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I sort of unconsciously picked up smoking during a stressful point in my life, and I realize now that it’s stupid and I’ve gotten rid of my cigarettes and I’m starting tomorrow to quit. During this past month I’ve smoked somewhere between 5 and 7 cigarettes a day. I have never felt addicted, necessarily, but I know I could be once I stop. I’m just wondering how hard it’s going to be, and how long the crappy feelings are going to last. Basically, I need some motivation and reassurance.
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#1 by Prime Time on June 8, 2010 - 10:51 PM
well when i quit smoking i use a simple method and that is if the cravings are strong try to substitute it with something sweet that helped me a lot.
#2 by MysticalG on June 8, 2010 - 11:43 PM
motivation:
your health, your looks, your smell, social exclusion
reassurance:
The longer you wait, the tougher it will be. If you’re apprehensive now, it’ll only be worse later.
Good Luck!
#3 by soberirishmanx on June 9, 2010 - 12:37 AM
well it took me about a month to become addicted to cigarettes so it could be hard. Now I smoke cigars because i’m not addicted to the nicotine, i just need the oral fixation and I don’t like chewing gum. Try chewing gum. If you are addicted don’t go cold turkey but try to take it down a notch every few days.
#4 by Dan J on June 9, 2010 - 12:38 AM
Don’t kid yourself. Smoking is awesome. We do it (or did it) for a reason. Read Allen Carr’s the Easy Way to Quit smoking. He had a great point of view that spoke to me while I was quitting. I was kind of sick to death of non-smokers blasting the whole ‘smell better, save money, good for health’ bs that I already knew. His book played down those reasons and made it way more personal. Good luck – it’s not as hard as doctors will have you believe!
#5 by benson.hard on June 9, 2010 - 1:16 AM
Top 10 Tips
1. Start with some pre-preparation by ensuring that you really do want to quit smoking and understanding why you smoke. Are these reasons powerful enough to motivate you when you are faced with those tricky situations? Write down your reasons for quitting. You may want to take a look at some of the benefits of quitting.
2. Set yourself a date for quitting. Try and choose a date that will be stress free but when you can find plenty to do to keep yourself busy. Try and set a date within about two weeks of reading this.
3. Ask your doctor for advice. This is especially important if you have health problems or are concerned about issues such as weight gain.
4. Consider finding yourself a quitting partner relatives, work colleagues and friends are a good place to start. Set a date to quit together and you will be able to give each other support.
5. Tell your family and friends about your intentions. Ask them for their support before you quit and explain that you may not be yourself while experiencing withdrawal. When you reach your quitting date rely on those that have been most encouraging for support.
6. Think about starting an exercise program and a sensible eating plan. Again speak to your doctor or dietician. Exercise will give you more energy and help you to relax and relieve stress.
7. You should know what triggers your desire for a cigarette, such as stress, the end of a meal, drinking in a bar, etc. Avoid these triggers while you are trying to quit or if that’s not possible, decide how you will deal with the triggers.
8. Decide what you will do when you experience cravings. As we’ve discussed deep breathing, a short walk and keeping you self busy will help to take your mind off the cravings. Perhaps you can think of other ways. Write them down. Remember these cravings will only last for 3-5 minutes at a time.
9. If you have tried quitting before maybe you came across a stumbling block which we have discussed such as finding something to do with your hands. If so, you need to arm yourself with a solution to these foreseeable problems. Get yourself a pen, or stress relief aid to fiddle with, if occupying your hands is a problem.
10. Be positive and confident you can quit. You have spent time and energy planning how you will deal with the task ahead. You can and will do it if you persevere. Ten of thousands of people are quitting every day around the world. You can be one of them.
#6 by Esha on June 9, 2010 - 2:12 AM
Nicotine is one of the most addictive, harmful and widely available drugs in the world. Smoking is a bad habit and it is annoying and harmful to people who don’t smoke. Cigarettes are responsible for around 500,000 deaths each year.
Quitting smoking is not impossible
How to Quit Smoking
1. Get the strong determination to stop smoking. Consider making a list of the reasons you are thinking about quitting to shore up your determination. Specific, current, emotion-based reasons are better than factual, future-based reasons. For instance, “It’s embarrassing to ride the elevator at work smelling like a giant cigarette” is more motivating than “I don’t want to get cancer when I’m 60.”
2. Choose a specific quit date. Instead of trying to quit each year on your birthday or for your New Year’s Resolution, try quitting on a Monday! That gives you 52 chances in a year instead of just one -– making it more likely that you’ll succeed. The Healthy Monday Campaign, a non-profit national public health campaign associated with the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, encourages people to quit smoking and take other healthy actions on Mondays.
3. Between your decision to quit smoking and your “quit date”, do not smoke the same brand. The difference in flavors and chemicals will making smoking less enjoyable, but not intolerable. Switching brands also helps to ‘de-automate’ smoking, which can help you become more conscious of your habit and increase your chances for success.
4. Remove all tobacco products, like lighters and matches from your home and office. Also, don’t even keep a pack of cigarettes at your home, because it will make it easier to start smoking again.
5. Find a medication or a doctor to help you quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy is one option. Nicotine patches release a steady stream of nicotine into your bloodstream through your skin, and nicotine gum delivers nicotine through the lining in your mouth. Other forms of nicotine replacement therapy include nicotine sprays and inhalers that also work by delivering nicotine to your body. You may also want to try an e-cigarette, which delivers nicotine in vapor form. Alternatively, ask your doctor about prescription medications to help you quit.
6. Survive the first week. Use a cigarette substitute like mints, sunflower seeds, toothpicks, and coffee stirrers to help you get used to not smoking. When you were smoking, your mind and body became accustomed to the physical act of smoking, holding the cigarette in your hand, and putting it to your lips; using harmless substitutes eases the psychological transition to not smoking.
7. Get some facts. Look up smoking on the internet and find out the history behind it, and what happens to smokers later on in life. Also, get the facts about any quit-smoking product or technique you are considering, as research shows that some are more effective than others
SURE HOPE THIS HELPED