Stopping Smoking

[nixie]

I've decided today is the day I finally kick the weed (fingers crossed).

I've tried in the past even lasted two years once but this time I'm determined.

Any tips would be helpful

[Ursa major]

Best of luck with this, nixie.


One method I've seen work is that the person giving up put aside the money they would have spent on cigarettes and used it to buy things for which they would otherwise not have the money.

In effect, they were rewarding themselves for giving up.

[springs]

I stopped 12 years ago. I used Allen Carr's book, and to this day i still say I'm not smoking today. that way, when I did give in once or twice, in the early days, I didn't feel I had to say I'd failed and go back on them.
I still refer to myself as a smoker who isn't having one today, cos I think the day I declare myself a non smoker I'll go out and buy some.
Oh, and it does, eventually, get to the point where you don't think about them anymore. It's hard to believe, but it does.

[The Judge]

Good Luck with giving up, nixie!

I've never smoked so I can't help directly, but a lot of habits arise out of... er... habit... What I mean is that the eg smoking takes place in a certain ritualised way, with the first coffee, or after leaving the pub, so it's not so much a need for the cigarette as a mental association ie coffee = lighting up. So it's important to avoid the associated activity.

Also, telling other people is a good idea, as not wanting to lose face by confessing you've failed is a big motivator in breaking habits.

[Boneman]

Apparently it takes 21 days to make a habit and 21 days to break a habit, and many smokers have said it was easier after three weeks. Every day, like a good car salesman, remind yourself why you want to give up - the health aspect, the financial aspect, the stupidity aspect, and the fact that you'll be out of an addiction the big industries induced, through no fault of your own...

Good luck.

ps: your clothes won't stink, your breath won't stink, your house won't stink, either...

[Ursa major]

You're not suggesting giving up is a... er... fabreeze, are you, BM?

[nixie]

Thanks for the tips. I did try the saving method before and it did work for awhile but then I started again. I like what Springs says about taking it one day at a time. So if I do occasionally lapse it doesn't mean I have to give up. I'm not using patches but one of those e cigs so I'll be able to keep my hands occupied.

[Ursa major]

An e-cigarette?

Then keep away from coaches: the security services are building up quite a head of steam in the run up to Sponsorfest 2012.

[Abernovo]

I gave up 13 years ago. Other than a couple of celebratory cigars a couple of years later, I've stuck with it. I told my friends not to offer me cigarettes. I also made a bet with one that I couldn't stay off them for six months. The prospect of winning £1 was nowhere near as strong as my stubborn streak for not admitting defeat!

In times of stress, I still occasionally think about a cigarette, but I can't stand the smell of them any more, so desire is cancelled out by revulsion.

[nixie]

Day two, and have not bite anyone's head of yet.

Still maybe some one will let me feed Wally today, goes looking for a spammer or two.

[gully_foyle]

I really sympathise Nixie, it really is hard, and talking about it doesn't help much. It has taken me many attempts, to the extent that giving up becomes easy. The most encouraging thing I can say is, when you get past that 3 week point mentioned above, you really do feel great.

[pyan]

Gave up seven years ago, after 33 years of up to 40 a day, and haven't had one since.
Two words: Nicotine Gum...

[hopewrites]

Best wishes and encoragement are about all I have to offer, but they are yours non-the-less.

I always find it amazing what the human spirit is capable of. How once one sets one's mind to something, one is (usually) the only thing that can stand in one's way of achieving it. I decided a few years back to quit quitting. It's been hard, and there has been more than one time where quitting was actually the better option for me, but the essence of my resolve remains, and that is to stop giving up on myself, to believe that I am capable of greatness, and have only to decide what I will use that greatness for.

[nixie]

Day 3 and so far so good. I tried the nicotine gum don't like it.

[Ursa major]

At least you didn't say you couldn't get it to light.