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How I stopped smoking
I smoked for ~24yrs, 2-3 pks/day and more on weekends...
First you have to WANT to quit... I went to a hypnotherapist once a week and was cigarette free by the end of the third week. Patches, etc. are just another 'monkey-on-your-back'; forget one and your subconscious screams for the cigarette. The hardest part of not smoking was that I had to give up Coffee, Tea and any type of Alcoholic beverages for about 18 months..(purchase caffeine tablets for that morning pickup and begin to drink water or other beverages).
After that period, I could re-indulge with the aforementioned without subconsciously reaching for the cigarette...
That's what smoking does to you, it trains your subconscious to want a cigarette with beverages, after meals, while driving or reading, after sex, or just being alone... retrain your subconscious and regain control of your life. My hypnotherapist gave me this little verse to read when I was having 'withdrawals'...
"I have a stronger feeling everyday that I am in complete control of losing the smoking habit and I keep my determination to succeed. I let no situation to allow my enemy, the cigarette, to gain control. I continually picture myself as a NON-SMOKER......HEALTHY, PROUD AND CONFIDENT with CLEANER LUNGS, A STEADY HEARTBEAT and BETTER BREATHING ABILITY.. Being the BOSS, rather than a slave, is more important to me than seeking MOMENTARY pleasure, allowing long-range damage to my body. Every hour as a non-smoker is a victory.
I AM THE BOSS!!!!!"
It is NOT easy to retrain your subconscious, if you can limit your cigarettes weekly (i.e.; <20 the first week, <10 the second week; <3 the third week [my performance history]) then you can begin to feel your lungs clear up and feel better about yourself.
YES food tastes 300% better, so be prepared to either chew gum or gain weight (Yikes!!), but you now have a challenge to see who is the strongest....if your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend smokes, get them to stop too...the kisses will be sweeter and not taste like an ash tray :)
I';m 68yo, been smoke-free for 30yrs now and have never suffered from any ailments from smoking... I am a bicyclist; riding 120-160m/week...
Tell yourself that you want to quit.... expect withdrawals, but be determined to be the stronger person and overcome
this nasty habit that is contaminating your body and IS going to kill you!!!!!!!!!!!1
First you have to WANT to quit... I went to a hypnotherapist once a week and was cigarette free by the end of the third week. Patches, etc. are just another 'monkey-on-your-back'; forget one and your subconscious screams for the cigarette. The hardest part of not smoking was that I had to give up Coffee, Tea and any type of Alcoholic beverages for about 18 months..(purchase caffeine tablets for that morning pickup and begin to drink water or other beverages).
After that period, I could re-indulge with the aforementioned without subconsciously reaching for the cigarette...
That's what smoking does to you, it trains your subconscious to want a cigarette with beverages, after meals, while driving or reading, after sex, or just being alone... retrain your subconscious and regain control of your life. My hypnotherapist gave me this little verse to read when I was having 'withdrawals'...
"I have a stronger feeling everyday that I am in complete control of losing the smoking habit and I keep my determination to succeed. I let no situation to allow my enemy, the cigarette, to gain control. I continually picture myself as a NON-SMOKER......HEALTHY, PROUD AND CONFIDENT with CLEANER LUNGS, A STEADY HEARTBEAT and BETTER BREATHING ABILITY.. Being the BOSS, rather than a slave, is more important to me than seeking MOMENTARY pleasure, allowing long-range damage to my body. Every hour as a non-smoker is a victory.
I AM THE BOSS!!!!!"
It is NOT easy to retrain your subconscious, if you can limit your cigarettes weekly (i.e.; <20 the first week, <10 the second week; <3 the third week [my performance history]) then you can begin to feel your lungs clear up and feel better about yourself.
YES food tastes 300% better, so be prepared to either chew gum or gain weight (Yikes!!), but you now have a challenge to see who is the strongest....if your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend smokes, get them to stop too...the kisses will be sweeter and not taste like an ash tray :)
I';m 68yo, been smoke-free for 30yrs now and have never suffered from any ailments from smoking... I am a bicyclist; riding 120-160m/week...
Tell yourself that you want to quit.... expect withdrawals, but be determined to be the stronger person and overcome
this nasty habit that is contaminating your body and IS going to kill you!!!!!!!!!!!1
Way to go on your quit!
Just keep in mind that stuffs going to happen whether you are smoking or not....can't contol things other than your quit.
Read the articles on whyquitdotcom and this may help you through those stressful periods.
Just keep telling yourself what your reasons for quitting are and when you need support, we are here for you : )
Hang in there!
Kathy Jo
Just keep in mind that stuffs going to happen whether you are smoking or not....can't contol things other than your quit.
Read the articles on whyquitdotcom and this may help you through those stressful periods.
Just keep telling yourself what your reasons for quitting are and when you need support, we are here for you : )
Hang in there!
Kathy Jo
wow, i didn't realize anyone replied to this! My quit day was moved back, but only by two days. I have not smoked in over a week. Go me! I'm glad to get your reply as that was the very question I was about to ask (Chantix and the patch). I'm doing okay on the patch (well haven't smooked yet), but having a very hard time as I continue to get more worse news about my fiances health...Urgh!
Whatever problems you have now will still be there, regardless if you are smoking or quit.
You sound as if you are ready so I wish you luck and if you need support, we are here for you.
As for the patch and taking an RX, I'm not sure what type of drug you are referring to. If it's an anxiety pill (wellbutrin, xanax, etc.) then that should be okay. If you are referring to Chantix, then no, you can't mix them.
