancer patients and she was happy to facilitate a visit for her son, believe me!
Look forward to being a smug b*****d ex-smoker!
Whatever works for you, I wish you every success
Good luck!
SD
I quit 13 years ago (took 3 attempts) from 20-30 Camels a day.
The thing I really remember was that, after the first couple of weeks when the physical addiction was broken (that was the easy bit!), I had to seriously change my habits to avoid those occasions / situations where the mental craving was at it's highest.
I avoided pubs for (quite) a while, I got up after eating instead of sitting back and craving the delightful post-prandial ciggy. It worked.
I also allowed myself any food anytime anywhere to get over the cravings - black olives and tortilla chips seemed to hit the back of the throat in a vaguely satisfactory way!
As others have said, having a specific (tangible) use for the money you save is another good thing - I spent my money on learning to fly gliders.
Scare yourself - go visit a cancer ward. My mother (still) works at a hospital that specialises in treating cancer patients and she was happy to facilitate a visit for her son, believe me!
Look forward to being a smug b*****d ex-smoker!
Whatever works for you, I wish you every success
Good luck!
SD
Guest
Posts: n/a
The way I did it was to avoid situations where I would be offered a cigarette, for example the pub. But what I found was that after a few months of not smoking, I accepted the offer of a cigarette and found that when I took that first draw, I found it repulsive and immediately put the cigarette out. I was a little annoyed for accepting the cig but at the same time was so glad to find that having once yearned for them, I could not stand them anymore.
I know that the cravings can make you feel bad at times, but think how good you WILL feel when you can say that you HAVE given up!
Best of luck.
I know that the cravings can make you feel bad at times, but think how good you WILL feel when you can say that you HAVE given up!
Best of luck.
Flies for fun
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I gave up smoking dozens of times, then one day after visiting the doc for a cough problem, he gave me a prescription that he said "would clear up the problem very quickly" On my way to the chemist, I looked at the prescription to see how many items were listed and on the otherwise blank prescription form was written "stop smoking immediately" I took the hint and the next day told everybody that I had given up smoking and that if they saw smoke issueing from me then I was on fire and would they please put out the fire with a bucket of water! Being in the construction industry, I knew that my collegues would assist in that way. I then took to dental floss, mouthwash and breath fresheners, the flossing replace the ritual lighting up aftera meal, the mouthwash/breath fresheners replaced the taste which is often why smokers light up a weed directly after a drink or meal.
I then took to dental floss, mouthwash and breath fresheners, the flossing replace the ritual lighting up aftera meal, the mouthwash/breath fresheners replaced the taste which is often why smokers light up a weed directly after a drink or meal.
Psychophysiological entity
From a crusader
Smoking ruined 40 years of my mother’s life. The last 15 years, my wife and I would regularly lug O2 cylinders to her flat and dole out the nebulizer refills. She was a highly intelligent person who gave up 20 years ago……but it was too late.
Just say - I don’t smoke.
However, you will not only want to eat more, and you will also convert more from the food you eat (to fat if you are not careful). It’s a double whammy. Don’t use food as a prop.
Good luck.
Smoking ruined 40 years of my mother’s life. The last 15 years, my wife and I would regularly lug O2 cylinders to her flat and dole out the nebulizer refills. She was a highly intelligent person who gave up 20 years ago……but it was too late.
Just say - I don’t smoke.
However, you will not only want to eat more, and you will also convert more from the food you eat (to fat if you are not careful). It’s a double whammy. Don’t use food as a prop.
Good luck.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK/NZ
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good luck on giving up smoking.
I am a non smoker so don't know what its like to give up. However, I have worked for 12 years in casualty and for some time in health promotion instructing in smoking cessation. As such I have not only seen the results of smoking diseases but witnessed incidents like people who have had a cancerous lung removed sitting outside the hospital smoking; people with a tracheostomy smoking through the hole in their neck and people bringing asthmatic children into the department whilst smoking above them! Children of smokers are 10 times more likely to be smokers themselves.
Different methods of quitting suit different people - if you smoke for the nicotine rush then you need the patches to wean yourself off it. A friend of mine swears by the nose spray that gives an immediate nicotine rush. If you miss not doing something with your hands then go for the replacement cigarettes. Then there is always Zyban. Apparently it works pretty quickly and works on the messages to the brain so removes the desire to smoke. However, I have heard reports that it can make you very depressed - although withdrawal from smoking may give the same symptoms!
The first couple of weeks are hell but it gets better after that. You need to plan an appropriate day in advance, one where you are not likely to be stressed and tell everyone. If you go anywhere new tell them you're a 'non smoker'.
Why not keep us updated on how it's going on the site?
