Quitting Smoking - help and support

splishsplash

Morning quitters and hopeful quitters!
It's nice to see the new thread set up for help and support for those contemplating or starting the ultimate moneysaving venture - stopping smoking.
The spirit of help and support and the constructive advice on these threads were a huge help to me when I quit. I read every post of the Giving Up Smoking threads before I quit, as well as most of the linked sites in Sue's first post on this thread.
Hats off to you, Sue, for starting another thread - I think it's amazing that you are still willing to give of your time and effort to help total strangers on the internet in such a committed and constructive way.

Best of luck to all those starting out on their quit journey - it's soooo worth it!

The biggest change I've noticed since quitting is a sense of relaxation or letting go. It was the feeling of release from addiction and the little anxieties that went with it... having to make sure I had supplies for the next day before going to bed, planning journeys or days out to make sure I could feed my addiction, making sure I could finance my addiction - all the little rituals that just make up part of the smoker's day. Now that they're gone and forgotten about, I have a real sense of freedom which is very liberating - odd as that may sound!

I hope those starting out can take the leap - you can do it, even though you may think you can't - it is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your families :beer:.

My Silkquit stats, although I've just realised I should adjust the figures to reflect the last price increase :
18988 cigarettes not smoked,
saving €8,212.34.
Life saved: 9 weeks, 2 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes.

pondskater_2

Wow Splishplash, how inspiring, you must feel absolutely wonderful - and just a tad wealthier :T

Lippycow

karmacookie wrote: »

Wow Lippy, well done 14 months! I love reading posts like yours, gives me hope that I'll stay off the ciggies for good this time

If it's any help and inspires you more i smoked for 40 years on 25 to 30 ciggies a day...take everyday as it comes and alway pat yourself on the back and you will get there GOOD LUCK:-)

esmecullen

Reporting that as from today I have stopped smoking for 3 months 22 days and avoided 1,356 cigarettes

Former_MSE_Andrea

Afternoon everyone

I feel a little sad this "mutual support" thread is causing so many issues for you guys and for us, there are a lot more important things in life.

So, I've put a suggestion to Sue that I think would work.

Much like Cinema Free Ticket Codes Only and Cinema Free Ticket Discussion on the Freebies board, let's have one thread for "giving up smoking tools" only and one for "support only" with no mention, directly or indirectly of any the tools, whatever they are. If you want to point someone to a particular tool, add it to the tools thread then paste the link in here, once only.

The links in Sue's first post would be used to start the Tools only thread.

You'd simply help and support each other by keeping your morale up, discussing how your day's been, adding your "xx days since giving up" milestones etc.

Thoughts?

mandz1

Hi everyone, been meaning to post and everytime i come on, i either forget or get carried away doing something else.

Havent had time to fully read through so will do that tonight i promise.

I havent been too bad, been really positive and trying not to think about smoking, although on a couple of occasions i could have gone and brought some because of stress. but i havent, nearly at a month and i have never been there. Every other time i have quit, i have only ever managed 3 weeks.

Right need to pick son up from school so better get off here before im late

Erme

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Afternoon everyone

I feel a little sad this "mutual support" thread is causing so many issues for you guys and for us, there are a lot more important things in life.

So, I've put a suggestion to Sue that I think would work.

Much like Cinema Free Ticket Codes Only and Cinema Free Ticket Discussion on the Freebies board, let's have one thread for "giving up smoking tools" only and one for "support only" with no mention, directly or indirectly of any the tools, whatever they are. If you want to point someone to a particular tool, add it to the tools thread then paste the link in here, once only.

The links in Sue's first post would be used to start the Tools only thread.

You'd simply help and support each other by keeping your morale up, discussing how your day's been, adding your "xx days since giving up" milestones etc.

Thoughts?

Thanks for that Andrea....love the clarification ...anyhow that would only work if e-cigs were allowed to be discussed to some degree alongside other methods. There has been a lot of reporting recently o here for no more than mentioning e-cigs. It's a tad childish TBH...

Maybe you should remind folk of no personal slander or implying personal slander? Just a thought? (a) it has legal implications for the forum and (b)it's hard enough quitting the cigs without some squabbling on what is a supposed to be a supportive thread.

