Smoking, Need Help!

Ok here goes, I am 29 and have been smoking since I was about 12, 13.

My health at the moment is at a Plataea, so as I get better I also need to be pro-active myself and help myself, I currently smoke roughly a pkt GT Red 40's Cigs a day, I was recently told that I should consider giving up smoking as I have had both Kidney & Liver failure, apparently smoking affects both which I didn't know, don't get me wrong smoking in general is no good for your health, but I never heard of it affecting your kidney or liver before, I know about the heart problems, lungs, etc etc

So I am looking at giving up, I have tried to do it in the past but failed badly, I was given patches from my hospital admission so I was thinking of getting them out, or speak to my GP regarding the medication to quit smoking.

Do you guys that have quit, any idea's to take your mind off the smokes, ways to stay in control, and wipe this "Just one more won't hurt" out of your head.

I heard of sculling water when your craving, having a piece of fruit, etc but I would like to hear from people that have successfully beaten it and quit?

Thanks in advance.

 

I smoked for 26 years or so. Quit in Dec of 2002, and haven't smoked one since.

I wasn't able to quit cold turkey. I tried that once before, and it didn't work. I had to have some help. I used the nicotine gum - that seemed to be the only way for me to actually kick the habit. Even with the gum, the first month or so was the hardest - I guess that's how long my body took to getting used to receiving nicotine via another route then my lungs . . . but also it took about that long to get a handle on the "physical" aspects of smoking, apart from the addiction to nicotine.

What I mean is, the pure habit of it. I’d get in a car - I'd light one up. I'd knock back a beer - I'd have a cig to go with it. Get done eating a meal, first thing on waking up, etc, etc, etc - a multitude of things that I consciously or unconsciously connected to lighting a cigarette whether I was craving one or not at that moment.

It was an epiphany of sorts when I figured that part of it out. You see, I had tried to quit once before, years before I succeeded - also using the gum. I failed after four months. I understood now that I failed for one main reason, and that was I didn't take into account controlling the physical habit along with the nicotine addiction - because after a few weeks, the craving for nicotine is satisfied with the gum (if used properly - more on that in a bit), but the gum doesn't do much with the other part of the habit - i.e. what do I do with my hands now?

I ended up finding a white plastic pen the same diameter of a cigarette, taking its innards out and cutting it to the exact length of a smoke. I'd keep that in my breast pocket for those times when I'd find myself unconsciously patting my self down for a smoke (you'd be surprised how often it happens at first). It helped a great deal - I'd put it in my lips and even draw air through it as if I was smoking it, lol, when the urge was really bad . . . but I'd also pop a piece of gum in my mouth.

The gum has to be chewed properly - a lot of folks try it and give up almost at once because it made them sick - because they chewed it too fast. I never used smokeless tobacco but that is how you have to treat the gum - chew it three or four times then put it between the cheek and gum . . . leave it for a while, chew it once then back the cheek again. It's hard at first to not forget what it is and start chewing it like a regular piece of gum (not pleasant) but after a bit you get the rhythm of it.

The only other thing I did differently then the first time I tried the gum, was pick moving into our new house as a quitting point. I threw all ashtrays, lighters, etc. away - anything that reminded me of smoking I ditched. That way, I associated nothing in the house with smoking. At any rate, I did succeed . . . and I admit to taking my time to wean myself off the gum (longer then the instructions dictated). I actually still have some somewhere, lol, but haven't chewed any for years.

I won't kid you - even eight years down the road I still find myself absently patting my left breast pocket area at odd times - when stressed, or still when getting into a car now and then - and it occurs to me my hand is looking for a pack of smokes seemingly on its own. But I find it kind of funny when that happens now, because my life is no longer slaved to cigarettes, and I am proud of that.

Trust me, my friend, if I can quit anybody can. I have the will power of a monkey left alone with a cupcake: -D

I hope some this makes some kind of sense . . . been a long day.

 

I smoked for 20 years and I quit cold turkey. I've helped numerous people to quit the same way I did. Just think: It only takes 3 days for the nicotine to drain out of your system. It only takes 30 to 60 seconds for the physical craving to stop. With that said.... It is the emotional craving that is hard to beat.

