The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

Beccatje

I'd like to be here to offer a little support if wanted and needed.

I've quit smoking at least 10 times in the past.
Cracked it now for almost 4 months and I am well pleased.

It is difficult at first yes, but there are a few tricks that I found worked this time around for me.

1: frame of mind!
I was utterly, well and truly, completely Fed up with being addicted!
I was so sick of spending all that money on that stuff!.. I was sick of wishing for a movie to be over so I could go outside and have a smoke. I was sick of wanting the meal with my family to be finished so I could go and have a smoke. I was sick of worrying about whether or not I had enough fags to last me through the weekend.

I no longer wanted to be addicted!

And so I quit. (again)
And I kept telling myself: I don't WANT to smoke anymore!

When the cravings hit and I felt like my blood was boiling, I kept repeating it to myself like a mantra. "I don't want to smoke anymore! I would much rather have an occasional craving than have the constant desire to stop smoking!"

And I don't mind a little weight gain half as much as I mind being addicted!

The cravings are just the screams and struggles of that Nicotine monster that's fighting his death battle. They ALWAYS pass! They will pass faster and faster as time goes on.

Remember that the first 4 days are the hardest. And every day that you spent not smoking is a fantastic day! Do whatever you have to do to get through those tough first 4 days. Keep busy, distract yourself. And after that it gets much easier.

Don't mope! Be happy!!
Because once you quit you will never ever have to suck on one of those disgusting, stinking little sticks again!

Imagine the relief! Never again will you have to go stand outside in the cold to suck your lungs full of poison! You can stay warm and comfy inside. You will never again have to interrupt a great dinner of conversation to feed your addiction. Never again will you have to feel embarresed about stinky clothes, bad breath and smelly hair! WHOOHOO!!! What a relief!!!

And when you have to go see a doctor and they ask THE question, you can smile and proudly say: "NO, I don't smoke!"

Imagine how good THAT will make you feel?

So kick that nasty little monster up the backside, and cheer up! You are free!

Becca

melbury

Beccatje wrote: »

I quit smoking (again) on sept. 3 of this year.
And so far I"m doing great!
I feel SO much better! That eternal cough I used to ahve is gone. No more panting going up the stairs, no more coughing after laughing. I can breathe deeply and freely now!
And I have NOT spent over 500 euro's on fags!

It's not always easy, but it can be done. Especially with some much needed, wonderful support from others in the same position!

If you have any questions, please feel free!

Becca

Did you just stop "cold turkey" or did you use patches, gum or something? How long until you stopped craving the filthy things? Would love to hear.

Thanks.

Beccatje

YellowmonkeY: WELL DONE!!!

I'll bet you feel GREAT! You have every reason to be proud of yourself!

Beccatje

melbury wrote: »

Did you just stop "cold turkey" or did you use patches, gum or something? How long until you stopped craving the filthy things? Would love to hear.

Thanks.

I stopped cold turkey this time.
Decided I did not want to be addicted one minute longer. And I am the type of person that is pretty much "GO!" anyway.

But the way you stop is personal! It is different for everybody! And every way that works is the right way! Be it patches, tablets, accupuncture whatever!

The first 4 days were bad. I thought about ciggies every second of every minute of every waking hour. My house was never cleaner I'll tell you! LOL!!

After that it got easier. Now.. I find myself having a small and light craving on occasion, but realize more and more that I spend days not even thinking about smoking. Or thethought will just pop into my head at some point in the day where I might think: "ooh.. I could do with a ..." but that's gone just as quick again most of the time.

:rotfl:

Again, that is very personal! But I found that having support helped a LOT!!

Becca

JoeHel

yellowmonkey you are an inspiration, seriously. To all of you who are really scared about quitting just read yellowmonkey's words. We were both scared too but then we tried it (and didn't let some stupid little bit of stress give us an excuse to give in without trying properly) and we went for it. From his words I know we are both feeling pretty similar about our quits and are enjoying it a lot more than we thought we would. There have been similar wise words from posters like jo (thank you so much for starting this thread!) tattycath and TNG.