Like basic rules of each thread on first page...

For example - quitting cigs is hard enough - be respectful. What may work for you may not work for others. Doesn't mean it's the 'best' way to quit cigs. Everyone is different.

Even reduction (and maintaining that) is a stepping stone. For some of you you'll be able to quit just like that. For other's it'll be baby steps whatever way you choose (self reduction, e-cigs, substitution, NRT). For some it'll be an overnight success - for other's a journey. Come share with us. The high's and the low's - we're here for you!

This is just my personal two pennyworth. Of course Sue's knowledge on going cold turkey will be inavailable as she really is an encyclopedia on that method. Also the side effects of quitting like weight gain etc and mood swings. But no one can know everything and that's where we all come in to support and be supported.

Everyone should know the options in full. If they've tried x, y and z and only managed 12 hours for example they should be informed that p is available whatever p is. Now there are some methods of quitting the cigs that I find culturally abhorrent. But it doesn't mean I'm going to condemn them. If it works for you. Great :T. I don't have to name them. I guess it's about respecting the individual and recognising we're adults and are free to make choices.

Praying my post won't be deleted over personal issues. If it offends anyone please PM me and I'll apologise/edit as appropriate or clarify by pm...

thanks

E

Lotus-eater

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Afternoon everyone

I feel a little sad this "mutual support" thread is causing so many issues for you guys and for us, there are a lot more important things in life.

So, I've put a suggestion to Sue that I think would work.

Much like Cinema Free Ticket Codes Only and Cinema Free Ticket Discussion on the Freebies board, let's have one thread for "giving up smoking tools" only and one for "support only" with no mention, directly or indirectly of any the tools, whatever they are. If you want to point someone to a particular tool, add it to the tools thread then paste the link in here, once only.

The links in Sue's first post would be used to start the Tools only thread.

You'd simply help and support each other by keeping your morale up, discussing how your day's been, adding your "xx days since giving up" milestones etc.

Thoughts?

I feel it's a little complicated, considering all we need is one thread open to everyone.

Maybe it could work, although I feel it may be a little difficult to talk about stopping smoking, without discussing any of the details.

Needstochange

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Afternoon everyone

I feel a little sad this "mutual support" thread is causing so many issues for you guys and for us, there are a lot more important things in life.

So, I've put a suggestion to Sue that I think would work.

Much like Cinema Free Ticket Codes Only and Cinema Free Ticket Discussion on the Freebies board, let's have one thread for "giving up smoking tools" only and one for "support only" with no mention, directly or indirectly of any the tools, whatever they are. If you want to point someone to a particular tool, add it to the tools thread then paste the link in here, once only.

The links in Sue's first post would be used to start the Tools only thread.

You'd simply help and support each other by keeping your morale up, discussing how your day's been, adding your "xx days since giving up" milestones etc.

Thoughts?

Well Im sorry but that just seems a long winded "solution" and no I probably wont be posting when that happens - no loss Im guessing.

It strikes me that some people have a lot more more power on this board than others which I guess is human nature but when they are able to start threads with a MSE rubber stamp that clearly go against the rules then I am sorry Andrea that is just wrong. Since when are any of us allowed to decide who can and who cant post on any thread?????

I am probably a bit unusual in that I am not an ecig user and never have been - I have give up cold turkey and did massively appreciate the support everyone inclucing the ecig guys gave me when I was feeling the pain.

Seems totally ridiculous to have more than one thread on the same subject and although I know you wont miss me I will not be getting involved in such games. Andrea please just ask Sue if you can to remove her rule that is blatantly against the rule of MSE (be nice to all moneysavers) and lets just have the one thread which may occasionally have debate over rights and wrongs or cold turkey, e cigs, Alan Carr whatever but hey we are adults and we can cope with debate.

Thats my thoughts for what they are worth - not much i guess

karmacookie

I couldn't agree with you more NtC, very sensible. Yes, why can't we debate alternatives? What works for one person will not always work for another, at least discussing all alternatives in one thread gives people who are really struggling sensible information, support and hope!

All that is needed is one thread where everyone's choices and opinions are respected!