At the time I didn’t think I would ever quit. I got on the patch and that weened me off the physical cravings. I then worked on the situational and psychological cravings. That was 20 years ago. During that time I had two deployments and a divorce and never went back so I think I’m good. I don’t have anything to add other than it’s not impossible for anybody.
I can’t even imagine putting out the kind of money it costs now.
40+ pack-year history, now ex-smoker for years. The patch was what finally helped me after multiple tries. Wore it constantly, did all the things you weren’t supposed to do with it, including cutting in half for lower dose. Coming down with a cold really helped too, since definitely didn’t want a smoke. It’s hard and there’s really no easy way. Finally realized that after months with the patch that I really hadn’t wanted to smoke at all. None since. Find a way that works for you, keep trying, you’ll finally win.
The cost was what really got me started. Things were fine when cigs were cheap, but add up the cost now. $400/month comes out to $4800/year and you could be doing a whole lot of things that are more fun with that money. Good luck.
Another pack a day for 40 years smoker who doesn’t smoke. I quit November 2, 2019. Drove myself to the ER because I couldn’t exhale. Hospitalized for bronchitis. I had quit many times in the past. My most successful previous quit was with Chantix. Stayed smober for 5 years.
Took many months to get over the urgency of I WANT TO SMOKE. There are times now I still want a cigarette. But one is too many and a thousand isn’t enough.
Good luck with your quit. Stay strong.
Thank you all for the encouragement! Hearing stories from former heavy smokers who managed to quit is REALLY helpful!
I tried patches once. My skin had a horrible reaction to them. Whomp whomp.
This week is the week. I will be ready to quit by the end of the book.
FWIW, which probably isn’t much, since everyone is different, I quit smoking over 30 years ago using the following method: I didn’t buy any more cigarettes, and I didn’t smoke any more. IOW, cold turkey.
I don’t recall having any particular cravings, other than psychological associations with having a smoke with a morning coffee or an alcoholic drink, but those were easy to overcome.
For over 30 years, I never smoked cigarettes again. Perhaps somewhat remarkably, in some years past I’ve sat out on the porch with a glass of rum and a cigar, but that never incited me to return to smoking – it was a different thing entirely. I did it rarely, and in recent years, not at all. Even in the form of mellow cigars, tobacco is now out of my life!
Big ups to you! I am a guilty, regretful smoker. If there were a safe approved lobotomy that would make you dumber, but also not a smoker, I’d sign up.
Perhaps I can draw some inspiration from you. I’ve heard of the book mentioned, and I’m intrigued.
Last week my wife took us to Other World in Columbus. I Mention because when I searched the topic, you mentioned going there. I didn’t have much to add, but “ it was cool” , so I didn’t dredge up an old thread. But this is tangential to the subject: Columbus just enacted a menthol cigarette ban! My wife and I are menthol smokers. Neither of us, both pack-a-day smokers, smoked a pack of reggies over a four day weekend. Maybe the menthol ban was what we needed.
Yeah so this book seems to be able to help me get there. Put me in the mindset of “this is dumb. Why am I doing this?” and give me some thought to have in my head besides “I’d like to smoke.” I definitely don’t think tapering or weaning works for me. I just gotta be ready to stop and stop cold turkey.
@Happytree wait neither of you guys smoked all weekend?? But also you didn’t think to bring your own cigs? Man you got this! Sounds like you guys have a little toe hold on being able to go without smoking. Check out the book and see where it gets you!
We smoked, but we smoked 25 percent or 75 percent less than usual over our trip. Non menthol are just not that appealing. Of course, we chained Kools as soon as we could get em.
Again, I will try to look up to your example. I had cancer, and face the people who supported me, with a SMOKE IN MY HAND! I don’t want to let these people down. I am ordering that book from thrift book as soon as I sign out.
You know you want to quit. So do it. If you need meds to overcome the physical cravings for a week or month, do that.
It’s mostly learning a new set of habits. The cig as mental snack, the cig asn short break, the cig as companion when your’ bored or lonely. Each of those habit has nothing to do with nicotine. And everything to do with habit and emotion. So pick something more innocuous to sub for a cig as your break, your boredom relief, or your mental snack.
Yes, this is important.
As I understand it, you are far more likely to smoke when you are in a situation where you always have a (habitual) cigarette.
So if you can identify those situations and avoid them, that will help
Eh, well, unfortunately I do most of my smoking at home (while working and relaxing) and in my car. I don’t have smoking friends so I smoke alone. So unless I move to a hotel for a while, stop working and start taking the bus I won’t be able to avoid my smoking environment.
I finished the book last night and started my “Days Since” counting app at 10:13 AM.
Hooray! Fingers crossed for a big win this time.