Need Help In Quitting Smoking

[Wish Upon A Star]

I want to quit smoking . . .I don't smoke in my home nor my car, just outside. The hard thing is to unassociate myself with this habit I have made. I'm on a smoking schedule. In the morning after my coffee I go outside, then at break at work, then at lunch. As soon as I get back home I go out and so on. It's become such a time frame habit and I don't know what to do with myself if I stop.

I am on my last pack of cigs and I do not want to purchase anymore, not only because of their extreme cost, but for my health and well-being. But it is soooooooo hard . . . .I'm already dreading running out . . .

Can anyone who used to smoke offer me any advice on how to quit and stay smoke-free?

Thanks.

 

[clutter]

I can't help, but good for you!!!

It's especially touching for me when I hear someone wanting to quit smoking. My bil died this past spring from a smoking-related cancer. He quit 25 years before they found the cancer. What ever else you do, stick to your guns and quit.

 

[binny]

I have never been an addicted smoker, (I smoked in HS and at parties but that was it) but I do know about breaking hard habits and what has worked fr me was replacing that time frame with something else. Got five minutes? Take a brisk walk around the block. Got 10? call a friend and chat for a bit. You have to replace one habit with another to get through it.

I will keep you in my prayers!

please keep these stats in mind, they maye help you

What happens after you quit smoking...

Within 20 Minutes...


Blood pressures drops
Pulse rate drops to normal
Body temperature of hand and feet increases to normal
Within 8 hours...


Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
Within 24 hours...


Chance of heart attack decreases
Within 48 hours...


Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
Within 2 weeks to 3 months...


Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%
Within 1 to 9 months...


Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease
Cilia regrow in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean lungs and reduce infection
Body's overall energy increases
Within 1 year...


Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker
Within 5 years...


Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker
Within 10 years...


Lung cancer death rate about half that of a continuing smoker's
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases
Within 15 years...


Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmokers

 

[pumba]

my husband and I quit cold turkey.......you can ask your doctor for help.....I am sure he/she would be very happy....change your schedule around...have coffee in bed.......do hand held video games during work breaks.....just know how in a few weeks...how your world will be so much better....good luck to you.......go for it!!!!

 

[MAC3]

I quit cold turkey even while DH was still smoking. I won't lie to you it is a very difficult thing to do, but it CAN be done.

I think the one thing that helped me through was everytime I would crave a cigarette I would just say to myself "This craving will pass" It will go away and then start doing something even if it something as silly as sweeping the floor, sorting through your drawers....... Anything that keeps your mind & hands busy.

I think Pumba is right though. Your on such a time schedule with it the best thing to do would be to alter the schedule a bit.... Even just for a while... My biggest disassociation was the coffee & butts.

So I gave up coffee for a little while. 6 yrs with healthy lungs here and I was a 2 packer. Hang in there! As hard as it is it will get easier.

Best of luck to you,
Lisa

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Good for you!!! I qiut 2 years ago. Try the patch, it works and find some support, even here! Feel free to PM me if you need some encouraging words in the next few weeks!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I never smoked, but DH did. One day he called the kids together and dumped his pack out on the table. He asked all of us to give him reasons that he should stop. The kids told him that they didn't want him to die, so he wrote that on the side of one cigarette. They said he coughed, his lungs were black, it made him smell bad, etc. Each thing was written on the side of one cigarette.

For the following weeks if he wanted to smoke he made himself look at the side of the cigarette and remember why he was wanting to quit. I don't know if he ever got around to smoking any of them, but he's been smoke free for a number of years now. You can do this!

 

[daannzzz]

Utilize every tool you can. What works for some doesn't for others but seek out all advice and try everything. It took me 6 time over 8 years to quit. I was told that if you fail it will be easier the next time. The last time was the easiest but I each time i started smoking again I had cut back to less cigerettes per day over many months. Then I only smoked half of each cigarette. Each time I quit I would quit cold turkey. One time I went a year and a half without smoking but started up smoking only 5 or 6 a day but it built up. This last time I tried Nicorrete gum and it was wierd and I felt like I was cheating by taking in nicotine when I was trying to get off of it so I quit cold Turkey. I had to because I was going to stay In Disney's Grand Californian hotel which is all non smoking!!! You may find Nicorrette works for you. Use every goal you can to help. That horrible feeling in your head when you are craving can be releived momentarily by a glass of cold water and or screaming ( go into a closet or use a pillow). Do not get discouraged if you had a lapse. Keep at it. Try again and again. You can do it.
Good luck. You can do it.

