The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

jo1972

Franco, good luck mate This is the best opportunity for you to get back on the wagon. Just remember the good times when you weren't smoking ie. when you weren't craving, nice smelling clothes, no coughing, more money etc etc. Also it's getting bluddy cold out there and I don't envy anyone that has to stand out in the cold to smoke. Enjoy your trip and let us know how you got on when you get back.

Babes, have a chat with your GP or local cessation clinic, or even pharmacist. There will always be a NRT that is okay for you to use and it will help. Good luck whatever you do, just make sure you stick around and keep us updated

((((Tobruk)))) we are all here for you no matter what, you know that

Francophile

TOBRUK wrote: »

I know it may sound as a total cop out, but I think the reason I keep on smoking if I am totally honest and it is hard to admit is that I feel totally isolated and lonely - there I've said it!

That's the terrible thing about cigarettes. You feel like they are your little friend when in fact they are your worst enemy. Can anything be more evil.

TOBRUK

Francophile wrote: »

That's the terrible thing about cigarettes. You feel like they are your little friend when in fact they are your worst enemy. Can anything be more evil.

Francophile, that is exactly it! I didn't like to say it but that is exactly how I feel, as everyday is the same for me and the days are so long .... I have my friend!!!:eek: I hate it - every time I light up (which is more often now) I think why am I doing this! Every packet of tobacco I buy I say to myself this is the last time I am buying it - no more!

Francophile

TOBRUK wrote: »

Francophile, that is exactly it! I didn't like to say it but that is exactly how I feel, as everyday is the same for me and the days are so long .... I have my friend!!!:eek: I hate it - every time I light up (which is more often now) I think why am I doing this! Every packet of tobacco I buy I say to myself this is the last time I am buying it - no more!

I think smoking is like being an alcoholic. At some stage you end up at the bottom of the pit and the only way is up (unless you're dead). One day you'll know that the only thing to do is stop for good. I hope it is soon for you and me and everyone else that's trying to stop.

TOBRUK

The funny thing is though, I have taken the comfort factor out - since August I have not smoked in the living room ... you know sitting in front of tv, cup of coffee and a smoke! Had the lounge painted, washed everything including curtains, nets, sofa covers etc and banned maself from from smoking there! I have been strict with myself and haven't smoked there in comfort since although it is my house and could do anything I like in it!

TNG

Francophile wrote: »

I think smoking is like being an alcoholic. At some stage you end up at the bottom of the pit and the only way is up (unless you're dead). One day you'll know that the only thing to do is stop for good. I hope it is soon for you and me and everyone else that's trying to stop.

That's exactly right, Francophile :T :T

The sooner you work out that you are in the pit, the sooner you will be able to start climbing out.

This is why I recommend to anyone who will listen (and even some that won't) that you should read up as much as you can about the nature of smoking, in order to fully understand it. Once you fully understand it, you are best equipped to defeat it

JoeHel

Have to agree with TNG. The only way is to read as much as you can and understand properly the demon nicotine!! When I finally saw myself as a drug addict and realised that ciggies did absolutely NOTHING else for me, it all clicked.

And I do understand that it's hard when you're on your own. But I've done it and I live with TWO SMOKERS! So I'm sat in my lounge now with them both puffing away. I could have one any time I like but I would honestly now rather throw myself out of the window. It's a faster and less painful way to kill myself.

Who wants to spend the rest of their life feeling like a leper everywhere they go - having to stand outside pubs in the rain and snow - having non-smokers look at you like you might as well be shooting up heroin in your arm and turning their noses up at how you smell - panicking when you get home from the pub to realise you've only got 2 ciggies left (how far would YOU walk to the nearest 24 hour garage?!)

The only thing I can say to ANYONE who's feeling scared is just try for 3 days to do without any form of nicotine. The calmness you feel on day 4 is just heaven!!!! Life gets better every day and I'm never touching those revolting things again!!

Francophile

TOBRUK wrote: »

The funny thing is though, I have taken the comfort factor out - since August I have not smoked in the living room ... you know sitting in front of tv, cup of coffee and a smoke! Had the lounge painted, washed everything including curtains, nets, sofa covers etc and banned maself from from smoking there! I have been strict with myself and haven't smoked there in comfort since although it is my house and could do anything I like in it!

I've done the same Tobruk. No one but me knows that I am smoking now so you can imagine how limited the number of places I can have a cigarette. I can't smoke at work and I can't smoke at home as my DH and the children all think I've stopped. Believe me there is absolutely no comfort or pleasure to be got from the cigarettes I smoke these days which begs the question
WHY AM I STILL DOING IT !!!!!!

JoeHel

Francophile wrote: »

I've done the same Tobruk. No one but me knows that I am smoking now so you can imagine how limited the number of places I can have a cigarette. I can't smoke at work and I can't smoke at home as my DH and the children all think I've stopped. Believe me there is absolutely no comfort or pleasure to be got from the cigarettes I smoke these days which begs the question
WHY AM I STILL DOING IT !!!!!!

Mate, you have answered your own question there really haven't you?! Just find ONE thing about smoking which makes all that worthwhile and you wouldn't mind so much, eh. But the trouble is, there isn't a single thing is there....!! There is no "upside" to smoking. Those 3 days of withdrawal to get "clean" from nicotine weren't anywhere near as difficult as I thought they would be, but there was a small element of discomfort - a bit of a niggling "itch" when I wanted a fix - which disappeared within minutes if I made myslf think about something else. But you are putting yourself through "day one" EVERY SINGLE DAY! You already suffer far worse than I went through once, but you do it EVERY DAY!

You know the answer to why you do it - you are a drug addict. That's the only reason any of us have ever smoked. But I promise you it is SO EASY to get yourself off that drug. Just 3 days without nicotine and it's gone from your system. You will feel calmer, cleaner and so much more in control.

Show your kids you can do it. Otherwise, what will you say to them when they come home one day and tell you they've started smoking?

FrugalJo

I'm still here agreeing with JoeHel, nodding as I read Franco's posts and at the same place as Tobruk.

I said - way back in March - that in 12 months I didn't want to be struggling with this nicotine addiction in a years time. Well I still am. I actually bought a packet of 14 on Friday, it's creeping up again.

Everytime I stop (and usually only lasts 10 hours during the day) I look at it like a fight, it's not a fight. It shouldn't get that far.

The minute I let the idea that I can have 'just one' into my thoughts I 'm on a slippery slope. Like Tobruk when I'm out of cigarettes I think right that's it.
That little seed of doubt pops in and slowly knaws at me.

Damn things.