OK I have to give up smoking ....... and I need you all to help me please (-:

[mosschops30]

I gave up for 4 months earlier in the year, got super fit and felt wonderful.
But just before I went on holiday I had 2 disasters and just reached for the fags, and am still smoking now 3 months on.
I am currently working in a cancer hospital and even though this should put me off, I get so stressed and upset there that I smoke, and then get more stressed and upset because I'm still smoking.
I have tried since coming back but everytime I pick a day it never happens. I havent been to the gym for ages and feel like shit most of the time.

So please help me try again, I finish this placement on Saturday so that might be an option, and I have a nicotine inhalator that I used previosuly to give up.

Any tips or advice?

[WideWebWitch]

If I can do it, anyone can. I was hard core 40-60 a day smoker (silk cut ultra low though for last 10 yrs of smoking) and stopped with Allen Carr, which is self hypnosis really and not for everyone but worked for me. I was pregnant at th etime though, so an added incentive. It's been 4.5 yrs now. My dad died of lung cancer and I was there when he died and I STILL smoked for another 2 years so I knwo how it is. Sympathy. I don't regret stopping at all but I know I must NEVER smoke another cigarette again.

[notnowbernard]

Don't tell yourself you are 'giving up smoking' - it becomes too much of a challenge, and if you're stressed, is insurmountable. Instead, tell yourself you will not be smoking today (or whatever day you decide to stop on). Don't think about the next day. Just get through one day at at time. Break the day down into parts if you have to... i.e 'I'm not going to smoke until lunchtime', then re-evaluate. Good luck! It's bloody hard, I know.

[RGPargy]

OK my first tip would be to choose a date to become a non-smoker!

So, e.g. if you decide that you'll be giving up on 15th August, circle it on your calendar and aim towards that date. If you have a specific date in mind, you kind of mentally prepare yourself for what is coming up, rather than saying on Saturday night "yeah i'm giving up on monday". At the end of the day, you HAVE to be mentally ready to give up. You have to be ready to say goodbye to smoking FOREVER.

I have given up twice for the long term. Once for 7 years, but then started again whilst under the influence of a manipulative (smoking) partner and have again given up for the past 3 years. I gave up on 5th January 2004 (i think? or was it earlier?). It was the date i went back to work after christmas and new year so being back in the office was a good time for me to quit.

I never used patches (although i tried and failed miserably for a few months before i gave up). I used good old will power and a hell of a lot of Wrigley's Extra gum!

On my first day (i was a 20+ a day girl) i got through about 5 packs of Wrigley's Extra gum. It was tough, but every hour got slightly easier. On my second day, i got through half a pack of Wrigley's. On the third day, i had none.

I know that everyone says it but seriously, if I can do it, ANYONE can. I was soooo hooked on smoking it was untrue. They were a crutch for me but i used to wake up coughing like an old hag and going up stairs would leave me gasping! Bed time was another cough-marathon too.

I hope you succeed when you decide on the date you are giving up! If you want any more help, please feel free to ask.

Sorry my post has been long!

HTH

[mosschops30]

Thanks www, I'm so sorry about your dad.
I am only smoking about 5-6 a day at the moment but they are proving harder to give up than when I was a 20 a day smoker. I just want to pick a day and be able to stick to it. I have read Allen Carr and it didnt work for me but I found the inhalator fab so will use again. I just dont feel like me when I give up, its hard to picture yourself without a fag isnt it.
But i need to remember how fabulous I felt a few months ago

[mosschops30]

notnow, I think thats a great idea, I find it hard to think about never smoking again. I always find the first couple of days easy then its always day 3 and 4 that I crack and go back to it (this has happened twice in recent weeks).
RG thanks I never thought about chewing gum, I may load up the handbag with wrigleys now and plan for .... Saturday or Sunday?? I cant decide

[RGPargy]

What day will be the least stressful for you and most convenient for you to NOT be smoking?

[mosschops30]

Well I'll get home from my night shift on saturday morning so I do like a fag then. Maybe Sunday would be a better bet as I have nothing planned, I could even go to the gym and have no stress booked in for that day

[notnowbernard]

Have you tried patches? They definitely helped me. Took the edge off the physical cravings. And made me feel I was actually doing something to try and stop.

