The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

marjem

Hi Everyone

Lewki I know how you feel when you have a drink at the weekend - thats a bad time for me but I've got one of those inhailors for when I'm drinking - gum and beer yuk! So long as you don't catch sight of yourself 'smoking' a plastic tube, it does take the edge off.

Shopaholicnot, hope the appointment went well

To all the longer stoppers well done you are an inspiration and to the newer stoppers keep on going.

Haven't posted myself for a few days because I'm too emotional. Having so much stress at home and work, for the last few days I just wanted to run away and buy a pack of twenty and smoke them until I was sick.
I didn't and kept telling myself that would just make a bad time worse.

As I think I have said before I must keep the mindset that I have made the decision and there's no going back - not even for one sneaky puff and I would advocate that mindset to everyone - it was the only thing that has stopped me over the last few days.

good luck everyone

doltage

marjem wrote: »

Haven't posted myself for a few days because I'm too emotional. Having so much stress at home and work, for the last few days I just wanted to run away and buy a pack of twenty and smoke them until I was sick.
I didn't and kept telling myself that would just make a bad time worse.

As I think I have said before I must keep the mindset that I have made the decision and there's no going back - not even for one sneaky puff and I would advocate that mindset to everyone - it was the only thing that has stopped me over the last few days.

good luck everyone

well done Marjem, :j you're doing really well, especially with the stress! No matter how stressed you are a cigarette isn't going to help, will a cigarette clears your desk for you?:mad: Will a cigarette pay your bills for you?:mad: Will a cigarette stop your OH from annoying the life out of you?:mad:

Cigarettes are not going to help you with any situation, if you're feeling stressed take yourself away from whatever situation is making you feel stressed, take a few deep breaths and then approach it from a different perspective, you'll be amazed at how that will help and you'll not have to have a cagarette either-bonus!

Lula I didn't see that show (criminal justice was on the other side-superb entertainment) but I was interested in it, I may fire up the iPlayer when I get home, it's frightening the tactics those companies used-all the more reason for us to fight back by not giving them our hard earned cash (I'm like a broken record huh )

Newsgroup_monkey you shouldn't worry about posting on here, your tale is an inspiration to people who are trying to stop smoking and I agree with your point about having the freedom to choose, luckily for us we've chosen not to bother with them though! :T Congratulations on getting past the year mark, I'm sure you feel super about doing so:T

Dr._Mac_2

Greetings folks

I've read through a few pages of this thread and must say I'm really impressed with what some of the smokers - now NON-smokers, have acheived.

Well done to all of you who have kicked the habit.

As I am someone with debts to pay, I know without doubt that giving up smoking is a "must" as part of my debt-replayment plan. And to help folk, throughout this thread there are recommended books, techniques, information on medications to help ... etc. etc.

But there are now about 375 pages here! That's a hell of a lot of pages to wade through with a slow Internet connection.

So, here's a request ...

Could somebody here - who really has gone through every page and who really does know "all about quitting" - compile an updated summary of the very best sites, books, tips, tricks, techniques and medications etc. and post it here.

This would give those of us who have recently joined this board a very handy, up-to-date, ready-reference source to learn from.

Yes, I know that might be quite a challange to compile such a summary. But you took up the challange to quite smoking - and you WON! So, I'm sure this challange would be a cinch for you to do.

I'll come back here tomorrow and take a look!

Best wishes (and good luck)

Dr. Mac

doltage

Wow Doc, you’re not asking for much huh:D !?

What I would suggest is that you go to your own doctor/nurse/pharmacist and discuss your needs, they’ll tell you, based on their professional advice, what they think would work for you and would prescribe it to you or they’ll advise that going cold turkey may be the best for you.

When you have decided on the method you’re going to use to stop smoking you will get a lot more specialized advice on this thread.

There’s a wealth of information within the thread but the most important thing is the support you will get, find your method, pick your stop date, stick to it and people will give you as much help as they can and will discuss the side effects of any drugs (sometimes with way TMI:eek: ) and any problems/obstacles you will come up against.

That way not only will you have the benefit of your local health professional but a dedicated support network of people who are stopping with you to advise you!