Good luck and we are her for support!
Kathy Jo
You sound as if you are ready so I wish you luck and if you need support, we are here for you.
As for the patch and taking an RX, I'm not sure what type of drug you are referring to. If it's an anxiety pill (wellbutrin, xanax, etc.) then that should be okay. If you are referring to Chantix, then no, you can't mix them.
Good luck and we are her for support!
Kathy Jo
Hello,
I have decided that as of the 15th of Jan, I will no longer be smoking. I have joined a support group that has provided me with a phone support person and will be recieving my first 4 weeks of patches shortly. Does anyone know if you can use the patch as well as RX at the same time? I'm sooooo ready to quit, but I have so much going on that I'm afraid that between stress and such (I was just informed that my fiance has been diagnosed with Hep C) that it's going to be harder than the last time I quit. I have been told with the new news (because of the severity of it) that I should wait to stop and let things sink in, but I don't want to wait!
I have decided that as of the 15th of Jan, I will no longer be smoking. I have joined a support group that has provided me with a phone support person and will be recieving my first 4 weeks of patches shortly. Does anyone know if you can use the patch as well as RX at the same time? I'm sooooo ready to quit, but I have so much going on that I'm afraid that between stress and such (I was just informed that my fiance has been diagnosed with Hep C) that it's going to be harder than the last time I quit. I have been told with the new news (because of the severity of it) that I should wait to stop and let things sink in, but I don't want to wait!
Chantix is fairly new (approx. 2 years?) and it has a 40% quit rate. I think that it works wonders, but then you also have to have the desire to go along with it : )
I tried hypnosis, (not Elvis's guy though) and I guess I just wasn't ready to quit as I smoked another 20 years before it finally sunk in. Better late then never : )
Kathy Jo
(a great name : )
I tried hypnosis, (not Elvis's guy though) and I guess I just wasn't ready to quit as I smoked another 20 years before it finally sunk in. Better late then never : )
Kathy Jo
(a great name : )
Congratulations to all.... to stop smoking for most is a terrible process...my wife smoked (5-6 cigs/day) for about 5yrs and when she decided to go to work, she quit that very Monday and never picked up another one. %-) I was a basket-case... I don't think they had Chantix in the late 1970's...I think they had 'the patch' back then???.. Oddly enough, the Hypnotist was Elvis's hypnotist & martial arts companion in Memphis...I've never seen so many pics of Elvis in one office area since. The withdrawal-torture that I experienced the first week was enough to make me determined to never have to repeat that week again...
btw: I have a daughter named Kathy Jo :)))
btw: I have a daughter named Kathy Jo :)))
Yes Kathyjo, I'm hanging and thanks for all you support and success. I've had a few short slips but now am sailing along carefully down the smoke free hiway. You are right, ciggs are the enemy and equal death and shortened lives. I'll always remember my parents and feel good as I know they would for me being a non smoker.
I took Chantix for 6 weeks and I haven't smoked in nearly 1 year and 2 months. Although Chantix is generally prescribed for 3 months, and it really should be taken for that long, it is rather expensive and some try to stop using it before the recommended time.
I smoked for 38 yrs. and I thought I would die a smoker. The defining moment came when my doctor asked me to "just try chantix, what do you have to lose". I held onto the prescription for a few months and after a bad bout of bronchitis, I filled it.
Like anyone who has quit or is trying to, there are moments of weakness and I think I will adopt your mantra:
"I have a stronger feeling everyday that I am in complete control of losing the smoking habit and I keep my determination to succeed. I let no situation to allow my enemy, the cigarette, to gain control. I continually picture myself as a NON SMOKER.....HEALTHY, PROUD AND CONFIDENT with CLEANER LUNGS, A STEADY HEARTBEAT and BETTER BREATHING ABILITY.. Being the BOSS, rather than a slave, is more important to me than seeking MOMENTARY pleasure, allowing long-range damage to my body. Every hour as a non-smoker is a victory.
I AM THE BOSS!!!!!"
That really sums it up and I want to thank you for sharing it with the forum : )
Congrats to you on 30 yrs.!
Kathy Jo
I smoked for 38 yrs. and I thought I would die a smoker. The defining moment came when my doctor asked me to "just try chantix, what do you have to lose". I held onto the prescription for a few months and after a bad bout of bronchitis, I filled it.
Like anyone who has quit or is trying to, there are moments of weakness and I think I will adopt your mantra:
"I have a stronger feeling everyday that I am in complete control of losing the smoking habit and I keep my determination to succeed. I let no situation to allow my enemy, the cigarette, to gain control. I continually picture myself as a NON SMOKER.....HEALTHY, PROUD AND CONFIDENT with CLEANER LUNGS, A STEADY HEARTBEAT and BETTER BREATHING ABILITY.. Being the BOSS, rather than a slave, is more important to me than seeking MOMENTARY pleasure, allowing long-range damage to my body. Every hour as a non-smoker is a victory.
I AM THE BOSS!!!!!"
That really sums it up and I want to thank you for sharing it with the forum : )
Congrats to you on 30 yrs.!
Kathy Jo
Most people take it for about a month and then don't need it anymore. There is no chantix fix. It doesn't give you anything it just cuts cravings .
just curious....how long have you been taking Chantix, and can you stop taking Chantix without the need to have either a cigarette or a Chantix 'fix'??
I glad it worked for you but this method isn't usually successful. Chantix is working for me and I can drink coffee.
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