The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

Beccatje

Annie123, don't cut down. I think that will only make things more difficult.

Pick a date, and be very aware of it. Try to smoke each ciggie (esp. getting close to the date) very consiously and keep listing all the bad things about smoking in your head.

You could read Alan Carr in the mean time if you want. By the time you reach your quitting date it'll be a relief that you won't have to do that anymore.

Good on you for finding this thread! And good on you for wanting to quit.

Becca

antronella

Beccatje wrote: »

How are you doing dear?

Alright?

day 1 is almost done! You've almost cracked it!.

well, there is no point in not being honest..but I am very disappointed in myself...I went to a friends for tea, and at about 9p.m I had 1 ciggy. I did enjoy it, but then was cross with myself. Home now and had to pass the garage but I didn't buy any..and tomorrow is another day. Cravings bad though. Reading your messages are good and helpful though x

yellowmonkey

Dont beat yourself up to much antronella.

Tomorrow is another day and at least you are making moves in the right direction. Think how many you did not smoke today :T

ym

tattycath

Hi everyone. Antronella-no point inbeating yourself up over it. So you had a momentary lapse. You felt guilt and disappointment with yourself. So that should sput you on that you aren't going to be beaten by cigarettes. This momentary lapse should make you even more determined to succeed. Well done for passing the garage without venturing in. And well done for telling us. If you hadn't said anything, you would only be fooling yourself anyway-but I think you already know this. Tell yourself about quitting the cigs:
'I am going to do this.' We will give you support but you can do this Antronella.
Tomorrow is another day.

antronella

...was thinking tonight...what if there was some wonderful hair spray..that made thinning hair thick, shiny and beautiful ..would we use it if it said on the can "this spray causes brain tumours". Or what about (for us ladies!) a cream that when applied to our boobs increased their size and made us look like we'd had an uplift!....would we use it if it said " this cream causes breast cancer". Its unbelievable that thousands of people smoke.. with the warning on the packet that it causes lung cancer (& more) but what are the benefits? None. Still finding it very hard though...:(

antronella

Thank you for those kind words!!... means a lot x

JoeHel

antronella wrote: »

...was thinking tonight...what if there was some wonderful hair spray..that made thinning hair thick, shiny and beautiful ..would we use it if it said on the can "this spray causes brain tumours". Or what about (for us ladies!) a cream that when applied to our boobs increased their size and made us look like we'd had an uplift!....would we use it if it said " this cream causes breast cancer". Its unbelievable that thousands of people smoke.. with the warning on the packet that it causes lung cancer (& more) but what are the benefits? None. Still finding it very hard though...:(

Antronella, don't worry - tomorrow is another day. It's hard because you are fighting a drug addiction hun. You are not superwoman but you are also no less capable than anyone else who has ever quit!! You CAN do this!

I am always directing people to the WhyQuit.com site and some might wonder if I'm involved in it at all!! I promise I'm not, but I just find something there to answer every question I've had so far. I found this post that I thought might help you and I liked that title - One Hour At A Time!

Just One Hour at a Time!

Many smokers fail at quitting because they allow their mind to convince them that the mountain is just too high to climb. There in front of them stands the mighty mountain of physical withdrawal. It isn’t a hard climb, but at 72 hours the climb is a bit lengthy and requires some endurance. Although the view from the summit is breathtaking, for four millions of us the dream of ever seeing it will die this year. Sadly, millions climb for a few brief hours each year and then simply give up. Why?

Are they too lazy to climb? Are they afraid of heights? Was the climbing too hard? I don’t think so. I think that most of them talked themselves into believing that there were just too many steps to take. Like their reaction to seeing long lines at an amusement theme park, they simply didn’t have the patience to wait in line to experience the unknown. Long term smokers have very little memory of what a healthy body and an unaddicted mind were like. You can tell a 40 year smoker that within three months of quitting they could experience an almost one-third improvement in their lung function, but if they can’t imagine or remember what healthy lungs are like, you’ve wasted your breath.

