If you have given up smoking, How did you do it?

[irwtdt]

I really need to stop smoking, Not sure which way to go between patches, gum, ecig.

Anyone who has successfully given up, Which worked for you?

Oh also the NHS smoke free app! Its really motivating and shows your health benefits on how long you've quit for.

Having a longer and longer gap between each cigarette until the cravings weren't really a thing any more. Then it was just a simple decision not to buy more when a pack ran out.

It's slow but I haven't relapsed. Although I did have a fairly long period of TTC which motivated me not to smoke.

Varenicline, champix, chantix is the same thing and worked brilliantly for me.

Just remember you need to commit to never having so much as a drag, of anything, ever again.

Cold turkey here too I’m afraid - I cut down to a few a day and then none. What helped was one of those apps - when I had a wobbly moment I’d check the app and it would tell me in hard stats how much clearer my lungs were, how much cash I had saved etc.

Quit about 4 years ago. For me it was about breaking the routine ie coffee and a cig.

Another vote for Allen Carr.

I am 10 years a non smoker without so much as a craving or a "slip up"

I vape. But I vape more than I smoked which was only 3 roll ups a day. I am cross with myself. It’s like a bloody dummy🧐

I've given up a few times over the years, but what worked permanently for me was hypnotherapy. It cost quite a lot, but I think that helped, and I broke even in about 3 months.
The hypnotherapist did say before the session started, to throw away all smoking paraphernalia and not to have ' just one' at a party, which has been my downfall before. I also didn't drink in the first few months as I know that's another thing that weakens resolve.

Stressful job (ie people shouting, being rude etc at you down the phone) I smoked a very low tar cigarette, 5 a day ish, throughout my pregnancy
Gave up whilst In Hospital, Ds was in SCBU with jaundice for 8 days.
Haven't looked back.

Paul McKenna was the only thing that changed me.
I've done the flying one too now and it just works in my brain I guess!

I haven't smoked a fag since April 2012, almost reaching the 10 year mark.
I occasionally vape when im drinking but very low nicotine and I'm not really bothered about it

Cold turkey and looking back it wasn't traumatic for me, or my family (so they say!) so I think I must just have been 'ready' to do it

I also used the NHS stop smoking app to keep track and to keep my motivation going. It's really good to see the days accumulating that you've been smoke-free and not wanting to set that number back to zero.

I gave up for the whole of the last lockdown. Easy peasy, just lost the urge.

Then when back to work (hospitality) and within a week was back on the dirty fags. I am a weak woman and everyone at work smokes.

I gave up before the Alan Carr book, but it sounds brilliant, and I will buy it for DH, who still gets cravings after nearly seven years.

For myself, I analysed when I smoked and also that it had become a routine thing I did with my hands. So I took up knitting for the duration of the acute phase.
I can't knit anything complicated to save my life, but I knitted squares in different colours and finally presented a blanket to Oxfam.
I also told everyone that I was giving up, to stop people offering and to make it more difficult to lapse.

Vaping. But now I'm addicted to that...

Allen Carr's book did it for me, after 45 years and with a fifty a day habit. It was so easy

I've read the Allen Carr twice.
I'm still smoking 2 cigs a day.
I need to read it again...

I personally have never smoked, so cannot really comment from my experience. However, two close relatives that smoked for a long time did it completely cold turkey. One of them threw out all cigarettes, matches and ash trays into the bin and never bought any more. They were hell to be around for about 2-3 weeks and then they never went back to smoking again. No patches, no vaping, just sheer force of will to stop. They later said they were shocked at the amount of money they had after doing this. Obviously this may not work for everyone but it is how they gave up. Mind you, they had a previous fright with a health scare. I think this contributed as to why they gave up so drastically, as I know the health scare was smoking related and they vowed that was it- no more cigarettes. I think you can get help from NHS to stop. Good luck to you on whatever method you adopt.

Nicorette

I stopped so many times using it but finally properly stopped 3 years ago

I've only stopped the nicorette gum in the last 4 months

Vaping for me.

I’d tried to give up many times. Tried hypnotherapy - worked for a while, Allen Carr - useless, NRT - helped but not enough.

Vaping was a last ditch attempt. I had it glued to me for three days then used it when a craving struck. When I was over the worst I gradually reduced nicotine to zero. I still use it now several years on to ward off unexpected smoking urges but generally it stays in my bag

I also think Allen Carr books are useless

But I think it's horses for courses.
His reasoning just didn't work for me

Vaping. I smoked for about 14 years. Quit 7 years ago just using my vape.

I quit cold turkey twice, years apart. The most recent time I bought myself a fidget keyring and some strawberry laces because the worst thing for me is idle hands.
Figure out your triggers. I still struggle to watch people smoking in movies or on TV so I avoid it.

I gave up with Niquitin minis and vaping. Only 2 months so far so early days. I honestly don't feel any better for quitting bit I'm saving a lot of money. Good luck.
Also download the NHS Smoke free app and "Since I Quit".

Alan Carr

Champix.

Also made a huge list of "things to do with any one 5 minute period where I had cravings. Used it.

Put a relaxation video on my phone, 3 -5 minutes long.

It worked. None for a decade now

Being absolutely completely done with it.

I had so many failed attempts because I didn't want to stop, I just felt I ought to stop.

One day I just thought oh fuck this, I threw my cigs and lighter in the bin and never smoked again.