Quitting Smoking

[Clay]

Johanna,

Like Bruce I never really smoked much but I was dipping 5 cans of snuff a week and I suddenly realzed one day that I was spending lots of money to make my self sick (Aprox $1300 per year!!). So I thought about it a while and slowly lowered my self to a couple of cans a week down to a can a week then I stopped. I am right with you though because it took a while and I am on my third week of "copenfreedom" Lol You can do it!! The thing that helped me was to just not think about it. do something else.

ClayM.

[skipj]

I quit before our daughter was born, for the babys health, that is for the final time. I also went on a diet at the same time. I figured, if I was going to be miserable I might as well do it right. The physical craving gos away way before the mental desire fades. Don't give up, just keep trying and you will make it.

SkipJ

[TwinOaks]

The first time I quit was after double pneumonia- hack, cough, I'm done. Two weeks of rest ( yeah, it was a bad case of pneumonia, and left scar tissue) and I had trouble breathing in my friends' aparments. I was smoke free for about 6 months. Then, one day I went fly fishing with my buddy, and had a perfect fishing day. Those angers among you understand. On the walk back to the cars, I bummed one and fell right off the wagon. The second time I quit was the result of traumatic injury, time in the hospital -try waking up three weeks from the last time you remember and not being able to use your hands, and the complete inability to pick one up or light it if you did. I was physically past the addiction, but my brain never conciously went through withdrawal, and I ended up smoking again (hey, in my defense, I was ORDERED to restart so I would be tolerable). Now, I've got a job that has me driving A LOT, and that is where I smoke most of mine. I'm wanting to quit, but I think the real deal maker now is the choice: fuel or cigarettes. Interestingly enough, I don't smoke at all when I'm tooling or carving.

Johanna, here' s your excuse to pick up the tools again. Everytime you want to smoke, go carve leather.

I like the idea of a LW support group, and will join up to support anyone quitting.

[rawhide1]

Well I feel everyones pain. I started dipping skoal when I was 12 and and contiued with about a can a day until I turned 32. I quit dipping because my gums were gone. So I started chewing redman about two pouches a day. I also started smoking about a pack a day. Since the nazis here decided we couldn't smoke in the firehouse bay anymore or the bars or in any other place like the legion or VFW go figure. I've cut back to about a pack a week. We can still smoke outside the firehouse but it's a hassle. I mostly like to smoke when i'm drinking or after a good fire. I'm just a nicotine junkie hell sometimes I smoke and chew at the same time pretty sad. I was going to to quit but I was told nobody likes a quitter (just kiddin)But with my kids on my butt about quiting I know I will pretty soon just to keep them off my back. I wish everyone the best of luck in breaking thier bad habits.

Mike

[TroyS]

Johanna,

I'm 42 years old and have been smoking since I was 9. I tried quitting SEVERAL times but never could. I always had a bad attitude after a few days and would give in to temptation and start back again. Then, I was introduced to a woman said she had a sure fire way to help me quit. Hyonosis! After talking with her about it in detail, I had the hypnosis and VIOLA! NO MORE SMOKING! That was in February of 2007 and I haven't had a cigerette since. You can't (won't) quit until you have a genuine desire to quit. Once you have the desire, anything is possible. One thing that DOES help though is every time you think about having a smoke, PAUSE, tell yourself "I"m NOT A SMOKER", and then WAIT at least five minutes before lighting up. Pretty soon, you find out that if you WAIT 5 MINUTES before lighting up, the habit of lighting up is replaced with the habit of PAUSING! Eventually, the urges go away.

Now, all of the money that DID go to cigerettes (coffin nails), goes into my leathercrafting!

Good Luck! God Bless! And if you EVER need anyone to talk to about it or VENT ON, I'm here for you! That goes for anyone in the forum! YOU CAN QUIT!

Troy

[Jordan]

After the 1st 72 hours it is all mental and physical reconditioning, which is way harder than the physiological withdrawl from the nicotine. I have not been able to get over that hump and I have gone back many times, but take heart there are millions that have quit, you can do it too.

[rgerbitz]

I quit smoking and chewing last November. I would smoke at work and chew at home, so as not to smoke around the little one. I used chantix for two months. I can't say enough about it. About 2 weeks in I had all but forgotten about smoking and chewing. Aside from the occasional "urge". The folks at chantix give you a call everyday to check in on you, it is only an automatted call but it sure helped to keep me focused. You can also track your progress on a web site if you want. I haven't had a single dip or smoke since november, I only have a strange addiction to tooth picks now.

I am really glad to be done, feel like a Million Bucks.

Rob

[whinewine]

I quit smoking and chewing last November. I would smoke at work and chew at home, so as not to smoke around the little one. I used chantix for two months. I can't say enough about it. About 2 weeks in I had all but forgotten about smoking and chewing. Aside from the occasional "urge". The folks at chantix give you a call everyday to check in on you, it is only an automatted call but it sure helped to keep me focused. You can also track your progress on a web site if you want. I haven't had a single dip or smoke since november, I only have a strange addiction to tooth picks now.

I am really glad to be done, feel like a Million Bucks.

Rob

Rob: I'm assuming that chantix is an oral drug? I've heard it mentioned here. That's great!

I used to chew pencils & pens (not toothpicks, though), & hold them like cigarettes, because I had a hand that no longer held a cigarette so I had to substitute something for it. There is so much involved in the process of smoking, beyond getting it into the lungs- there is the ritual- getting the cigarette out, putting it between the fingers, then between the lips, the anticipation of the hit, lighting it, then the 'bam!' as it is drawn deeply into the lungs & gives the jolt...

when you do finally quit, you will do a complete lifestyle change, a complete behavioral change, that includes things like: "what the hell will I do with my hand now that I no longer need to hold a cigarette"...

years after I quit, I was walking across a field to watch my younger son practice football, & I happened to look down & saw a pack of cigarettes that someone had dropped. I started to bend down to pick them up, thinking, "OOH, free ciga...", caught myself, straightened up & kept on walking. Nicotine addiction is one horrible bad trip. Keep at it, Johanna. I've been clean 15 years now. I have emphysema from all those bad years, but I did earn it honestly, so I can't complain. And I am the healthiest I have been in years.

[Scary Leatherworks]

Since someone as already mentioned it I will just say to try Chantix. it seems to be helping alot of people quit who were long time smokers that couldn't quit any other way. it's kind of expensive but not as much as smoking

[Hilly]

So, how is it going for you, Johanna?