We smokers are impatient people. We want results now! But it isn’t our fault. Our minds have been conditioned by our addiction to expect immediate relief from the anxiety of early withdrawal, which always arrives within 8 seconds of sucking new nicotine into our lungs. Within 20 to 30 minutes our blood nicotine level will again fall to the point that minor discomfort arrives, and again we obtain almost immediate relief as new nicotine laden smoke is sucked into crying lungs. A pack a day smoker repeats this cycle of obtaining immediate relief about 7,300 times a year. Yes, smokers are impatient when it comes to bringing an abrupt halt to the symptoms of withdrawal but we’ve got reason to be impatient. Our addiction has bred a powerful habit and recovery doesn't happen overnight.

Successful quitters are those who have learned to control their impatience by ignoring the the height of the mountain, as they continue taking just one step at a time. There are many tasks in life that require baby steps in order to finish what we’ve started. You can’t build a beautiful wall with just one brick, receive a new baby after one month of pregnancy, obtain a college degree with just one class, or cook a delicious holiday dinner in a few short minutes. Imagine getting half of a meal cooked and then leaving the kitchen or building half a wall built and then walking away. Going the distance in life is normal. Swimming half way across the pool and then stopping is not.
Quit for one hour. Keep your eye on the path and try not to look ahead. Enjoy the hour, don’t dread it. The next hour doesn’t have to be difficult. It could be flat and level or it might be a bit bumpy but either way it’s just one hour and it is certain to end. The 72 hours need to reach the top of withdrawal’s mountain are each wonderful hours of glorious healing. With the passing of each, your body grows cleaner as your liver removes more and more nicotine from your blood. You know that no crave lasts more than a few minutes (look at a clock) and that soon the hour will be over and your celebration can begin! Celebrate 72 times! Enjoy each of them but just one step at a time! If you do it right you’ll only do it once! It's a nice feeling to not have to ever quit again.

Do you deserve to see the view from the top of the mountain? Have you earned the right to experience a nicotine free body? There are about one billion former smokers alive on earth today. Were all of them stronger than you are, or did they simply learn a bit of patience? Why not give yourself a chance to meet the real unaddicted you! Quit for just one hour and then celebrate! Remember, your crave is going to end whether you feed it or not. Why not bring them to a permanent end!

antronella

Thank you for posting that Joehel!! I will look at the site tomorrow. Off to bed now..then it'll be 24 hours and only 1 ciggy..........tomorrow hopefully none!

jo1972

Blimey, I've got some catching up to do!!

Becca, welcome to the thread :wave: good luck with your quit

Melbury, looking at pictures of diseased lungs is the best way for me to quit! I always tell people to go to post #1 on this thread and have a look at the Max Kirsten video, pretty grim but gets the point across!

YM, well done :T :T :T I can't remember and can't be bothered to scroll back but wasn't it you that originally posted on here that your quit date was 1st Jan 08 but you ended up bringing it forward? A whole month in the bag WOOHOO :j

Kayree41, well done and welcome to the thread have a look at post #1 on this thread for loads of tips and support and keep us updated

Annie, welcome, so glad you found us You should also take a look at post #1, we've compiled a great list of reasons not to smoke which is helpful when a craving hits, good luck and keep us updated

Antronella, listen, don't feel down with yourself, it's purely a blip and happens to all of us, forget it and move on. Good luck, stick with us, you'll be fine

Cath, :wave: how's it going with you?

JoeHel, thank you so much for all the support you give to people :A

IDA, WOOOHOOOOO!!! 6 months in the bag :T :T :T Congratulations hunny :D:D :beer:

How's everyone else today?

melbury

Hi everyone, this afternoon at 4.30pm I will have reached 72 hours without smoking, but it has been a bit of a struggle. I was reading that long article above about 72 hours, but not sure exactly what it means. Does it mean that the worst of the withdrawal symptoms cease after 72 hours? - I hope so.

Still finding it very strange having a drink or a coffee with no ciggie - such a perfect match! Will just have to completely retrain the brain not to expect it and just get out of the habit.

How's everyone else doing today?