What I recommend:
Do not go the the stores that you bought cigarettes from for at least one year.
If you have friends who smoke, ask them not to smoke in your presence... if they are truly your friends they will respect your wishes and help you.
When a craving happens, do something you truly hate. You need to re-train your brain. It wants nicotine...you say oh Yeah? well... too bad. You need and can take control of your brain. After this exercise, your brain will give up, especially after you keep doing things you hate. example... doing dishes by hand... washing toilets ..even using a toothbrush to wash the floor.
When you feel weak and think that you may panic and go have a ciggy...tell yourself...tomorrow I will have one...hence another day has passed... Keep say tomorrow. It truly works. After two weeks, you should feel much better...
Rewards: better health. food tastes better and you can breathe easier.

Good luck... if you have a question... please ask. My method does work.
The key is you need to take control of your brain

Shelagh

 

Crap, I forgot to revive my yearly thread. :-D

Both methods listed above work for different people EXOX3. I quit 3 years ago Cold Turkey. As Shelagh says, it takes 3 days for the nicotine to get out of your body. Those days were the worst. After I made it the first week, it started getting better.

My approach was an all out mental war against it, and I was determined to beat it without drugs. Because then you have to get off the drugs, so you drag it out in my opinion. But some people find it easier to quit using drugs.

I will tell you this, I feel a lot better, rarely have sinus problems (use to have problems all the time), and I smell better. :-D Nice to have a bit more money for guns and computer stuff as well. I strongly urge you to quit, and if there is any way I can help you, shoot me an IM.

The key is YOU have to want to quit. Good luck!!

 

I am with you Eox3 with the fact I am tring to quit smoking as well. I am pretty young still 26 and Ive smoked since 7th-8th grade. Ive tried to quit but I just sit there and doing things in life and I dont have a cig in my mouth. Like right now cup of coffee and cig. I havnt tried the nico gum that they sell, heck thats 50 bucks for smaller box here. But I want to quit and I need to quit to save money and healthier and smell better(and make my family/girlfriend) happy. I keep stopping for week or so then I go back. Its a huge habit specially since I am jobless. And I find myself going to cigs when I hear bad news(which is often with my family problems) so I just go buy a pack to calm down. I tried normal chewing gum but the habit of smoking a cig is better feeling. Back in the day when I had a good job or the time I was in school Id smoke a pack a day and when I worked good job I smoked maybe 1.5 packs a day. Now I try to keep it to half pack a day. But I really need to find and urge to stop. (while typing I am grabbing my second cig to have with this coffee). But hopefully you find the way and path of getting to stop smoking.

 

Hope you succeed.
I have had this nasty habit, which I wish I had never acquired, for 40+ years.
Smoking 2 packs a day.
Have tried numerous times to quit, but unless someone is sitting on me, I will somehow get my hands on one.
Not easy to do for most people. Myself included.
I truly would like to kick this habit. Especially after doing some math.
2x4=8
8x7=56 $56. each week goes through my lungs.
Will be trying again.
Telling my friends that they have my permission to bust me right in the chops if they catch me with one,without fear of retaliation.
I'll either quit, or become too sneaky for them.
Hopefully the first option will prevail.

 

I doubt I'll ever give up and I've smoked for over 40 years.

 

My dad used some pill called Chantix(probably spelled wrong). It worked great, he was done within like 3 weeks, the only thing is it kinda screwed up his brain. He took up golf =O

 

Golf???
Beat the crap out of a defenseless white ball just so you can chase it down and hit it again?:confused
Totally barbaric.:-D
What did the ball do to deserve that type of treatment?rolleyes

 

I quit cold turkey. I was pleased it was so easy because I'd tried a few times before. What helped was two other couples we are still friends with quit at the same time.
One thing I had to deal with was thinking it would be impossible to drink a coffee or beer without a cigarette. Or drive my car etc. etc. I found out that I could. It seems silly now that I would think that way. That's what your brain can do to you.
Also one psychological edge I gave myself at the time was I told people I don't smoke as opposed to saying I quit.

 

"I told people I don't smoke as opposed to saying I quit."

I like that.

 

Don’t wait until they tell you your going to die.
The power of your own mind is the best way to quit

 

I remember when I was 17 or so and told my mother finally I smoke cigs. So what did she do and still do once in a while? She would bring home things from doctors when she went about throat/mouth lung pictures of smokers. I just threw them away! I know its bad and Id love to quit but Its biggest habit I got. I smoke when I wake up, eat, before bed, while doing things during the day. Plus it doesnt help when you got not much to do around here(poor) jobs suck, life sucks atm, car is crap and needs repair.. nothing but watch tv/browse internet and smoke.

 

Well, it is your money you are burning Silas.

But really, you have to want to quit to do it in my opinion. Maybe now is not the time for you, hope that changes.