Long before I became dependent on pain medicine, I had a big problem with cigarettes. I was up to 3+ packs a day at one time. At the time I was living in Scotland. Cigarettes cost an arm and a leg there, plus, Scotland is very cold and damp, so I coughed up stuff all day, every day and seemed to go from one bout of bronchitis to another. My cigarette habit was killing me financially and physically, so I had to do something. I'd already tried to quit several times using several tricks and devices with no luck. Finally, on my 5th or 6th attempt using the nicotine patch, I did it!! The night before I went around the house, cleaned out all the ash trays, put them away, and took any left over cigarettes out to the outside trash or I cut them up, I can't remember. That was back in 1996. The first 2-3 weeks were HELL, even with the patch. After that the cravings started to subside, but I had lots of weird dreams about smoking and I was very nervous, like I needed something to do with my hands and mouth. That stage lasted about 6 months. I took Silly Putty and manipulated it in my hands to give them something to do. I took walks. I read fun, escapist books, like Ann Rice's Vampire chronicles (all 6 books!). After 6 months I was free and clear. NO cravings, ever. No weird dreams, and no weird feeling of needing something to do with my hands and mouth. Since I got hooked on pain medicine however, I find myself craving a cigarette now and then, but I know it's actually the pain medicine I'm craving and not the nicotine. Good luck to all who are trying to quit smoking. I know how it feels and I know how hard it is. The cravings I'm having for my pain medicine are every bit as torturous as the cravings I had for nicotine when I quit smoking back in '96. I'd even go as far as saying the cravings for the nicotine were WORSE! But if I can quit from 3+ packs a day, I guess anyone can do it!! Go for it! **high fiving you** Be strong!!!
I smoked for 29 years. Tried all sorts. Always failed. Came across "Easyway" by Allen Carr. Went along to a meeting. Last about five hours and you smoke while it goes on. Had my last ciggie 4.50pm. that was 5 and half months ago. EASYWAY. Not kidding.
Wishing you all the best.
Hey, whatever works right just don't replace them with food, oh no bad idea,aheart:P
you guys are hillarious.
I don't have time to smoke anymore. I spend all my time reading all this crazy **** and my cigg goes out.
I was ordered by my doctor to make life style changes or die, and I have done okay with the food changes and exercise changes, but laying the smokes down has been the hardest thing I've ever had to quit. I try and fail, try and fail, but I swear on everything sacered I won't stop trying until I do this! Just remember we don't have to quit everything at the same time. The relapases are just a part of the process for some, everyone is different when it comes to quitting. Plumeagled, you gave some good ideas! I'm going to start doing that. I already make myself stand right in front of my bathroom mirror every time I smoke so I will feel really stupid and I do. I'm down to 5 a day from 40 yrs of a pack a day, sometimes all day without-WE CAN DO THIS-FOR THE NEW YEAR! aheart:|
I too need to quit smoking but good God I NEED them to help me get through the Opiate W/D's.. This W/D-ing is PURE HELLL but I hope once I get this under control.. Funny, when I woke up from my hysterectomy I woke up a non smoker.. Didn't smoke but sure took a lot of pills.. LOL.. If I had only threw the pills out when I picked my ciggys back up a few months later I would only have one demon to beat up!!! On day 4 of kicking the opiates, woo hoo.. maybe this time next year I will be on day 4 of no ciggys...
I walked right into that one.You funny MO FO you!Peace Bro
what's the plan?Maybe we should find a smokers forum.LOL
I know when ScottQuit quit smoking he mentioned a website that helped him alot.. i think it was whyquit? or something like that.. google something..
Whoa!I was just kidding about the forum thing.LOL
I wish= 4/day, i need help then!! 1.5-2 packs per day depebding on stress.\\
Let's do it, Do it!
Choo
I'm kind of psyched up about this now. WE CAN DO IT!! Anyone else what to jump on the wagon??
Take Care (and less puffin) lol
LS
Last year at this time I was down to four cigarettes a day. Now I'm lucky if I can make a pack last me two days. I need to quit!!!!! Been smoking too many years and that's playing the odds and setting myself up to lose.
I'M IN, TOO!!!!
