Last cigarette

[chitofftheshovel]

I have been smoking for over two thirds of my life (and being as I'm 36 started very young). I'm sick of it. Sick of the cost, the taste, the smell, the hood it has on me etc.

So I've just rolled my last fag, have no more rizla or tobacco in the house.

I smoke a lot. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and plenty in between.

Aibu to think I can do this cold turkey? Have you? Please please inspire me with your stories!

I tried giving up again and it hasn't worked! Totally understand y u caved. I lasted a week but had a sneaky one every night then decided maybe I should try again once school hols r over.

I have very little will power so wondering whether I should see the go for that champix meds. I don't want to take up vaping. I don't know how to stop by myself. Didn't realised what an addict I am until I tried to stop.

You def can! I was exactly the same as you. Unbelievably shit two weeks (max) then fine. I used normal mint chewing gum every time I had a craving & eventually I associated the craving with gum not cigarettes. Once you broken those habitual ones you're fine. Good luck promise it's worth it!!

I was a smoker for nearly 20 years. I stopped by using Nicolette nasal spray, got addicted to that for two years and then fell pregnant. Only being pregnant did it make me stop the second I saw the positive test. But I miss my spray and wonder how I'll be able to have a drink once bump is born without it. Good luck!!!

I was a very committed life long smoker who has been smoke free since February. I gave up by using a combination of nicotine gum and a vape with no nicotine. I think it was breaking up the habit and the addiction that worked for me. Whenever I was triggered to smoke I had something to do (vape) that got me through those moments. A lot of my friends and family still smoke so I think it would have been close to impossible to be around them if I didn't have the vape to keep me occupied while I was with them. You know what it's like when you're a smoker. Life is sort of arranged to some extent around your addiction. My sister and I have spent many hours in the garden drinking tea and smoking and it was enjoyable. With the vape I could still do that and didn't have to remove myself from social situations I really enjoyed. It also got me through the habits I'd formed like having a puff right before bed.

I've already stopped vaping. I didn't even try. It just sort of drifted away when it was no longer feeding my addiction. I'm still weaning myself off the nicotine. For a while I switched to lozenges but that was a mistake. They were too easy to take and nicotine really is a wicked addiction. I could feel myself becoming more addicted to them. The gum seems to be working better because I can use it longer (so one 'dose' lasts longer) and I can alternate with ordinary gum while I'm weaning myself off.

My advice would be to use as much nicotine replacement therapy as you need (hit it hard!) initially and keep a no nicotine vape option on hand to get you through those times you just have to puff. I am very happy that I didn't switch to vaping nicotine because I know I'd be addicted to that instead. I think I'm one of those people who is very susceptible to nicotine addiction but I've done this without having to rely on my almost nonexistent willpower at all. I almost can't believe I've gone this long without smoking. It's changed my life and I'm so happy I've finally done it.

Good luck op. Let us know how you go

I was a 30-40 a day smoker for many years. I must have tried at least 50 times to stop and never made it past a week. I was in despair as I just didn't see myself ever managing to stop.
I went to an NHS group and managed to stop with a combination of nicotine gum and nasal spray as well as the support of the group. That was 13 years ago and, apart from one brief lapse, I haven't looked back. I know that I will never smoke again. I honestly don't miss it, I feel liberated. If I can do it, I honestly think that anyone can.

I'm a week in and the cravings are fading. I hardly thought about it at all today.
When a pang does come I tell myself, that's the addiction talking. You won't actually feel good if you have one.
I caved on Saturday night and pinched a rolly off DH. As I was sat on the back step, smoking it, I realised it's the fresh air and the quiet of nipping out for a fag that I enjoy, not the fag itself, so I took a few good lungfuls of fresh air and chucked it over the fence.
Good luck OP. 💪🏼

I quit my 20 a day habit with nicotine gum. Which I then became addicted to for over a year Quitting the gum was harder than quitting the cigarettes.

Good luck op! It's tough, but it is worth it in the end.

I gave up in July last year as wanted a baby (holding my 8 week old as we speak ❤️). I was dubious about patches as had tried before but nurse assured me they had upped the strength and made the nicotine transfer better.

I don't think I would have made it without my patches, they really worked well.

One thing I did struggle with was anger and stress. My normal solution would have been to take myself off for a cig but of course couldn't do that so had lots of meltdowns!!

Similar situation to you and I went cold turkey. It's the only way to quit in my opinion. I read Alan car's easy way to stop smoking first though. You can totally do it!!

