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What helped me quit smoking
This is how I quit smoking cigarettes. Maybe it can help with drugs, bad habits or other things. Just read and hopefully it'll help you one day.
Personally, I've always known I should quit smoking but enjoyed it too much. Even after my Uncle was diagnosed and died from smoking related cancer I still couldn't quit. I'd try but I'd always go back to it because of the "the it'll never happen to me" attitude. I've been smoking about a pack a day for the past 7 years. 2 or more packs while out partying and drinking all night.
Even tho prices went waay up, my family and girlfriends trying to get me to quit, feeling tired all the time, smelling like smoke, and aging quicker, I still didn't have enough of a reason to quit. I never would off of other peoples reasons. I had to have my own. I came to realize the only way I could quit is if I somehow got cancer or some diesease smoking related. Why wait until u have something to quit? Afterall, it's easy to quit....I've done it hundreds of times ( a simple joke I'd say). But the truth is it's not. That's why I couldn't quit. It turned out to be the hardest thing I've ever done. And I'm quite proud. Only other smokers really addicted would understand.
I figured if I was successfully going to quit I had to have a plan. Knowing my own addictive personality, I figured I didn't need patches or pills to overcome it. It would just lead right back to smoking cuz I'd need the nicotene. The main 2 causes for me not being able to quit are: Nicotene addiction and became a habit. For example, to get a break from work- go outside and smoke. To help calm the nerves-smoke. To help me sleep better-smoke right before bed. To make drives less boring-smoke the whole trip. Go to the bar and have a few beers-go smoke and hangout. I can go on for days on times you'd feel a cigarette was appropriate.
So I decided to break the habit first. Most smokers I know smoke considerably less while out of work or busy with something. So, the first step was work. I personally didn't smoke half as much at home. Getting stressed or needing to just get away for a second was what smoking could provide. I'd recommend walking places when you get a break or just getting out of that environment. Reading in a different room. Eating or watching tv. Anything that could just give you a break from what you are doing. I replaced it with sunflower seeds for the first week and gum. Holding a pencil or pen in my fingers while doing so helped alot. It's almost like tricking your brain.
Second was the social drinking scene. The first night out drinking at day 9 was absolutely horrible. I told all of my friends to not supply me. WhenI was drunk and asked for a cigarette everyone looked at me and said "are you stupid?" I was pissed but they did what I needed. I decided to stay away from the bars the next weekend and instead having longer days. The beach, movies, sports, the gym. Anything to keep me occupied.
Those were my two weakest areas that I felt like I could not conquer. So I cut out the bars for two weeks and resorted to other stress relievers. Now the nicotene factor. I rather replaced it with other addicitions. Now, the pills and patches may work but just didn't do it for me. Think of nicotene as the candy bar you want and your on a diet. U crave it and oh....it would be so good. But buy the apple instead. It will be better in the long run! i'm addicted to the gym now. I'm on day 36 and damn proud of it. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done but you can't replace the feeling of control over your life. It's a great feeling of dominance and control.
The only reason I was able to quit is because I wanted it! I basically thought really hard about it and thought of what I could do to trick my body and mind into not relying on cigarettes anymore. If you want to quit, quit putting yourself into situations of where you'd know you'd smoke. If you just resort to the patch and are still out getting s%&*faced with a bunch of smokers the chances of quiting are slim to none. Think about your habits and what could help you. If patches or pills are what you need then DO IT! But keep in mind, medicines aren't in control of you life. You are. Be who you want to be. Planning actions are what's keen. If you don't have a plan you most likely aren\'t going to be able to quit. I hope this helped at least one person in the world. :) Dave
Personally, I've always known I should quit smoking but enjoyed it too much. Even after my Uncle was diagnosed and died from smoking related cancer I still couldn't quit. I'd try but I'd always go back to it because of the "the it'll never happen to me" attitude. I've been smoking about a pack a day for the past 7 years. 2 or more packs while out partying and drinking all night.
Even tho prices went waay up, my family and girlfriends trying to get me to quit, feeling tired all the time, smelling like smoke, and aging quicker, I still didn't have enough of a reason to quit. I never would off of other peoples reasons. I had to have my own. I came to realize the only way I could quit is if I somehow got cancer or some diesease smoking related. Why wait until u have something to quit? Afterall, it's easy to quit....I've done it hundreds of times ( a simple joke I'd say). But the truth is it's not. That's why I couldn't quit. It turned out to be the hardest thing I've ever done. And I'm quite proud. Only other smokers really addicted would understand.
I figured if I was successfully going to quit I had to have a plan. Knowing my own addictive personality, I figured I didn't need patches or pills to overcome it. It would just lead right back to smoking cuz I'd need the nicotene. The main 2 causes for me not being able to quit are: Nicotene addiction and became a habit. For example, to get a break from work- go outside and smoke. To help calm the nerves-smoke. To help me sleep better-smoke right before bed. To make drives less boring-smoke the whole trip. Go to the bar and have a few beers-go smoke and hangout. I can go on for days on times you'd feel a cigarette was appropriate.
So I decided to break the habit first. Most smokers I know smoke considerably less while out of work or busy with something. So, the first step was work. I personally didn't smoke half as much at home. Getting stressed or needing to just get away for a second was what smoking could provide. I'd recommend walking places when you get a break or just getting out of that environment. Reading in a different room. Eating or watching tv. Anything that could just give you a break from what you are doing. I replaced it with sunflower seeds for the first week and gum. Holding a pencil or pen in my fingers while doing so helped alot. It's almost like tricking your brain.
Second was the social drinking scene. The first night out drinking at day 9 was absolutely horrible. I told all of my friends to not supply me. WhenI was drunk and asked for a cigarette everyone looked at me and said "are you stupid?" I was pissed but they did what I needed. I decided to stay away from the bars the next weekend and instead having longer days. The beach, movies, sports, the gym. Anything to keep me occupied.
Those were my two weakest areas that I felt like I could not conquer. So I cut out the bars for two weeks and resorted to other stress relievers. Now the nicotene factor. I rather replaced it with other addicitions. Now, the pills and patches may work but just didn't do it for me. Think of nicotene as the candy bar you want and your on a diet. U crave it and oh....it would be so good. But buy the apple instead. It will be better in the long run! i'm addicted to the gym now. I'm on day 36 and damn proud of it. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done but you can't replace the feeling of control over your life. It's a great feeling of dominance and control.
The only reason I was able to quit is because I wanted it! I basically thought really hard about it and thought of what I could do to trick my body and mind into not relying on cigarettes anymore. If you want to quit, quit putting yourself into situations of where you'd know you'd smoke. If you just resort to the patch and are still out getting s%&*faced with a bunch of smokers the chances of quiting are slim to none. Think about your habits and what could help you. If patches or pills are what you need then DO IT! But keep in mind, medicines aren't in control of you life. You are. Be who you want to be. Planning actions are what's keen. If you don't have a plan you most likely aren\'t going to be able to quit. I hope this helped at least one person in the world. :) Dave
Congratulations, Dave! Sounds like you've quit more than one bad habit with the smoking quit. That's excellent and keep up the good work!
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