Quitting Smoking

[Johanna]

I am trying really hard, and my family has been very supportive, but I am going out of my mind! I'm restless and cranky, have a little bit of a headache and I've been quit less than a week. (I did bum a couple from my stepson, but I made him promise not to give me any more.) Wade (my husband) has sensibly decided that I am best approached with a ten foot pole, and that going fishing with the boys is more fun than hanging out with me right now. (He quit 15 years ago.) I have quit a bunch of times, never for very long. What worked for you? What didn't help at all? How soon will I feel "normal" again? I've been smoking cigarettes for 30 years, and I'm quitting for all the reasons listed above. This time I really want it to stick.

but this ain't easy.

Johanna

[rdb]

I've never beeen successful in 49 years...that's right, I started when I was 10.

My father just passed his 80th birthday...he quit around 60yrs old.

Here's how he did it...gospel truth..

There was this mysterious russian guy, supposedly some kind of mystic hypnotist guy, in Boston. Long beard, frumpy clothes, the works. My father, and his fairly new bride went to see him. When they went in, he didn't say a word. He reached out his palm, and they put $150 in it. They sat down, he looked at them, and said "You're done".

They both walked out of there pissed. They never smoked again.

[Regis]

I smoked for well over 30 years and quit at 4 packs per day. It was hard to psyc myself up to quit and only ever tried twice. 1st time for 90 days and saw a friend light cigarette at work and asked for one, tried it.......then immediately left to buy a pack. Took me 2 more years to psyc/convince myself to quit. That's about 12 years ago now. The crutches help a little but ONLY if you personally REALLY want to quit. No one can make or convince you to quit if you are a heavy smoker unless YOU want to.

my 2 c's

Regis

[David]

Johanna,

I isn't easy, when I quit, I had a strange craving for milk....go figure....but I drank a bunch of it. But, take heart, the addiction is broken in 10 days. After that, it is all in your head. What helped me was to do something when the craving hit. Something that required me to move around worked best....going for a walk or a run. TV was out of the question. If is sat down to veg. I wanted a smoke.

Good luck with it. You will feel better when the cigs are gone! It is an accomplishment that you can be proud of. For an extra incentive, think of the extra $ you will have. When I quit my room mate and I would drive to Wright Patterson Air Force Base to go to the px. We bought them for $1.90 a carton. It was a cheap habit back then.

Dave

[tazzmann]

I have tried about 10 times now. I have tried everything from patches to gum to prescriptions meds. Nothing seems to work. I am going to try and quit cold turkey this Friday. I sympathize with you Johanna. It is tough. I started when I was twelve and am 40 now. With the price of smokes up to almost six dollars a pack here, it is time. I'll keep you in my prayers.

[Denise]

Johanna,

Fortunately I could vote "never" for the first question. Glad I never was tempted when I see the struggle so many people have to quit. (By the way, it wouldn't take my vote because I couldn't vote on the next two.) But congratulations on your decision and all the best to you in sticking with it. Maybe the best incentive is knowing that you have 2,278 people supporting you - and who will check up on you from time to time. Hang in there. You will be glad you did. Just not today, maybe...

[Hilly]

Johanna, I smoked heavily (2 pks/day or more) for about 30 years. Wellbutrin helped immensely in that it took away that really satisfied feeling you get after a smoke (bummer). It sits in your brain in the exact place nicotiene sits. After smoking for a few weeks and not getting any satisfaction out of it, I thought "this is just STUPID that I continue to smoke without the satisfaction" and I decided to quit. It still was not really easy, and for the first few days I haunted places that did not allow smoking, such as the library, malls, etc. When I was at home, I kept my hands busy at all times, and had an endless supply of sugarless chewing gum where my ashtrays always sat. I crocheted a huge kingsized afghan in less than a week! By that time, the worst of the cravings had passed, and after that, it was simply (or not so simply) a matter of figuring out WHAT IN THE HELL TO DO WITH MY HANDS!? I was so used to always holding a cig that I felt naked. I also felt dizzy quite often, and I attributed it to my brain finally getting some real oxygen in stead of a foggy batch of chemicals. My sense of smell came back, and became so acute that now my friends call me "the blood hound". I tease them and say that if they even think about farting, I'll smell it.