The one thing we ALL have in common is that we were TERRIFIED to quit. If any of us had had a choice and been able to carry on smoking without the cost or health implications, none of us would even consider quitting. But the fact is that smoking costs us money and life. Even if you can afford the money, how much life are you willing to give up? Do you have kids/grandkids? How much would you pay to have an extra, say, 5 years with your grandkids. Are you happy to accept that you'll live long enough to see them start school, or would you like to be there at their wedding?

I'm not saying that quitting will guarantee a long life. Yes - any of us could get run over by a bus tomorrow. But do you walk out into the road with earplugs in and a blindfold on? No, you look and listen. You take all reasonable steps to cross the road safely.

Look into your fag packet (or roll up tin) and pick out one ciggie. Look at it. If I told you that THAT ciggie would be the one to spark off the cancer cells in your lungs, would you smoke it? Or would you throw that one away and smoke all the rest? I guarantee the option you LEAST fancy is to never smoke another ever again.

There is a section on WhyQuit.com called "Nicodemon's Lies" where there is a list of every excuse any smoker has ever come up with to carry on smoking. Then there's a response to that excuse. There is something there to cover every reason on this thread that someone has come up with to carry on smoking. Like "I enjoy it" or "I'm too stressed to quit right now"...

There is no magic formula for quitting. But I do know that the secret is to educate yourself about nicotine and get your head in the right place so you are excited about getting that drug out of your body and your life. Nearly 2 months now and I am STILL excited every day when I wake up to be having another day that I'm not a drug addict. I feel like I've escaped prison and all I want to do is make copies of the key and give all of you the means to escape too!!!!!

If you have time, go to WhyQuit.com and read "nicodemon's lies" and the section on the first 72 hours. You don't need pills, patches or gum. All you need is education into your addiction. Your brain can do all the rest, believe me! And the best thing about the education method is that you will never feel deprived or miserable about your quit. You will feel elated and happy every single day you wake up nicotine free.

Good luck everyone. Helen. x

JoeHel

Beccatje thank you for putting - in lots less words - what I'm trying to say too!!! Fantastic to have another on board who is giving such fantastic advice.

The more of us "quitters" there are, the more the ones trying to quit will realise that we are not special or exceptional and that they will feel like this too if they give themselves a chance!!!

I remember reading the Allen Carr book about how he was sat in his car smoking and blood was pouring from his nose but then I read that he'd quit and I thought "well he can't have enjoyed smoking as much as I do because I could NEVER quit and be happy ever again"... how arrogant and stupid was I, eh?!!

Beccatje

JoeHel, Thank you so much for your words!

you are so right!
I too found that it was the frame of mind.
I am soooo happy to have quit.

I look at people standing shivering in the cold with a smoke and I tell myself: "I am SO glad I don't have to do that anymore!"



And offering support to others is just great! It keeps my own motivation high as well! So even if you are in the middle of cravings yourself, stand up and offer a peptalk to someone else and you'll feel better! I promise!

Becca

Beccatje

JoeHel, no not arrogant or stupid. Just addicted. And scared.
Scared we wouldn't be able to do it. Scared we wouldn't be strong enough. Scared to fail (again)

Scared that folks would say: "Oh you're quitting again? I wonder how long for this time?"



I cracked it this time this far because I had loads of support on a dutch site. And so When I came across this thread, I decided to return the favor.



Becca

kayree41

I smoked my last, last night Friday 28th Dec, just thought I would mark my first day, it is a cold turkey quit and thus far feel ok

luck to all you quitters, I would rather climb a mountain, than crawl in a hole

melbury

JoeHel wrote: »

Beccatje thank you for putting - in lots less words - what I'm trying to say too!!! Fantastic to have another on board who is giving such fantastic advice.

The more of us "quitters" there are, the more the ones trying to quit will realise that we are not special or exceptional and that they will feel like this too if they give themselves a chance!!!

I remember reading the Allen Carr book about how he was sat in his car smoking and blood was pouring from his nose but then I read that he'd quit and I thought "well he can't have enjoyed smoking as much as I do because I could NEVER quit and be happy ever again"... how arrogant and stupid was I, eh?!!

I bought that Allen Carr book about four years ago but have never got around to reading it. Somebody told me that you have to be smoking while you read it, so presumably it wouldn't help me now!! I did hope all those years ago that just buying the book would somehow make me give up.