Quitting smoking cold turkey isn't working for me...

[shocksyde]

I've probably tried 10 times in the past 2 years to quite smoking, but it just never works. I'd like to consider myself a strong-willed person, but I guess when it comes to smoking, I'm as weak as the next guy.

Anyone have suggestions? What's worked for you?

 

[Raiden256]

The new drug Chantix is supposed to be awesome. It's helped several people I know quit, when nothing else has. Some of them smoked for decades...

 

[tennesota]

I quit smoking almost nine years ago, it will be 9 years on Jan 4, 2008.

Of all the bad habits I've ever had during my lifetime smoking was by far the most difficult for me to break. I had many false starts and I tried two different brands of patches with mixed results.

Finally I decided I was done and quit cold turkey. It was difficult at first because I was so used to having a cigarette in my hand, and hanging out in social settings placed me in the midst of smokers. But after the first couple of weeks it was much easier because I was determined to remain smoke free.

I'm proud to say I have not smoked once in all those years and I hope I can maintain the non-smoker way for more years to come.

Good luck to you and anyone else who wants to break the habit.

 

[shocksyde]

I've seen those commercials, but haven't talked to anyone that's tried Chantix. Maybe I'll check that out.

Congrats, tennesota, I'm sure the feeling of pride that you beat your biggest demon is great. I hope I can do this, finally. It's been such a freaking burden.

 

[Kyle]

Chantix has been really helpful for a lot of people who use it...the patch/nic. gum/lozenge/zyban etc roughly double the success rate compared to cold turkey, chantix almost tripples the success rate compared to cold turkey.
About a third of the people that take it experience nausea, so be sure to take it w/ food/water if you do go that route.
What keeps tripping you up when you trying quiting? Is it just the physical cravings that come from nowhere, or is it particular situations/habits/emotions that bring you back to smoking. No matter what medication you choose, you will still probably struggle with the habit and emotional side of smoking. For most people it also takes behavioral changes as well.
Good luck...I'm sure you'll feel soooooo much better after you kick them...I started noticing the benefits w/in a week or 2.

 

[sgrinavi]

I've been quit since St. Patty's day 2001; from 3 packs of Marlboro Reds/day for 25 yrs to nothing without any drugs. Yes, it was difficult, but with a great support group it is very possible.

1. Join a support group, quitnet.com is actually funded by the ciggarette companies in certain states as part of that big law suit that went down a few yrs back. You will find dozens of friends there that quit the exact same day you do and will be going through the same thing.

2. Drink a TON of water, every time you want a smoke just pound a glass. It repaces a bad habit with a good one and speeds up the process of cleaning your sysytem out.

3. The physical 'need' for a smoke goes away in a few days if you flush your system, the psycological desire stays with you for a long time. To quell that you need to change your environment -- stay away from those things that trigger you desire for a smoke, take up a new INDOOR hobby, go to the gym, stay out of bars, stay away from your friends that smoke and anyone that tries to enable you to do so.

4. don't replace the habit with another bad one. i.e. eating or cigars....

5. The most common element with everyone that I have talked to regardess of the method used is that YOU have to want it BAD.

Good luck, you CAN do it!

 

[shocksyde]

Well, several factors make it hard for me.

1. Drinking. When I drink anything I feel like I NEED to smoke at the same time.
2. Roommates smoke. That doesn't help.
3. Gotten used to smoke breaks at work.

This is gonna be FUUUUUUUUN.

 

[marvdmartian]

I just celebrated 3 years cigarette free (yay!! ), and quit after I got so sick 3 thanksgivings ago that I literally could NOT smoke for 5 days. When I finally started breathing well enough to start back, all I had in the house was 1/2 of a cig I had started the previous week.

I lit that up, took two tentative puffs, tasted that nasty thing in my mouth, and immediately stubbed it out.....and haven't had one since!! It's amazing, but after 23.5 years of smoking at least a pack a day, that's all it took.....the smell and taste of a 1/2 smoked cig!!

Of course, I don't recommend upper respiratory infections as a method to quit smoking, but it did work for me!! :laugh:

Good luck to ya, OP!

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: shocksyde
Well, several factors make it hard for me.

1. Drinking. When I drink anything I feel like I NEED to smoke at the same time.
2. Roommates smoke. That doesn't help.
3. Gotten used to smoke breaks at work.

This is gonna be FUUUUUUUUN.

I am sorry to say that no amount of drugs is going to get you off that habit in that environment. It is an addiction, just like heroin or alcohol, you need to change people, places and things.

1. Don't drink
2. Move
3. Take a walk with a drink of water, soon your buddies will join you.

 

[Corn]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: shocksyde
Well, several factors make it hard for me.

1. Drinking. When I drink anything I feel like I NEED to smoke at the same time.
2. Roommates smoke. That doesn't help.
3. Gotten used to smoke breaks at work.

This is gonna be FUUUUUUUUN.

I am sorry to say that no amount of drugs is going to get you off that habit in that environment. It is an addiction, just like heroin or alcohol, you need to change people, places and things.

1. Don't drink
2. Move
3. Take a walk with a drink of water, soon your buddies will join you.

QFT

I was a pack a day Reds smoker for over 10 years and I quit a little over 10 years ago. Quit going out to the bars, quit drinking coffee, quit hanging out with friends who smoked. These were only temporary measures, after a year or so of not smoking I went back to coffee and could go to the bar without feeling tempted to smoke. The smell of smoke really because offensive to my senses.

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: shocksyde
Well, several factors make it hard for me.

1. Drinking. When I drink anything I feel like I NEED to smoke at the same time.
2. Roommates smoke. That doesn't help.
3. Gotten used to smoke breaks at work.

This is gonna be FUUUUUUUUN.

I am sorry to say that no amount of drugs is going to get you off that habit in that environment. It is an addiction, just like heroin or alcohol, you need to change people, places and things.

1. Don't drink
2. Move
3. Take a walk with a drink of water, soon your buddies will join you.

Yeah, I'm afraid I'd have to seperate myself from my current living situation. Which would suck, because my roommate is my best friend, but maybe it's necessary.

 

[Audiofight]

I was a 2 pack a day smoker 9 years ago. I used to inhale Malboro Reds. I worked 10 hr shifts and you could set your watch to me lighting up every 30 minutes.

In the evening, when I was drinking with my friends, I would light up and smoke a second pack within a couple hours.

I quit cold turkey one day when I was coughing up all sorts of nasty stuff.

Here's how I did it:

When you first start smoking you teach yourself how to smoke without touching the cigarette to your tongue so you don't actually taste it.

My way to quit was to reverse this trend. Crack open a new pack and mentally focus on the taste of each cigarette. I made sure to taste each one. By the time I finished that pack, I couldn't stand the taste anymore.

Like someone else mentioned, I now feel sick just smelling heavy cigarette smoke.

Good luck on making a great choice for your personal health!