quitting smoking question...

I reeeeally want to quit smoking. I have the right mentality... just having trouble doing it. Everyone i hang out w/ smokes.... even my room mate smokes... anyone have any good quit smoking advice?

People always tell you that you "have to want it".  But that didn't work for me.  I have been quitting since March (nicotine free too), and one of my mantras was "it's just not an option anymore".  I almost have myself convinced that I have no free will and that I am deathly allergic to cigarettes, which is rather true if you consider a significant delay in reaction time, like 20 years, to constitute an 'allergy'.  Anyway, it truly comes down to a good old mind game.....ARE YOU STRONGER THAN IT?  If not,  then get some chantix and some NA courses.....it's a tough addiction to beat without the mental stamina.

I don't know how to explain it.  It has to go from being something you want to do to something you just do.  You accept in your mind that this time it is permanent, that you will never smoke another cigarette again.  And you do whatever you have to to stick with that resolution!  Good luck.

I quit cold turkey on New Years Day this year. I havent had one cigarrette. I changed my perspective into: cigarrettes are like an old friend who betrayed me. They stole from me, talked about me, lied to me, and made me look bad. If I go back I'm a sucker, cause everybody knows and its embarassing.

cshammas

i like how you discribe a cigerette as an old friend, its just the phrase i needed to hear as I quit today or I am trying, I have had 1 cigerette today tomm i will have none. Its not easy. Does weed count? j/k

lol - good, that was something I came up with to change my attitude towards cigarrettes and it helped a lot.  Also, I prepared myself for every single situation I could think of where I might be triggered into a cigarrette craving and for each situation I could think of, I thought of what I would do instead. I ended up going to the bathroom a lot and putting on more lipstick, doing my nails, mints, cooking, web surfing, I actually made a list of all these 10 min activities that correspond to where I might be and who I might be with. I avoided anyone who smokes for about a month. I told them I was quitting and said listen if you support me just let me keep my distance for a while and I'll catch up to you later. They all respected that. And listen the first two weeks of no cigs is the hardest. Once you're past that its a breeze unless there is a trigger. So be prepared. Know yourself <-----this is big. Smoking is a common habit, but a personal battle to break. You have to know yourself. Oh and don't think its been two weeks if you've had two cigarrettes during that time - the first full two weeks with absolutely not a puff and in the meantime everybody you know is just waiting to see what happens, as long as you get through that, when  you tell people its been a MONTH, nothing can compare to how you will feel. You will NOT want to tell these people on month 2 that you failed and are starting over. You will use that positive feedback as motivation. That will get you by! Just do it, cigarrettes did you WRONG.

oh and just msg me I can answer your last question too lol :)

One other thing, is now that I've quit smoking cigs after 13 years I truly feel like I can do anything. Do you know how that feels? I never did until now and no stupid cigarette is getting in the way of this new found respect I have for myself.

My 2 yr anniversary was lst Sunday -- I quit cold turkey and altough the body detoxing was a pain after wards I felt so much better.  Its hard for several months and I must admit even after 2 yrs there are times when I really really really want a cigarette.

I did take Welbutrin for 1 month before I quit and 4 months afterwards - back then they didn't have that new drug available.  But I know the welbutrin helped with the psychological issues. 

I also highly recommend "quitnet.com"  the people there are wonderful. 

what is welbutrin?

do it gradulaly. like if you now smoke 5 cig a day cut it down to 4 cig a day for a week or so then 3 then 2 then 1 and eventualy it will be 0. its going to take stranth of will. tell the people around you what your doing ask them not to smoke around you and not to give you one. the first month is the hardest and after that it will be come easer. it will also help if you can substitue it. like when you have a craving have a loly pop. (i have a friend whos not addicted to the nicotine but the motion of smoking)

yeah i'm cutting it down.  I'm trying to only smoke after eating now... I was on a pack and a half a day! (my boyfriend passed on in december and my knees gave out in january so i couldn't do my distance running for stress... so i turned to these darn cancer sticks) but i'm a lot less stressed out now so i'm cutting down and eventually stopping! i will keep you all posted!

I smoked from 15-29...then I quit successfully (for 7 years now) after quitting on numerous occassions.  It was sadly, part of my identity.

I could only face quitting by saying, "TODAY I will not smoke".  The next day I said, "Well, I managed yesterday, another day won't hurt".  And eventually today turned into 7 years.

It would never have worked for me if I had to, on the very first day of quitting, think "I will never smoke again", that would have been too much of a hurdle, a hurdle I would have felt unattainable.

Now with my fitness, 36 years late, I say, "Today I will not eat chips or chocolate, TODAY I will eat a fruit instead".  I can't face forever, forever just has to develop.

It is also why I don't make New Years resolutions.  I EVOLVE.

Good luck to you.  I completely understand the draw of addictive substances.  It is double hard when your social life includes smokers.

Reduce the amount of cigarettes gradually, that should work, it takes time tho. If you get the urge later just have one and puff it, don't breathe it in.

I was a pack a day smoker plus chewed the nicotine gum at work and places you couldn't smoke - so for me it was all lnor nothing I knew that was the only way I was going to quit.

Welbutrin is actually an anti depressant but helps with the mental side effects when quitting.  You do need to take it for a couple weeks before you actaully quit to get your blood levels of the drug to the right height then the irritability and stuff isn more manageable - but I also had a 33 yr history of the darn things.  If you are only smoking after meals you may not need lots of help quitting. 

I found instead of a cig if I brushed my teeth it helped replace that signal of "the meal has ended now".  I find the hardest one for me is the one in the car when I get in.  Too this day 2 yrs later I have to have a pack of gum in the car so I grab that .  This is just one habit of having to "reach for that smoke" action after I start the car.

...

I've never smoked, but the two persons I know who quit codl turkey said:

MY mom: I just felt I smelled awful, and I knew it ws dangerous, so I quit ( after over 30 years of smoking). She's now been a non smoker for 20 years.

My collegue: I checked how much money I spend on ciggies every day, and decided to put that money away every day to by myself something really nice at the end of the first year. After the first year she made the downpayment for her new car......

This is all good stuff! Quitting is a very personal thing, so what works for one is different than what works for another. You have to know yourself and pick and choose how you're gonna do it but you ARE gonna do it so do it!

DO IT DO IT DO IT

My sister quit after thinking she got a blood clot from smoking and taking birth control (It can happen I quess) Maybe you should think about that. Blood clots hurt like hell, and can kill you.

third day of not smoking or should i say trying not to smoke, Friday was mystop day and i had 2, yesterday, saturday i had two, today one from 2 packs a day to 5 in three days has been good but i am still looking for my first smoke free day, maybe tomm....

xxpoisonedheart  keep trying never give in you will prevail i know i'm going to make it a friend mentioned something about respecting myself too much to smoke ty cshammas00 you have been a great help i have read this thread many times, i always find strength in your posts. thank you!

pointstoall that is great, keep up the good work :) I'm so happy you're successful in cutting down. As long as the end result is you quitting then continue what ever works for you. I am here for you if you need more support, I am full of it!!!