Cold turkey method is the least likely to succeed. People who are saying it's the only way are being daft. It takes on average 7 attempts before someone quits for good. Unless you have willpower of steel and experience no events or stresses to challenge that willpower for at least the next 3 months, your chances of succeeding are very small. And if you are highly addicted (heavy smoker, early morning smoker etc) they are even less.

I did it cold turkey.
Aroundc7 years ago. You sound like you want to give up which is the biggest step. You give it your best shot! You might surprise yourself!

Op I'm exactly the same as you. I've stopped lots of times. I've used patches, cold turkey, hypnotherapy ( bloody expensive) vaping ( works but I just replaced one addiction with another) which made me cough, an inhaler thing, ecig. I'm very good at quitting, I'm just not very good a staying stopped.

I'm a week and 4 days into my latest attempt. I'm using 16hr patches and it's going ok so far. I've not really thought about smoking and I've forgotten to put the patch on the last two days. I'm also dieting to prevent the weight gain... that's way more difficult tbh.

Chit when you tried Allan Carr was it the book or a clinic? The clinic is 1000x more effective than the book imo.

My word! Well done to those who have stopped. I've stopped stopping, again.

But. I am reducing drastically and actually tallying up. I estimate I'd gotten up to 30+ a day. By actively writing a line for each ciggie I am more mindful of numbers. Today has been 10.

Another thing I've decided to do is not take baccy out with me. Went to the beach today, took two rolly's with me, one for the half hour car journey there (no kids in car) one for the way back. Usually it would be two on each car journey and 3 or 4 on the beach.

wonder it was the book. I'm not sure there would be a clinic near me, I'm in Cornwall.

And thanks everyone else for stories and support. I've lost this battle but my little white enemies have lost the war.

I don't think reducing counts as having lost the battle, OP. I think it counts as starting the war. As I said, be kind to yourself and acknowledge your minor victories along the way. I'm still proud of you!!!

Aw thanks just that's what I meant, I've lost the cold turkey battle but they have lost the war (wars can go on for years right?!)

I tried to quit repeatedly with the mentality of 'cutting down' and 'only having one a day' .... these methods did nothing for me!!

Quite liked the inhale things from boots but still couldn't budge it!

To be honest the only thing that got me to stop (and the only thing that probably would as I lovedddddd ciggies) was finding out I was pregnant! Haven't had a cig in over a year 😁 cold turkey but for a reason... no way I would have stopped on my own!!!

Four weeks and two days as a non smoker here! Well, an e-cig "smoker" but it's a start! 😁

I downloaded an app which tells me daily (sometimes hourly) each milestone I'd passed, which was encouraging.

It is hard. I've shoved all of my tobacco money in a jar as another incentive.

Good luck!

All roads, which app? I'm four months clean, but could sure use a good app to help keep up the good work.
Loving all these stories.

The app is QuitNow.

Did anyone else find Day 4 the hardest? I was a grade A cunt to everyone who dared look at me! 😁

Right i went from 10-20 per day for 32 years i swore i wouldnt be smoking on my 50th birthday. I paid £250 for the Allen Carr seminar 7 months ago and havent looked back. Its the only way to go. You do not need any nicotine therapy it takes three days to get put your system then its all down to whats gling on in your head. Please give it ago. You get a refund if it doesnt work within a year. Good luck!

Hi Op. I quit 8 years ago, cold turkey. I didn't have a choice though! I had a really bad chest infection (I should have been in hospital but am agoraphobic.) and could hardly breathe. Went to have a fag and my throat felt like it had closed over. Couldn't physically smoke. It took a while to get over the chest infection and I didn't want to undo the good work I'd started.
I think you have to have something that motivates you to quit. A really good reason/s. I also got through it by telling myself I was not smoking now. I could have a fag whenever I wanted, but I didn't want one now. Takes the 'forbidden' angle off.
I really wish you well chitofftheshovel. Good luck to you.

I went cold turkey 7 years ago after reading Allen Carr book. Like you I was smoking for over 1/3 of my life at least 20 a day. I stopped for pregnancy because fags made me nauseous. In a nutshell, you have to wait out 21 days for the cravings to stop and develop new habits. Don't use gums or anything as it just prolong the nicotine addiction. Vape is not a solution either and it's just as stinky. What are your trigger point that lead you to smoking? Morning, evening, in between? I planned a week off work and stress to start the cold turkey as stress at work would lead me to timeouts for fags. Now, I go to the bathroom and reapply my lippy or go and play for 2 mins on my phone answering messages or using FB.
I'd recommend the book, btw.

Smoker for 40 years. Stopped 2 years ago. Another vote for Allen Carr book.

Smoker for 20 years. Quit in June - used champix. It was surprisingly easy this time round, whether that was the drugs, my willpower or both I don't know!