Over the next few evenings after work I’ll pull some tips etc from the thread but you cannot go wrong with the very first post in the thread, :A jo1972:A , our leader, has compiled a very detailed post with many helpful tips.

Hopefully we’ll hear a lot more from you as you embark on your smoke free journey!

/edit

I just had another quick look at jo's post and it's a mine of useful information, tips/links etc. anything else you need to know ask and you'll get a great response (normally not from me lol)

Lula-Hula

Hmmm,

Starting to feel a tad tetchy now. Have felt fine all day but would quite like one of those debt management companies to call now just so I can snarl at someone .

Aah, that's better, just got myself a gum & feeling better already, that's only my 8th one - 2mg strength - since my quest began.

Doc - Doltage speaks the truth, the first post is full of info however, in my view the most powerful weapon you have is yourself & your will to succeed. I agree that a trip to a health professional is the best way forward but to be honest unless you really want to quit it will be hard to keep motivated.

For many people the prime motivation is money enforced by being in debt. If you have a £5 a day habit then the thought of being £150 a month better off surely helps. But it's possible that at the back of your mind you will convince yourself that you're only quitting temporarily until you can afford it again.

Having been a 5/6 a day smoker, money wouldnt work at all for me. My last attempt at quitting was emotionally led & eventually failed as each time I 'blipped' I just beat myself up even more & couldnt hack the guilt.

Now I just want to quit, yeh there are a few 'reasons' I could give you but essentially I just dont want to be a smoker anymore & I know there are times I'll be tempted & stressful / trigger situations that occur but hey, that's life.

I dont want to sound doubting or negative but the fact that you're asking us to find the best advice makes me question your commitment. Ok, I may be wrong & I apologise if you are just suffering from little time & slow internet; I just want you to realise there's no easy quick fix & although everyone on this thread will do their very best to support & encourage you all the way, but you have to do the hard work yourself.

I'm no good at copying & pasting & compiling new posts so will let Doltage take care of that - sorry but I will do my best to help you on your mission.

Oh, and BTW long & rambling posts are a great way to keep fingers & brains occupied

Good luck & welcome

Lula x

shoperholicnot

Hi Everyone,
i had my Hynotherapy appointment, i was in there for about 2 hours, i was not sure if it had worked when i left, i did not feel that much different but strangely i did not want a cigarette either.

so far i have not had a cigarette and have had no real desire to have one, I have had the odd withdrawal pang but these have been very very mild. the one thing i have noticed is that i feel really really calm..its wonderful.
I now have not had a cigarette for 28 hours !
hopefully it will last!

bubbles0169

helloo everyone
my names bubbles, im a nutty night owl and smoke 20 a day
i started champix today-how did everyone else find it
did you feel sick quite soon, i before but its gone now
i did give up for three months a couple of years back with the patches, was going to use them again then the nurse said about this
i reeeally hate smoking i mostly do it out of habit, theres times when i enjoy it but its mainly when im stressed and had a drink
so now im going to turn into a tree hugging tee-totaller and ex/non smoker(is it ex smoker you use or non or what!)
well i wont do it over night as some of you may not know that in the first week of taking the pill you cut down,then give up completly
i have managed to cut down today but cant stop thinking about it!
well i think youve all gone bed so im off to the owls
i will pop in in the day if ya dont mind though as i need to get all the help i can and seeing as im on here all the time anyway what better place!x

bubbles0169

oops sorry lula your not in bed
how are ya xx

RedBalloon

I just wanted to offer my encouragement to you all!

I have now been smoke free for 18 months and believe it or not, you do stop thinking like a smoker - eventually!
By that I mean, when I first quit I thought of all the things I'd miss, drinking & smoking, smoking after a large meal, in the car on the way to work etc......
I told myself that heck, if I reached 70 without smoking that was good enough and I'd start again - why deny myself FOREVER!

Well, having been smoke free for such a long time my smoking habits have gone, and with it, the smokers mentality (eventually!)......Trust me, keep at it and you will get there!

bubbles0169

scrap my last post lula ive just read yours!
i had to post before reading as id searched for the thread and then when i got here 'smoking' was bolded in red
not good when all ya wanna do is suck them red letters off the screen
so im readin a bit more now and have found its non smoker!
shall go do more homework now
byyyexx