Laurie
I am a non smoker so don't know what its like to give up. However, I have worked for 12 years in casualty and for some time in health promotion instructing in smoking cessation. As such I have not only seen the results of smoking diseases but witnessed incidents like people who have had a cancerous lung removed sitting outside the hospital smoking; people with a tracheostomy smoking through the hole in their neck and people bringing asthmatic children into the department whilst smoking above them! Children of smokers are 10 times more likely to be smokers themselves.
Different methods of quitting suit different people - if you smoke for the nicotine rush then you need the patches to wean yourself off it. A friend of mine swears by the nose spray that gives an immediate nicotine rush. If you miss not doing something with your hands then go for the replacement cigarettes. Then there is always Zyban. Apparently it works pretty quickly and works on the messages to the brain so removes the desire to smoke. However, I have heard reports that it can make you very depressed - although withdrawal from smoking may give the same symptoms!
The first couple of weeks are hell but it gets better after that. You need to plan an appropriate day in advance, one where you are not likely to be stressed and tell everyone. If you go anywhere new tell them you're a 'non smoker'.
Why not keep us updated on how it's going on the site?
Laurie
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: HON121º/14 NM
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I decided to stop being a smoker, and most of the process was about wanting to be free of the control of a stupid little packet of paper tubes. Have you ever noticed how those things CONTROL your life. You can not leave the house without them, everytime you go somewhere you have to stop en route to get some more, etc, etc etc.
As someone else said it is mostly about will power. But I felt I needed something to reinforce my decision and settled on hypnotism. It didn't cost alot, but cost enough to make me think twice about whether I would ever want to have a fag again if I went through with it. I had the hypnotism course just over 3 years ago, and haven't even nearly wanted one since.
I would like to say that stopping was the best thing I have ever achieved in my life, if it wasn't for the fact that starting was the stupidest.
I wish you every sort of strength in stopping. You can do it: lesser men and women have achieved more.
As someone else said it is mostly about will power. But I felt I needed something to reinforce my decision and settled on hypnotism. It didn't cost alot, but cost enough to make me think twice about whether I would ever want to have a fag again if I went through with it. I had the hypnotism course just over 3 years ago, and haven't even nearly wanted one since.
I would like to say that stopping was the best thing I have ever achieved in my life, if it wasn't for the fact that starting was the stupidest.
I wish you every sort of strength in stopping. You can do it: lesser men and women have achieved more.
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: gone surfin'
Age: 58
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paintbox, what people tend to forget is that the old weed tastes and makes you feel sooooooo good !
Or that's how your mind seems to work.
Actually, the nicotine doesn't make you feel good, the withdrawal makes you feel lousy, the fag just helps you feel normal again. That's why that first one in the morning tastes so good.
Try and steer clear of the doom and gloom folk. You are addicted to a chemical as powerful (and ? as dangerous) as heroin, and you need help with your addiction, not telling off.
It looks like you have reached the most important stage, you actually want to give up. There are some good hints and tips contained within this thread, and if you perform a search within pprune, you will find lots of solid advice.
There are many interventions which may be of use to you. Nicotine replacement therapy (gum/inhalator/patches/lozengers) and zyban (a drug which helps with cravings) can help. Accupuncture, hypnosis, herbal therapy are not likely to help.
I'd be a little careful with zyban (chemical name buprpion) if you are currently flying. It can induce fits in some succeptible people, and I expect that it is contra-indicated for pilots.
Have a chat with your local community pharmacist/GP/practice nurse. Smoking cessation is meant to be a government priority, and there is lots of help out there. Good luck.
Or that's how your mind seems to work.
Actually, the nicotine doesn't make you feel good, the withdrawal makes you feel lousy, the fag just helps you feel normal again. That's why that first one in the morning tastes so good.
Try and steer clear of the doom and gloom folk. You are addicted to a chemical as powerful (and ? as dangerous) as heroin, and you need help with your addiction, not telling off.
It looks like you have reached the most important stage, you actually want to give up. There are some good hints and tips contained within this thread, and if you perform a search within pprune, you will find lots of solid advice.
There are many interventions which may be of use to you. Nicotine replacement therapy (gum/inhalator/patches/lozengers) and zyban (a drug which helps with cravings) can help. Accupuncture, hypnosis, herbal therapy are not likely to help.
I'd be a little careful with zyban (chemical name buprpion) if you are currently flying. It can induce fits in some succeptible people, and I expect that it is contra-indicated for pilots.
Have a chat with your local community pharmacist/GP/practice nurse. Smoking cessation is meant to be a government priority, and there is lots of help out there. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pacific
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everyone, bit of a surprise with all the replys! I'm going to go back and have a more thorough read later. What I've done so far is a visit to my doctor. He's sent me to a psychologist and have had two sessions of hypnosis. Two weeks and one day... and am not missing them so far, I have to do a few minutes relaxation first thing in the morning with some visualisation I've been taught. So far so good and have not been tempted.
