quitting smoking

[michlethach]

Hi everyone. For the past few months now i've been trying to quit and only since yesterday decided that by cutting down is the best. I usually smoke 20 aday and yesterday i managed to cut down to 4. I was so happy with myself. It's so hard, I know i can't go cold turkey.Like yestereday my first cig was at 8 in the morning, and by 12.30 i was ready to bite someone's head off. But managed to hold on untill i had lunch. After that i had no craving till 5.45 and my last cig of the day was at 12.00pm. I am hopping that if i cut down like that everyday buy the end of the week i'll go smoke free without much trouble. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to quit like this?

[Cheerleadermom]

Hi there, Im too trying to quit by first cutting down. I see how thats not the best way but whatever way works is a good way. Today I smoked a total of 7 ciggarettes so far. I got up at 7:30 and didnt light up till 10:00. I have a work sheet that I try to stay with. For example- 10:00 1
               12:00
                2:00 and so on. So far I have been able to stick with the plan. Tomorrow the plan is when I get up Im going to put a patch on as soon as I get out of bed. The Nicaderm CQ is supposed to be used as a step down also. But it takes like 6 weeks to finish, I dont want to take that long so im going to do the 21 mg for 1 week the 14mg for 1 week and the 7mg for 1 week, well thats the plan anyway. Mean while I will not be smoking so hopefully the mental part of smoking will have gone away. Thats my plan, maybe you could try it.............. I'll let you know if it works for me and let me know if you try it

[kathyjo]

Quitting is so difficult and that is why it's important to prepare for it. Talk to your doctor and see what he/she suggests and then read those articles at whyquit. I know I keep talking about this website, and I only do because it has helped so many, me also, and I think it has a lot to offer regardless if you choose to go cold turkey or use an aid.

The bottom line is that there is no magic pill and you will be stressed and angry no matter what. My choice was Chantix and even though it's success is 44%, it still was a difficult quit. When you are ready, then you will succeed : )

Were here for support, not to judge you : )

[michlethach]

I am a shamed of myself. I've started smoking again, I just couldn't stand the mood it was putting me in and my family. I was really terrible with them. One min am happy and the next am ready to snap their heads off. They're still young so i couldn't explain to them what am going through. I will make an app with doc and get help. I can't do it cold turkey it's unfair on my kids and my partner. I really want to do this and i know that by smoking again it's going to take me a few steps backwards...............so bad. Please don't be dissappointed.

[kathyjo]

I googled "nicotell" and came up with nothing so I can't say anything about the product or if it is reputible. If this product administers nicotine, then it isn't good for you and will only make your ultimate quit that much harder. Also, if you are using an aid and you are still feeling so stressed, then you might as well just go "cold turkey."
Try reading the articles at whyquitdotcom. This will give you a better understanding of what you are going through and what to expect.

Stress is generally the reason all quits fail. Somehow we mistake the cig as a reliever when in fact, it is what contributes to it.
Try telling everyone about your quit and most will understand. It is hard, but you can do it. I smoked for 38 years and I thought that I would die as a smoker.....that is how addicted I was, but look at me now, a few days away from 1 1/2 years smoke free! If I did it, then anyone can.
Be strong and stay positive!

[michlethach]

OMG this morning i was ready to rip my husband head off. Everything he did it really made me mad and then i realise that we do this everymorning and that am stressed caused i haven't have one yet. AHHHHH. Am on nicotell which is like an inhaler. Do you know about the product and whether it would work or not?

[kathyjo]

When preparing yourself for your quit, remember that withdrawal to the physical addiction is 72 hours so it is the emotional addiction that is what you will need to work on.
The articles at whyquit help prepare you for what to expect. They also have an answer to pretty much any question you might have regarding your quit and help you stay quit. We are also here for your support so you can write whenever you are struggling, or just to say how well you are doing : )
Good luck!

[michlethach]

Hi there Kathyjo, I've been reading a few of the messages on here and alot of them have mention whyquit.com and i guess coupled with what you're saying it's right. The only way to do it is cut it out completely and am going to try. I am so glade that am not the only one that is going through this and that ur all here to help.
Thank you for your time i really appreciate it.

[kathyjo]

The concept is a good one, but throw into the mix a "lousy day" or "aggravation at work" or anything else that is/has been a trigger for you. All of the energy you put into cutting back to "those 4" will have to be played out day after day because you are still feeding your addiction. It will take an extremely long time for your body to adjust to those 4 smokes, if it can, and you will be so stressed, fighting the addiction every day.
Try reading the articles at whyquitdotcom, both the education column and the motivation column. Also, make an appointment with your physician and if you know you can't go cold turkey, then ask for an aid, chantix/champix or the patch.

You can do this and as hard as you think it is, it's that much harder going the route you are talking about.
We will all be here for you when you decide that it is your time : )