Help me to help myself!

[arieljasmine]

I am very proud to say that today after 14 years, I have quit smoking, along with my DH, Andy. We have read the Allen Carr book and whilst I think it isn't going to be as easy as he claims, we are determined to suceed.

As neither of us have ever smoked in front of our families we don't have many people we can turn to for support. To that end, I am coming to my Disney family to ask for help and encouragement.

Also, I have previously spent my weekday evening making and smoking cigarettes so am going to need something to do to keep me entertained and concentrate on something else. If anyone has any suggestions of crafty things I might use to this end, I would really appreciate it. I have no patience for sewing or knitting, but recently had a kit to make jewellry and crackers for my friends which I loved, so I was thinking of something along those lines.

Thank you friends

Laur's

 

[jns]

here's sending you some
I gave up over 12 years ago
one cig at a time , just said to myself that I'd have one later on , kept myself very busy house was never so clean

I also opened a new bank account and put the money away and as we were just after moving into our new house it came in very handy

keep posting on how you are getting on

What about scrapbooking to pass the time

 

[wils]

Well Done guys

I'm here to help and I've Pm'd you

 

[Redbudlover]

I think different things work for different people. I could never - and had failed before to quit using the one cigarette at a time thing. What worked for me was to begin to "hate" smokers and ciagarette. I decided I was no longer a smoker - so didn't Have to smoke any more. I threw out the ashtrays, the cigarettes, and washed all my clothes. I exercised like crazy - and walked if I felt the urge to smoke.

The most important thing though was learning from a man who had quit himself something I kept in mind the entire time it took me to get to the point where I no longer - ever - wanted a cigarette. He told me that the urges to smoke would come at longer and longer intervals and last shorter and shorter periods of time. He said when I felt the urge to just remember that it would end - and that each time I resisted the urge that the intervals between urges would get longer. He said to remember that the urges would last a shorter and shorter time - and just to thenk of them as times I had to get through. To think of myself as a non-smoker - non-smokers don't smoke....

As the intervals lengthen and turn into weeks and then months, it is very tempting to think they won't come back. But they will - but they won't last long - and it will be even longer the next time before one hits again. I think where a lot of people fail is when it has been a long time since the last urge that it seems like they will never be gone for good and just throw up your hands and give in to it. DON'T! The day will come when they go away forever. Mine did. I smoked for 20 years and smoked 2 1/2 packs a day. I haven't smoked now for 21 years...

 

[jsharpay]

Good Luck! I've been smoke free since Feb 16 2007. Its a hard road to go but its best for you. I have gained 15 lbs. but I'm not gaining any more. The weight came about four months into the smoke free time.

 

[Goofysmate]

My Dh who used to smoke about 40+ a day gave up smoking about 5yrs ago now using the 24 hour patches which worked well for him.
I gave up smoking after being on 15 a day about 18months ago.
I tried the day patches and all i wanted was a ciggy all the time i was wearing it and was even waking up in the morning wanting a ciggy which i never did before while smoking.
So i just went cold turkey and did it.
So good luck with it it's not going to be easy.
I think the hardest thing is to brake the pattern of the way you do thing when you normally have a smoke.

 

[jockey]

Well done you guys! Will PM you later

 

[natalielongstaff]

well done both of you !! good luck

 

[Strommie]

Well done both of you

 

[Minniespal]

Well done both of you ~ Good Luck

 

[jjk]

WELL DONE and GOOD LUCK

 

[pixiepower04]

Well done both of you, it will be worth it in the end!

I first gave up (13 years ago) when I met my DH as he never smoked and I gave up for 18 months by using the patches. They said to put them on first thing in he morning but that was when I craved a ciggy most so I put it on when I went to bed and voila no craving and I took it one day at a time, I also did alot of writing to keep my hand busy, stories, poems etc. Then my mum died very suddenly from cancer and I had problems with my job so I started up again.

3 years later I was pregnant and I tried very hard to give up but because I had terrible morning sickness I just couldn't. I had to go in to be induced as DD was 14 days late and I had my last ciggy just as I got to the hospital, and because I couldn't leave for a quick one I had to go cold turkey big style and 8 days later when I came out I decided to have a puff and see if I really had quit, well, I turned green, my stomach lurched and that was it, no more cigarettes.

I have been off them now for 9 years and there are still times when I crave one but that's all it is, a brief crave.

As someone else said about saving the money - put the money into a jar in your kitchen and watch it build up. We started saving £2 coins last October and now have just over £500 saved up so imagine what each packet of cigarettes will start to look like soon.

Good luck to both of you and very well done.

p.s - my DD9 and DS7 (with absolutely no prompting from me) avoid people who smoke and walk past them with their mouths and noses covered, imagine a child you come into contact with not wanting to be near you because you smoke and they think you're going to die and see if that keeps you going.

 

[Netty]

I gave up smoking 13 years ago,using patches.
If you go to the doctor you can get the 12hr patches prescribed for free now. (keep them on for 24hrs though!) -anyway, my dh gave up 2 years ago and used patches and also the paul mckenna book/cd which dh found helped a great deal.
Good luck-you both can do it

 

[tennisfan]

Well done to both of you & good luck. If you are determined to stop it will happen

 

[KayleeUK]

Well done and good luck to you both

 

[DisneyJo]

Well done Laur's you can do it, just think of what you could buy in WDW with all the money you'll save and all the time you used to spend in the DSA's you can now ride more rides etc

 

[arieljasmine]

I am utterly ashamed to say that attempt didn't last long after a stressful trip to Morrisons. It has, however, made me realise that I am not going to give up on giving up - just that wasn't the right way for me. The patches sound like a good idea to get rid of the craving. I couldn't sleep last night because I couldn't stop thinking about cigarettes and then I spent all morning crying.

After all your lovely messages, I feel like I have let you down but I promise to keep trying. I can list so many advantages to stopping but I have never felt so miserable as I felt today so I think a new approach is in order.

Thanks guys you are all so wonderful

Laur's

 

[DisneyJo]

Oh Laur's you haven't let us down, we're here for support not to tell you off, it's good that you still want to try and give up. You can do it

 

[Goofysmate]

You can do it Laur's it's not going to be easy, take one day at a time . Remember good days will follow after bad days

 

[Graeme]

Oh Laur's you haven't let us down

Oh yes you have!!

Only kidding, I hope you do well. I recently went walking with 13 old school friends who, when we were eighteen, all smoked. Only one does now so it can be done.