I am going back to see the replys later..thanks in advance.
I am going back to see the replys later..thanks in advance.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: He's on the limb to nowhere
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hypnosis is good stuff. Learn to self-hypnotise and it will help you relax and provide all sorts of other beneficial effects too.
I tried many times to give up the foul habit but it's real tough. Eventually I realised the problem was I really quite enjoyed it, and I was so totally addicted I could not believe myself when I said I would never have another cigarette again. Essentially I knew I was fooling myself when I decided to give it up, again.
So I told myself I'd have another one tomorrow. To not have another cigarette today was do-able, in fact it made sense and I could believe myself. When tomorrow came, I fooled myself into thinking I'd have another one the day after. Tomorrow never comes!
So I was able to do all the normal things, never got cravings, and a year later when somebody offered me a ciggy I thought I had cracked it, and accepted. Within a week I was on twenty a day and hooked for another year.
So I did the tomorrow thing again, and it worked.
So never, ever, ever have another. I know very few people who have actually never had another cigarette after giving up. Some are "lucky" in that they can control their input, most sucumb now and again . I never could control it, so best thing for me to do is avoid them.
Strange thing is, when we go to one of those nasty smoky pubs they say we smoke several second-hand-smoke cigarettes, but I don't crave for them. So for me, and so I assume others, it is also a mind-game battle to be won. Other person's mileage may vary.
Gingernut,
You are addicted to a chemical as powerful (and ? as dangerous) as heroin
Nicotine is far more addictive than heroin. I've seen a few heroin addicts brought into hospital with nasty complications of their habit (usually a septicaemia due to poor injection procedures), and their heroin addiction is the easy part to manage. Animal studies would suggest the same.
I've also been taught that quite a few people get "addicted" to the diamorph given for pain relief after some surgeries. It is relatively easy to ween them off in a day or so, just don't let them know about it
Don't have a link to that, might be one of these old wive's tales.
Personally I think heroin is pretty safe in itself, but it does immense sociological (is that a real word?) harm to people. I used to walk around the streets with it in the old bag when doing house visits as a student, not sure if that sort of thing is done anymore. I also think I remember carrying twelve winchesters of high grade diamorphine around when I worked as a pharmacy boy in the hospital during a summer vacation. Always wondered how much that would be worth on the street
I tried many times to give up the foul habit but it's real tough. Eventually I realised the problem was I really quite enjoyed it, and I was so totally addicted I could not believe myself when I said I would never have another cigarette again. Essentially I knew I was fooling myself when I decided to give it up, again.
So I told myself I'd have another one tomorrow. To not have another cigarette today was do-able, in fact it made sense and I could believe myself. When tomorrow came, I fooled myself into thinking I'd have another one the day after. Tomorrow never comes!
So I was able to do all the normal things, never got cravings, and a year later when somebody offered me a ciggy I thought I had cracked it, and accepted. Within a week I was on twenty a day and hooked for another year.
So I did the tomorrow thing again, and it worked.
So never, ever, ever have another. I know very few people who have actually never had another cigarette after giving up. Some are "lucky" in that they can control their input, most sucumb now and again . I never could control it, so best thing for me to do is avoid them.
Strange thing is, when we go to one of those nasty smoky pubs they say we smoke several second-hand-smoke cigarettes, but I don't crave for them. So for me, and so I assume others, it is also a mind-game battle to be won. Other person's mileage may vary.
Gingernut,
You are addicted to a chemical as powerful (and ? as dangerous) as heroin
Nicotine is far more addictive than heroin. I've seen a few heroin addicts brought into hospital with nasty complications of their habit (usually a septicaemia due to poor injection procedures), and their heroin addiction is the easy part to manage. Animal studies would suggest the same.
I've also been taught that quite a few people get "addicted" to the diamorph given for pain relief after some surgeries. It is relatively easy to ween them off in a day or so, just don't let them know about it
Don't have a link to that, might be one of these old wive's tales.Personally I think heroin is pretty safe in itself, but it does immense sociological (is that a real word?) harm to people. I used to walk around the streets with it in the old bag when doing house visits as a student, not sure if that sort of thing is done anymore. I also think I remember carrying twelve winchesters of high grade diamorphine around when I worked as a pharmacy boy in the hospital during a summer vacation. Always wondered how much that would be worth on the street
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Nottingham,UK
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought this little book was quite useful:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...419754-8210240
Not too much bullsh!t, well-reasoned ideas and approach. Costs about the same as 20 fags...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...419754-8210240
Not too much bullsh!t, well-reasoned ideas and approach. Costs about the same as 20 fags...