Another vote for the Allen Carr book. It’s 4 1/2 years since I read it and quit effortlessly. Even though you’re clearly well equipped for this little adventure, I’d really, *really *recommend getting hold of a copy. He discusses some of the ways of dealing with tricky situations; I saved some of these little snippets of logic as texts on my phone, and when I felt weak, headed for somewhere quiet and had a quick read. That was usually outside a bar
In fact, I am so convinced of its usefulness, and love the idea of other people discovering the prize of quitting so much, if you like I’ll buy it and post it to you.
Just say the word.
I checked my local library and wouldn’t you know…the book is marked as “lost” Must have been too good to return!
I’ll take your offer to purchase this book for me, along with everyone else’s recommendations as a kick in the ass and go look for it at the local book store soon.
If I end up eating this pen and my face ends up all blue, I’ll post pics too.
Gum. Not nicotine gum, just plain gum. Chewing, bubble, sticks, bricks, tape, shredded…matters not. Find a flavor you like (or at least don’t hate) and chew a stick or equivalent amount whenever you get the urge. It usually lasts about 10 minutes, which is longer than a cigarette would, and when the flavor’s gone, so’s the urge, usually.
Ok I bought the book! Amazon is too friggin easy these days…
I forgot to mention in my OP that I have TMJD (messed up jaw) and can’t chew gum for extended periods, or regular short periods. That’s why I went with the patch over the gum, and am sucking on pens instead of chewing on gum.
Although I just stuck “my” rubberband in my mouth and it doesn’t taste that bad…
I did exactly that in college once, after having been stopped for a while. Sure, the first one was horrible… but the second one wasn’t bad, and by the end of the next day I was back to smoking a pack…
I quit almost three years ago after nearly 30 years of smoking. I used the patch and was amazed at how well it worked. I didn’t really miss the nicotine but there was a “void” in my routine. These days, though, I seldom even think about smoking. Best part, I’m getting on a jet in October for a dream trip to Italy and won’t have to worry about when I can have my next drag.
I’ll be five years smoke-free this Sunday. I had one backslide early last year and like Meow Meow, I was sick (though I maintain that it was the shots, beer & vodka as much as the half dozen ciggies).
**jayjay’s ** right about the hard candies, though I’d go for sugar free sweets. Also, whoever it was that recommended taking in a deep breath and holding it. That worked for me too, something to do with the oxygen rush, but I can’t remember where I read about it.
My parents gave up with the patches and I gave up by using a herbal tobacco replacement - either way we broke the psychological link between smoking and nicotine. There’s really two habits to give up and they each have a different withdrawal. I know I’d been nicotine free for several weeks before I stopped smoking, but it was only then that I got depressed and weepy for a fortnight.
My ‘comfort’ thing that I couldn’t get rid of, was the tin on the porch where I stubbed out my smokes. It was almost a year before I could dump that and truely feel I’d beaten the addiction.
Last thursday my dad told me that he just got life insurance for me (I work for him), he checked No Smoking, there will be blood test, “so if you still smoke you just quit”. I just nodded, left work, had one smoke then, one that night and that’s been it. It’ll be a week tomarrow night.
I always felt that I was only mentally addicted and so far I seem to be right. I LOVE LOVE LOVE smoking. When I was 10-12 years old I used to inhale the smoke from cap guns and blow smoke rings.
Anyways, I’ve been smoking for about 15 years and frankly, this week hasn’t been a big deal. But like I said before, I always felt it was only mental. The reason I say that is becuase in all my years smoking I’ve never once smoked in front of my parents or my wife. They both hate it to the point where the subject isn’t even discussed. Hell, I woulnd’t even mention to them that I quit just because I don’t feel like having a conversation about it with them. Having said that, when ever I would go on vacation with my wife it’s never been a problem not smoking. The only thing that’s tough is all the times I think, hmmm, right now I should be lighting a cigarette, but that’s about the worst of it. (My dad jokes around that his biggest fear about quitting smoking was that if his car lighter wasn’t pushed in, the engine might not start)
What’s even weirder is I started walking. For the past three nights I walked, briskly, between 1-2 miles. I’ve been meaning to work on this pot belly thing, I figured I might as well start now.
Ignore the phrasing of the post, it was mostly a ramble.
I quit and so can you. It’s not easy. You have to fight. You have to have willpower. You DO have the willpower - don’t give in. I believe in you. Don’t hang around smokers for at least a few weeks. Don’t drink any alcohol if you can help it. If you get the urge - drink water, do jumping jacks, scream, take a walk, hug the dog, take a nap, call a friend, surf the dope, pray, read, do a math problem, run an errand, vacuum the floor - whatever, just don’t smoke. And in my opinion patches prolong the quitting experience*. I say get the nicotine OUT of your system ASAP. But patches are better than smoking, so use them if you have to - just don’t smoke. You can do it!
Thanks for adding your input, Joey P and Stinky Burrito - and bumping my thread!
Mangetout, you’re a Negative Nelly! I am going to keep on quitting just to spite you!
SB you are right about the patches, and I’m actually doing what Boyo Jim did now. I was having trouble sleeping with the patch on (cuz who is used to smoking all night??) and now I just patch up for work and remove it after work. That seems to be working fine. I’ve tried going as long as I can in the morning before putting one on but the “I need my morning cig” thing has not gone away yet.
I plan on stopping the patches after the 14 I have are gone. I just don’t see the need to go through 8 weeks of this new dependency.
Joey P I am with you - I LOVE smoking. I told this to my brother yesterday and he said “yeah well some people love crack too” and that makes sense. Tough shit if I love smoking. I also told him I bought that book everyone is raving about and hopefully it gets here soon so I can smash myself in the face with it
Oddly enough, I have been enjoying the company of my dad more lately. Why? Because he’s a chain smoker. I think I am liking being around his smoke cloud. I honestly think that’s why I started smoking in the first place - absolutely none of my friends smoked and I slinked off in secret to do it. Because it made me feel like “home.” But, I’d rather actually go “home” and smell him smoking than be smoking here in my home.
My sense of smell is changing too, btw. My house is much stinkier from non-smoke stuff than I’d thought
Joey P feel free to keep up with us in this thread. I’m going to see if George Kaplain will post too.
I’ve been totally clean since January. It must be easier when you WANT to quit. I didn’t. In the back of my mind I’m constantly trying to imagine a set of circumstances that would allow me to start again. But…I know I can’t.
The thoughts that keep going through my mind, other then the obvious ones are…How much would I pay for a special pill or magic anecdote that I could take once a year (or on a regular basis for all I care) that would render cigarettes compleatly and utterly harmless. The numbers that come into my head are well over $1000 per year. The second question I keep wondering is why hasn’t anyone come up with a tabacco substitute that would be either not bad or less bad for you? As long as it doesn’t taste like pencil shavings, I’d smoke it. I loove smoking. I love the act of smoking. I said before that when I was little I used to inhale the smoke from cap guns and blow smoke rings. For as long as I can remember, right up until now, I’ve always loved exhaling in cold weather just to watch the ‘smoke’ come out of my mouth.
sigh
My dad quit about 8 or 9 years ago. A few months ago he said “Ya know, I could pick up a cigarette and light it just like…like I just finished one two minutes ago” (he smoke 4 packs a day at his peak and probably around 2.5 a day when he quit for the last time).
Must have been too good to return!