I don't know how old your kids are, but if they are old enough to "leave you be" for about a week, and take care of themselves, and make themselves scarce when you're home, it will help a lot. My husband lived in the garage for the first 2 weeks because I could only take care of myself while recovering from my addiction (and that's exactly how it is) from the cigs.

I also found exercise helpful when I had those really bad cravings. I'd go out for a run whenever I was about to tear my hair out. Funny thing was I was so out of shape after puffing away for so many years, I'd make it about 100 yards before I had to slow to a walk. As soon as I caught my breath, I'd take off running again. Did that for about a month.

Also, brush your teeth when you have a craving, especially if you smoke menthols. If you do, chances are you're addicted to the menthol, also. The minty toothpaste and a clean mouth is very refreshing.

But most of all KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. It feels so good now after over 8 years of not smoking, and I will NEVER go back there. I still get cravings a couple times a year, but you learn to ignore them and switch your thinking to something else. I does get easier over time, and you will be suprised at how quickly you learn to deal without the cigs.

Good luck, and I'll be cheering for you!

[Regis]

......... I am going to try and quit cold turkey this Friday. I sympathize with you Johanna. It is tough. ........

One thing I learned while quitting was that the "tough" craving only lasted a short time if I did anything to distract myself for a minute(gum, work, drive, etc). Once distracted, it took 15-60 minuted before it jumped in my face again then one more minuted of concentrated distraction and good for another 15-60 minutes.

It did make me mad at myself to think it was only lack of will-power......think about that for some of the distractions.

Both of you will be im my prayers.

Regis

Edited May 6, 2008 by Regis

[Art]

Hi Johanna,

I quit when I was 32, when my daughter was born. I didn't want to smoke around her and my wife didn't smoke, but didn't mind that I did. I smoked for 18 years. I stopped one day and put a pack of butts in the back of the closet under something, and said I'll have one tomorrow, once I made it to tomorrow, I though that wasn't too hard and said I won't have one today, I'll have one tomorrow, I could make it one day at a time and kind of forgot about doing it after a few years. It gets easier as you go, but bars will test your strength and I didn't give those up for a few more years.

Art

I am trying really hard, and my family has been very supportive, but I am going out of my mind! I'm restless and cranky, have a little bit of a headache and I've been quit less than a week. (I did bum a couple from my stepson, but I made him promise not to give me any more.) Wade (my husband) has sensibly decided that I am best approached with a ten foot pole, and that going fishing with the boys is more fun than hanging out with me right now. (He quit 15 years ago.) I have quit a bunch of times, never for very long. What worked for you? What didn't help at all? How soon will I feel "normal" again? I've been smoking cigarettes for 30 years, and I'm quitting for all the reasons listed above. This time I really want it to stick.

but this ain't easy.

Johanna

[freak]

I think i've already told you my story, i think.

Anyway i finally got it in my head, i'm in control here and i'm quitiing. It was my new years resolution, when 08 hit i hit a year. The only time i really think i might want a smoke is when i have a drink. Then i just smell one and think NOT !! Funny i use to love the smell , just after a few weeks of not smoking i can't stand it. I can be around people that smoke , just not in my face. I tried to quit many, many times before. What made this time diff ??? not sure i think it was the fact that i had it in my head "I'm done with it". I was one of those that set a date and smoked like a freakin mad man the nite before the deadline. Woke up the next day and had a burning throat from all the smoking i did the night before. I loved chocolate before but now, well now i'm about 30 pounds heavier. I'll lose the wieght now that my chocolate addiction is wearing off and my teeth hurt. LOL !!

Good for you for tring stopping !!! If i can do it anyone can. I smoked for 20 years. Smoking is one of the hardest things to kick. So don't give up if you give in. It may take a few trys. The main thing is if you do have a smoke think about the carp that's going in your lungs while you're having it. Then try to stop smoking again. Don't give up !!!

Edited May 6, 2008 by freak