I QUIT!

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Good luck.

 

Well, it's only the best way if it actually WORKS. While I agree with you in principle - that if you go cold turkey and if you can resist the urge to smoke, then it's definitely the best way. However, IMO, it is also the hardest way. You're battling the physical and psychological effects of not smoking simultaneously. The way I see it, if you can make the processes somewhat easier, it only enhances your chance of quitting. To me, the best way is the way that works.

I've heard that too, and I hope it is true. The basic plan is one month to overcome the psychological part, and then start overcoming the physical part. While I'm doing OK so far - quit last Thursday and no cigarettes since - my daily nicotine intake is about the same as it has always been. So I haven't starting overcoming the physical addiction at all - at least not yet.

True, but that wouldn't have been an issue anyway. I never smoked in my home or my car. While I've never taken the step of stopping smoking before, I was always aware that many other people didn't like the smell of smoke. So I never smoked in confined areas - it was always outdoors.

 

Well as I smoker I can do nothing but praise you, I too would like to stop. I already decided that on my 19th birthday I'll stop, wich is in 30 days. I can smoke a pack of 25 in two days and considering my age it's alarming. My best wishes to you, and don't you forget to bring pictures of your baby as soon as (s)he is born!

 

Actually, the two first weeks were the hardest ever. The psychological part I took care of by chewing gum and toothpicks, exactly like my brother did, and it did the job. As for the physical part... the lack of nicotine made me pretty much unbearable for the first two weeks - cranky as f***, very easy to irritate and extremely quick in being nasty with others. Since I was working in a metal shop in that era, I took it out by starting various metalworking projects - bashing metal sheets into submission eased the crankiness, anger and kept my mind busy, therefore focusing it on something other than smoking, therefore simplifying the process.

Honestly, while those two weeks were truly nightmarish, I regret nothing. If I had to do it all over again, I'd do exactly the same thing. Being finally tobacco-free was worth every second of frustation, anger, crankiness, edgyness along the way.

 

Just thought I'd give a quick update. I have now been smoke free for one week, with not a single relapse over that time. I think I'll be in good shape for the next three weeks - that's when I start reducing my nicotine intake with a lower level patch. I think if I was going to break at this level of nicotine, it would have happened by now.

 

Good job. You can do this.

 

Two weeks and going strong!

 

Congrats!

Hope you don't mind a little unsolicited advice...

One thing that I found helpful when I quit smoking was to stop counting how long it had been since my last cigarette. Everytime I tried to quit and kept count, it made it feel like I was just taking a break.

When I quit for good, I stopped counting after a week or two. Instead of thinking "It's been 3 weeks and 2 days since my last smoke", I instead just told myself "I don't smoke anymore. Doesn't matter how long ago I quit."

Like I said, I found this helpful, but your mileage may vary.

Good luck!

 

Congrats Aldeth! If you can go 2 weeks, then there's no reason you can't go 2 months... 2 years (you get the idea )

 

My father had surprisingly little trouble in quitting smoking, the thing is he now chews a pack of nicotine gum a day.

I suppose even that's better than smoking though.

 

i used the gum when i quit,too.17 years ago.i got addicted to regular chewing gum for a few months after that,but eventually,i got back to what i pass off as normal...oh,and congratulations for quitting.you'll be healthier,and much richer.cigs cost a fortune any more

 

OK, I have now moved down from the 21mg patch to the 14mg patch. While I haven't really been counting off days anymore, it's still easy to keep track, as I bought 4 weeks worth of the 1st patch, and now I'll be on step 2 for another 2 weeks, and then step 3 for two more weeks after that.

The way I look at, since step 1 takes as long as step 2 and 3 combined, I'm more than half way to ending my nicotine addiction. No cravings after going from the 21mg patch down to the 14mg patch. I was a little worried when I made the move down. In the course of the last month I got used to not smoking, but I was not used to not having as much nicotine, but it seems to be going OK.

 

Good going mate! and keep going!

I too would like to quit smoking, it is something i have thought about for a long time. Oh, and just to give you a bit of info on how much money you will really save:

Apparently the average british smoker will spend £700 to £1000 a year on smokes. I'm 23, if I quit now and placed the money I would spend on ciggerettes into a savings account, that would work out to about £25,000 by the time I hit 50.

Hope thats even more inspiration for you and other smokers out there to give it up!

 

Nice work Aldeth, quitting smoking is a bloody nightmare. Keep it up! Think of all the moolah you're saving!

 

Thanx for the props dmc, this topic caught my eye too Congrats Aldeth! Now if I could just quit

 

Last patch today!!!!!

After today, I will be nicotine free!

 

Congrats!

 

Well done, Aldeth!

 

Congrats! You've done really well up to now. Keep up the good work!