Just me....LS
Yup, let's change that tune!
Choo
I could respond in a very "Funny" way to that, you sort of set the table for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL The "G: Reated version, Chewy, Gwewwwww, "Star Wars" Sure as long as you don't loode your jaw.\\LOL
Beachnut or Coopenhagen-spelling
Choo
I justify smoking just like pills,, I was all set to quit the other day but saw a man that looked about 80 something standing in front of a senior center having a smoke and thought what the heck ,,,why quit lol. I"m with you choo, more then a pack a day. A friend quit 8 mos ago useing a laser technique, it was 275.00, dont know about insur.
OK, I am a former 30-40 cig a day smoker. Smoked for 25 years. Tried numerous times to quit. Have not smoked now for almost 5 years. Sounds silly....but start making a little mark on your pack with a pen every single time you light up. Do NOTHING else but smoke that cig. No phone, no pc, nothing at all to distract the smoking of that cig. If you smoke 25 today....you can smoke the same the next day and the next, ect....but NEVER 26. You will find that you HATE to make those marks on your pack as it feels like you are giving yourself "bad marks"! Then you'll see you're at 20 one day....and again, now you cannot go over that 20 so you start to really pay attention to when you're smoking. In my case, once I got down to 8 a day I could not seem to go below without being witchy. Oh, also, make them inconvenient to get to. Such as having them in the trunk so you have to pull over and get one out instead of reaching in your pocket or purse.Or leave them all at the office at night except the few you are going to ration during the day. Another great trick.....we all know the best part of a $100 meal is the cig after it. So, start out making yourself wait 5 minutes before you lite up. Then 10 min, you get the idea. Before long you'll realize you're plopped in front of the TV and have not had your usual ciggy! Now, I know you can't always do this part, but we went on a cruise when I got down to 8 a day. No driving, no phone, no pc...none of the usual places and things that make you reach for a cig. I have not smoked since. BEST OF LUCK! Jackie
I quit a three pack habit a day on sept17,2006 , before I quit i changed up the times i smoked ,did not smoke in the car , house, right after meals . I did not have much of a choice we found out son had cancer . That did it for me and smoking .
Have a great day
Avis
Now YOUR post might have touched me a bit...you know how my son has leukemia....and yeah, maybe I should start thinking about quitting.
SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!
I KNEW I shouldn't have read this! lol
Ok, Ok.......I'll start cutting back....then I'll just have to quit, I suppose.
You're right...with our kids being sick, we should not be smoking.
RATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
::::scowling at avis:::::: lol
Love ya,
jennifer
cinnamonstix, LOL sorry , I had to quit no one ever said your smoking gave your son cancer but on the other hand they never siad it didnt . so quiting was what i needed to do i guess not to have guilt. I didnt want to end up getting sick either and not being here for him . However everyone is diffrent my hubby still smokes just no where near him. I STILL after 7 months want to smoke every once and i while but so far soooo good . have a great day
Avis
I havent tried to quit smoking................
but I sure as heck smoke a lot less than I ever have...
I seriously dont really know though
for me some days are better than others, some days I dont even smoke lol....other days I smoke almost a half a pack, alright maybe not that bad but ya know what I mean...or close enough to
C
Used to be a two pack a day girl. Will give you my story if it will help, tho it is an odd one.
But before that, in answer to your question "if I can do this why can't I quit smoking?", I think, perhaps, it might be HARDER for a drug user, especially if he has quit using drugs, to stop smoking than someone who has always been clean (I was clean when I quit). The reason for that is twofold (1) smoking isn't seen as "serious" as drug addition. Among other things, it is legal. The drive to get off the things just isn't there in the same way. The threat of lung cancer etc is too vague. My father died from smoking but it didn't stop me. (2) In giving up drugs you have given up a lot of mental and oral craving. Smoking is filling, to admittedly a minor degree, some of that same craving so by giving up the drugs you are actually increasing the need for cigarettes. Until you can mentally link the two, I think you will continue to struggle. Just my opinion.. Hang in there, we're with you!! I'll help any way I can.
oops...misread and misused the "comment to" space. Was supposed to be directed to "toomanypills"
Friends who smoke together choke together.420?