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Original poster

Giving up smoking HOW

40 replies

Pinkpigs · 26/03/2022 14:46

Hi im new ish hear i want to give up smoking but find it bloody hard to do so i can go much of the day then bang back to a quite fag ive smoked from 13 now 35 ive gone from 15- 20 fags a day now only smoking 5-7 a day witch im not happy with i cant do the mornings when i get up thats the first thing i do and one lead to one more then no more for hours i just want to stop i have a plastic smoking thing witch helps very well but cant seem to do a whole day any successful stories of cutting down and then giving up i dont vape as i really dont Like them way to much smoke well air just need help with this

OP posts:

Inextremis · 26/03/2022 17:23

I did it by vaping. I started smoking when I was 13, and stopped when I was 59. I'd tried so many times before, and failed - I was really addicted. I started vaping 18mg strength liquids, and am now vaping 0mg - no nicotine at all - I just enjoy the flavours and the 'something to do with my hands'. It took me three attempts before I learned not to try 'just one cig, to see what it's like when I've not had one for x amount of time'. Now I dislike the smell of cigarettes (a shame, cos DH still smokes, I make him go far away to do it!) and am not tempted at all to ever smoke again. It's been two and a half years since my last cig.

You have to believe it's possible - I was so addicted, my entire life revolved around whether I could have a cig or not - going to the cinema or the theatre was a nightmare, because I'd start craving after an hour - but now I am so happy to be free of the 'need' to smoke - it's really worth it. I can smell things I never could before, I no longer cough, I can breathe much better.

I wish you every success with giving up - remember, you can do it, and you'll be so happy when you have :)

spacehardware · 26/03/2022 17:26

Not read the whole thread

Alan carr book did it for me. Gave up to have first child in 2006 after smoking for about ten years; started again in 2014 after mega distressing break up; quit for good in 2016 after reading Alan Carr. Completely changed my mindset.

Hohofortherobbers · 26/03/2022 17:29

You need replacement therapy, I used patches then when I stopped them I used occasional lozenges to kill the odd craving. You really have to feel the commitment though, set a date and stick to it. It will be the best thing you've ever done for yourself, whatever happens you must never allow yourself 1 fag ever again, you'll be back to square one. It's tough giving up, don't make yourself do it more than once. Good luck!

Mindtheears · 26/03/2022 17:32

I got people to sponsor me for 6 months with money going to a cancer charity, made me accountable to other people (and the charity) as just being accountable to myself wasn’t enough. What ended up being really helpful was a couple of years later (after a holiday with a friend who smoked) I started with the odd cigarette here and there until one of the friends who sponsored me saw me and went nuts (“I didn’t give you that money just for you to start up again..!”) which shamed me into stopping again - and for good that time. That was nearly 2 decades ago and I don’t even get tempted - I would never have thought that could happen.

PartridgeCoop · 26/03/2022 19:28

Another one who thinks nicorettes and nicotine mints are great. Two things to add:

1- cutting down is supposed to be harder than quitting so you've already done the hardest bit - well done!
2 - it took me about 10 tries to quit. Someone told me that was about average and to take each attempt as a win, and try to be positive about the effort rather than defeatist about the failure. I found that really helpful.

Good luck and congratulations!

user1471453601 · 26/03/2022 19:37

I stopped with nicotine gum. But more importantly, it was the sheer look of horror on my frail Mums face when I told her I had lung cancer. Thirteen years later, I can still see her face, her eyes wide with fright. I did that to her, to my daughter, to my sister and to myself.

I was one of the very very luck ones who survived, not that many do. The operation that saved my life has left me with back issues that range from discomfort to pain, every single day of my life.

If that doesn't make you want to stop, nothing will

Bookaholic73 · 26/03/2022 19:40

Another vote for the Allen Carr book.

I read it in August 2010, and haven’t smoked since. I only bought it because as I was browsing it in Waterstones, a guy approached me and said it had helped him quit with no cravings.

He was right. I never had one craving.

BrokenRecords · 26/03/2022 19:57

Don't but them

BrokenRecords · 26/03/2022 19:57

*buy

user1479744575 · 26/03/2022 22:14

I'm now on my 5th day of not smoking. I bought Tabex online. I smoked for the first 3 days of taking the tablets & by the end of the 3rd day each cigarette I smoked was making me feel physically ill (which was great!). The tablets have really helped to ease the cravings & I'm amazed that I'm now on my 5th day with no fags where I have struggled so much in the past to give up. They have been a complete game changer for me.

Furries · 27/03/2022 03:58

Placemarking!

alexdgr8 · 27/03/2022 04:08

contact your GP's surgery for advice and support.
they may have a dedicated nurse for this service.
also look up nhs advice.
good luck.

hdjdjehhdhdvsv · 27/03/2022 07:24

I used to give away my fags to smokers every time I bought a box. So 1 or 2 used to cost me the same as 10.
I didn't have the pack at night or in the morning because I'd given them away, so I'd have to walk to the shop. If I bought more I'd have 1 or 2 and give the rest away again. it was expensive and I couldn't afford it but in the end I never bought more.

mnnewbie111 · 27/03/2022 07:52

Maybe a stupid question but I vape and on 3mg. I thought I would keep that as the nicotine doesn't do harm. How come your guys go down to 0mg? Is it the fear of remaining addicted? I've been doing this 3 years so def not going back to fags but hadn't occurred to me to stop the dosage. Also before anyone says, I know vapes are not risk free

SophieSoSo · 29/03/2022 13:29

@mnnewbie111

Nicotine isn’t harmful on its own, I just decided to try going from 3mg to zero because I wanted to break the addiction, I was fine but if I hadn’t have been I’d have gone back on 3mg - if you’re happy and it’s keeping you off the fags then brilliant!

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