I've GOT to give up smoking

dundeedoll_2

Wow..............what an excellent post ailuro2

patchwork_cat

crumblepie wrote: »

ps I'd read the Alan Carr book three times and it didn't work for me.

Well it wouldn't, but you would have a good laugh!! ( Alan Carr is the comedian, Allen Carr is the give up smoking guru!)

gordikin

OP I had a heart attack on the 3/11/2010...I stopped smoking on that date (was on 50/week) as I don't want to be dead anytime soon. I'd until that date been a very healthy individual, rarely visiting my GP. For the 1st 3 months after my heart attack I was on 11 tablets/day + first 5 days of injections straight into my waist/bell. OP how soon do you want to die?....because that's what it's about really.

ailuro2

gordikin, well done for stopping. Hope you're feeling the benefits already.

I did a first aid course last year, the defibrillator instruction thing was a part of it.
I was amazed when they told the class that there's only ever a 5% chance of surviving a heart attack, and even in a hospital with a crash team at the bedside that only rises to 10%.
It made me realise how lucky my father was to have survived two.

ab7

I gave up 2 years ago when I couldnt afford the kids presents for xmas here's what worked for me - for the early days, I took it a minute at a time. Later, it was an hour at a time, then slowly I discovered that I hadnt thought about it at all :j. Thing was when money did even out, I found I just couldnt justify all that money on ciggies.
First few days are tough, but not life threatening . Lots of fruit juice and be kind to yourself.
Another thought is would you expect someone to get into a car and just know how to drive? Your brain is the same when it comes to giving up nicotine. You need to relearn how to not have them. I've read somewhere that withdrawal has something to do with the natural seratorin (happy chemical) in the brain, and that the nicotine takes away the brains need to make this, so when you give up suddenly it needs to do it by itself.Thats why the panic and craving happens. Thats also why you need to be good to yourself to for the first few weeks.
Instead of panicking about the things you will lose, focus on the pride you will feel after even a few days, and the pride your family will feel. My kids are still chuffed with me with giving up, and cant imagine me smoking again. Thats pretty :cool: for me. :T
Good luck and congrats - seems to me that you are for the first time questioning your usual arguments - always a good sign and tends to mean you will soon give up for good :beer:

Jess_B

I have decided Friday is my quit day (again!) I've been to Boots for patches and inhailer and I am ready for it. I you want a quit buddy then PM me!

I quit before in 2005 becasue I wanted to get pregnant, I didn't smoke again till I stopped breast feeding my daugher at 6 months old. I hated myself for starting again, but it was just the odd one for a while until it became an everyday thing again.

I am going to do it for health, money and family reasons.

Good luck xxx

building_with_lego

ailuro2 wrote: »

Nowadays there are tonnes of things to help you quit. But I will always maintain that it is only love for someone else that will keep people stopped when it gets to the tough bits... 3 weeks in when you first venture out to the pub and really want a ciggie, and 3 or 4 months in when you've had a bit of a roll in the hay and really miss those post coital ciggies lying in bed...
after a while it all disappears and you realise one day that you're an ex-smoker and it dawns on you that smokers really do smell bad, and that you've not had to wash down the woodwork in the house for months, that you won't need to decorate as soon as you would have before.. but best of all you do something a bit strenuous and it doesn't take your breath away like it did before, even though you hadn't noticed the difference until you quit.

:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

That's it, really, in a nutshell.

Lifesaver

Errata wrote: »

Champix has the highest success rate for smoking cessation. Available on a prescription from GP's

It hasn't actually, as per the Smoking Cessation Nurse, it takes away the cravings without any effort from the smoker, when they stop the tablets they invariably start smoking again.
The best success rates are with patches and inhalaters.

I dont know anyone that has sucessfully stopped for a prolonged period following the cessation of Champix.

I stopped 12 months ago with patches and inhalaters - but, God, I could murder a fag!

jessicamb

Allen Carr and a hypnosis CD

OP you say that you have to give up smoking but I think it only works if you want to. The excuses are exactly that! If its not the money think about the control - that you get your life back rather than being ruled by nicotine. The stressful situations etc - well you will still have them even when you dont smoke anymore so no need to wait to stop (and its stop not quit - quitting sounds like you are leaving something behind).

If it helps I read the AC book, listened to a hypnosis cd a couple of times and have never wanted to smoke a cigarette since.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stop-Smoking-One-Hour-once/dp/0007104065/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302044057&sr=8-1

bacardi66

Good luck with stopping! I can't believe I finally stopped smoking NYE 2009 and if I can do it you can too!

By the time I stopped I was down to between 5 and 10 a day so the financial incentive wasn't as big as it is for someone who smokes 20+ a day. I had smoked for 19 years - didn't want to get to 20! Stopping isn't hard, its staying stopped that really tested me.

Like you I had certain fags I though I could never give up, particularly after a meal and with a drink, but now it doesn't even cross my mind. I had never been a massive tea drinker but started substituting fags with cups of tea, it took the smoking habit away and has now given me a new habit but hopefully one that won't be as detrimental to my health! I read somewhere that a glucose tablet would replace the "hit" of a cigarette so for a few weeks I did try this at times too. I also got one of those inhalator things with nicotine in it but only used it when I was very stressed, drunk or with smokers!

Now I can't imagine smoking, when I walk past smokers or and out with them just the smell of it makes me feel sick, I can't believe how much I must have smelt too. Its only when you stop you realise how disgusting the smell is, I think also as an ex smoker you are so much more aware of it than someone who has never smoked. When Im at work and someone walks in from a fag break I can't believe how bad they smell!

Its also now so hard to smoke anywhere, I used to smoke in restaurants, pubs, clubs, people's houses, at work etc etc now all this is illegal and its such a hassle in the winter to go outside and smoke, its so nice to feel free of that.

I signed up for the NHS stop smoking quit pack which was quite helpful and also went on the NHS Stop Smoking forums which were very supportive.

Years ago I did read Allen Carr and stopped for 7 months but so far this has been the longest stop. Im hoping its permanent this time but Ill never get cocky about it as I know people who have suddenly started again after 4, 8 and even 10 years of giving up!

Just go for it and take it an hour at a time, then a day at a time, then a week at a time. I really can't tell you how lovely it is to be free of such a revolting habit that had me completely under its spell for so many years! I still have dreams where Im smoking and am so happy when I wake up and realise it was only a dream!

Good luck