[mosschops30]

I hav tried patches but found the inhalor much better because when I got that terrible 'oh I need one now' feeling I cud puff away on that to my hearts content

[WideWebWitch]

Charliecat will come along in a minute I expect, she's stopping smoking expert

(Thanks MC, it was 6 yrs ago but I identified with the horror of cancer still not making you stop )

[notnowbernard]

Also, when you get a craving, keep telling yourself 'this will pass, this feeling will not last forever... for now I will go and hoover the lounge/phone a friend/go for a walk' (anything that will distract you for bit...that's the theory anyway!)

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

moss - can I join you to stop smoking on Sunday too?? I've stopped and started a few times in the last 7yrs - but am finding it hard this time. I've been seriously considering quitting in the next week or so and having someone to quit with would be great.

I definitely like the idea of breaking it down into days/part days as challenges as like you I can't imagine getting through an entire week/day without smoking.

[mosschops30]

you are all great

yes www its bizarre, Ive come to see the horro of smoking every day but still havent stopped. There are patients who continue to smoke too even though they have some dreadful tumours, and I have to say I can at least empathise with them

[mosschops30]

QoQ that would be great. We could support each other through the worst

[notnowbernard]

And there you have another strategy in place...
Giving-up buddies

[expatinscotland]

YOU CAN DO IT, MOSS!

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

excellent so are we aiming for sunday then

[Charlie999]

I stopped smoking last November when I was 12 weeks pg with the bloody brilliant help of the NHS Stop smoking service.

I also work in a hospital, lost my dad at 62 to a heart attack due to smoking (amongst other things) and FIL at 64 to lung cancer less than a year later (took 7 horrible months) but nothing would make me stop my 20 years 20 a day habit.

My MW referred me and I used the inhalator and Ive done it - and believe me, if I can do it, you can as well. Many of my friends have gone on to giving up as they never thought I would manage it

I would really recommend the NHS service - it worked for me.....and I've still got 1600 fags up in my loft and I haven't been near them

Good luck AND YOU CAN DO IT

[Charlie999]

I agree with the making a date. I remember on the 29th Nov at 11.55pm standing in the garden having my last fag.

I woke up in tears the following morning as I was scared, but took each hour as it came....and you get through it

[mosschops30]

Yes QoQ we will start by not having a fag on sunday. I have just booked myself a bank shift so will be out for the morning.
Charlie thats amazing staying away from all those fags. I will make sure I have none here for sunday so I cant reach for one.
Do you have the number for the NHS stop smoking service? WE could use that too.

QoQ are you using just willpower or are you gonna use some nicotine replacement

[notnowbernard]

Well Done
And remember... on Sunday 'I'm not having a fag today'
Then same for Monday
etc etc
Go for it!

[charliecat]

Here I am
www.whyquit.com is a fantastic brainwashing site.
You tend to get yourself in a big temper over nothing so you can have a fag and blame it on the cat weeing/or the oven not being on/or the traffic being in the way/whatever excuse you can think of insert here.
Reading that site turns it around into it being a pleasure to stop, to get back in control of your lungs and to enjoy beating the nicotine monster.
Do have a read, knowledge is power!
And if you dont manage it the first day, just get back on it, try again. One of those times will be THE ONE.
Its the best decision you could make for yourself and your family, as im sure you well know.
And god forbid that you ever ended up a patient on the cancer ward, wouldnt it be better to have cancer and not want to smoke, than have cancer and STILL be dying for a fag?

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

I'll just be using willpower - I've tried the various "replacements" before and none of them worked.

[puppydavies]

another vote for allen carr - he did a great job of persuading me i didn't want to smoke any more, a huge step forward.

plus i found patches helped as i got very very grumpy with withdrawal, dp was begging me to have a fag . i got mine on prescription.

[Charlie999]

The NHS smoking helpline is 0800 169 0 169 and the website www.gosmokefree.co.uk/.

Most people say they have to get rid of all their cigarettes - it was odd for me as I found it was important to finish the packet I was smoking that night, but felt comforted that the cigarettes were in the draw and how good I was that I didn't touch them. I also had a packet in the car and at work! But all I needed was the inhalator and support of those around me. My mum said, every time I really wanted a fag to ring her - and I did several times in tears, and she told me how well I was doing - she was brilliant.

After a while, you realise that you've come too far to turn back....

Good luck - if you have a craving, come on here and get some support