 

[nativetxn]

I set a date to quit smoking in November, 1996. I chose January 18, 1997. At 11:55 pm on 1/17/97 I smoked my last cigaretted. It wasn't easy but I took it just one minute at a time. I quit cold turkey but I understand that the patches are very helpful.

Good luck with this...you <b>can</b> do it!

 

[snoopy]

I'm on Day 101 of being smoke free. I was not a heavy smoker, but I found it very difficult to quit at first. I quit cold turkey. If you are a heavy smoker, I would definately recommend the patch or some other stop smoking aid.

I visited this site a bunch when I felt like having a cigarette (not for the light hearted, so if you scare easily, don't read) This woman was my age when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She died all too young at age 41:

http://tobacco.aadac.com/media_campaigns/barb_tarbox/

Another great source of support is this site, I found it invaluable, and still visit on ocassion. The people there remind me of the people here - very supportive and friendly:

http://www.quitnet.com/?redir=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=quit+net

Please don't hesitate to PM me if you need a shoulder to lean on. I've been where you are, not very long ago, and I can tell you now 3 months later it is so much easier. I rarely think about smoking anymore, and when I do, its to think about what a nasty and insidious habit it is. It does get easier with time, although at first its difficult to realize that.

Best of luck to you!

 

[coliebird]

On January 3rd, it will be four years that I quit cold turkey. I was a pack a day, Marlboro red smoker. I will tell you it was one of the hardest things I did. My husband & I quit together so we had each other for support. A support system is a really good idea. Also, I made little signs for myself that had reasons why I should quit and I hung them everywhere, on the fridge, on the medicine cabinet, plus I read everything I could find about the hazards of smoking so I wouldn't want to. You CAN do it.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Back in the 80s I smoked a little bit. After 9 years I quit, and it was difficult. I used to chew on coffee stirrers. My father smoked for 53 years, 3 packs a day, and quit cold turkey. He never went crazy or craved a cigarette. I think it's all about how badly you want to quit. The more you want to quit, the easier it is. It's like anything.....if you really want it, you can do it. Good for you and good luck!!!! It'll be the best thing you've ever done. And besides, you know how bad you smell to people who don't smoke? YUCK

 

[kaseyC]

I always knew I could quit because I never smoked thru any of my pregnancies. As another poster said it is different for each person. I quit cold turkey using what I call the "reward method", I was smoking about a carton a week. So when I decided to quit, I put the money I would have spent on a carton of Virginia Slims each week in a jar to save for a special treat for myself. I chose things I would not normally splurge for such as a really nice Coach Handbag, A classic Donna Karan Blazer things like that. Now I am at the point where I use the money to buy things for my girls or to supplement spending money on vacation. Since you really want to quit you will find what is right for you. Good Luck and do not hesitate to take some time for yourself, away from the family when you are feeling a bit irritable as you go thru withdrawl.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I have never been a smoker, but my DH is going through this right now. He is now 18 days smoke free. He did it with SmokeAway, the same thing you see on t.v. infomercials. It seems to have actually worked!Good Luck!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Thank you all for your words of support . . .I know it will be hard, but I'm ready to kick this habit . . .I'm already headed in the right direction . . .this was the first night I didn't buy any smokes at the grocery store when I did my weekly shopping . . .I have about 7 left in my last pack . . .

I think maybe I'll post on my progress . . .I hope to be successful.

 

[marn913]

My husband and I were both pack a day plus smokers. We both quit cold turkey in March of this year. We had both previously tried the patch and found it unbearable - it made me really jumpy and anxious and gave us both insomnia. We had seen a report that true nicotine withdrawl ends after about 48hours when all of the nicotine is out of your system- after that it is all will power and a matter of changing your habits. We both found this to be true - the first two days were the worst, really crabby and huge cravings (which always passed). After that it was a matter of breaking our habit of associating smoking with certain actions - for me it was driving in the car. We chewed a lot of gum and pushed on through, and it was well worth the couple of crappy days of nicotine withdrawl! Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

You can do it, Wish Upon A Star. I quit, cold turkey, about 30 years ago, and was a 2-pack-day Camel smoker at the time. Take it day by day. Even break the day up, go for the morning, then the afternoon, then the evening. And then you have gone another day. I a couple weeks the tough part is behind you. Tough? Yes. Doable? Yes, very.

Good luck, let us know how you do over the coming days. If you need help, check in, let us know.

And so good to hear you are doing well, Snoop. Now I can't bug you anymore about that. I need to find something else.