To ask for your experience if stopping smoking

[smashems]

I smoke between 10-15 cigarettes a day and I'm sick of it. I have 2 DC- my oldest knows I smoke (although I don't do it in front of him) and I know he doesn't like it. I'm sick of sneaking in the back garden for a quick cigarette when I could be getting on with jobs or spending that time playing with my DC (I tend to stay away from them for a little while after I've had a cigarette so the smell is not so strong). I'm sick of not socialising in the canteen at break and lunch at work because I'm too busy outside in the rain/cold having a cigarette. I'm sick of coming out of a lovely bath then making myself feel gross/smelly by having a cigarette afterwards. I'm sick of the smell of it on my clothes. Not forgetting the damage it's doing to my health. So I've made me decision that I want to quit but where do I start? Do I go cold turkey? Buy some patches? Go to a support group? How can I manage my mood when I'm withdrawing?

I'd love to hear your experiences. Here's to a healthier and happier 2018. Wish me luck!

Found another one?!

I think there are varying editions from over the years but all the same kinda theory...

I ready the original and then the one that’s aimed at just women back to back but I don’t remember there being much difference.

They are VERY repetitive but don’t skip over words, they are designed to be like that and part of the process.

Stopped 35 years ago when pregnant, previously 20 a day. I couldn’t have gone cold turkey, I found it psychologically easier to have a target. I decided which 10 cigarettes I could least do without (after meals, last thing at night etc). Did that for a week, then 5, then 1.
The last one was the bedtime one.

I never liked smoking outdoors so if I felt I needed one I took myself off for a walk. Also if I started a cigarette I wouldn’t necessarily smoke the whole thing. Just the first few puffs to put me out of my misery!

If you can do cold turkey, great, but if not, my method did work for me.

Back in my day I'm pretty sure they only had the 'easy way to stop smoking' as that's the one I did.

But yeah I'm pretty sure they're just variations on a theme. Maybe go with the most recent edition as that's bound to be up to date

Thanks everyone- I'm off to buy my book!

Good luck , the biggest mental trick that helped was reminding myself that if I gave in to the craving and smoked that all I was doing was preparing my body for another craving 20 mins later so it didn't fix anything.

I quit on Xmas day. Sounds like the most stupid day to quit to be fair but, I was ill. I went on to my vape pen (I don’t actually encourage investing money in vaping if you want to stop completely everything) and I’m off it completely the last few days. It’s a good bridge in my opinion. Don’t start buying big tanks etc, stay cheap and temporary.

My DH is still smoking and I can’t stand the smell of him.

I gave up 18 years ago and the thing that made it possible was my mental attitude. I no longer wanted to smoke. I really, really wanted to give up - and that motivation carried me through the cravings, the breaking of the habit, the social aspect of smoking (because back then smoking was part of going to the pub, hanging out with friends, drinking, etc - not the social faux pas that it is now). Keep your resolve strong. Don't hang around with people who will say 'Oh go on, have one, it's only one', etc.

Oh - and I went cold turkey. No patches, no gum, no nothing. I even had half a pack on the sideboard, because I figured if I couldn't withstand temptation and break my nicotine addiction then I'd fail at some point anyway. Having those cigarettes there and resisting them became a point of honour for me. I never smoked them. I threw them away after a few months, once I accepted that I'd really done it.

I started off not smoking during the week then allowing myself a pack of 10 over the weekend for a couple of months. By this time my body had adjusted to not having nicotine most of the time. I actually got that sick feeling and smoking wasn't as enjoyable as I remembered it.

So I knocked the cigs on the head and bought a cheap vape pen and some 0 nicotine liquids and kept that for emergencies. I didn't want to go from been hooked on cigs to hooked on vaping, so didn't want to feel too financially invested. The vape pen packed in after a few months and I wasn't really using it, so didn't bother replacing it.

It's not easy, but so worthwhile!

I gave up earlier in the year when I was very ill, possible tb ( it wasn't) but the chest x ray showed lung damage and the doctor said to stop before it got worse. I gave up with the use of a fake cigarette and lozenges. My husband gave up as well.
We have bought the occasional packet, smoked them then not bought any more. However over the last few months we've had an horrendous time, (ill parents, constant hospital visits, dreading the phone ringing etc) no excuse I know, and over Christmas we've slipped back into more regular smoking. We decided over new year not to buy any more.
I find it easier to say to myself that I'll buy some tomorrow so every time I walk past the garage that's what I think. I'm not one of those that can have a packet in the house and not smoke them, it's all or nothing with me. Good luck.

You have to be determined to stop. It's no good thinking that if you can stop smoking for a few weeks you magically won't want one anymore, it doesn't work like that, well, it didn't for me. I gave up many times, only to start again, but it doesn't matter, because every time you do that you learn something about quitting.
In the end I really wanted to stop. I read the alan Carr book, chucked away my fags and never smoked again. At times it was very hard, especially if something stressful was going on. Persevere. The cravings can be really bad, but they don't last. One day I had such severe cravings that I told my oh that if I felt the same the next day I would start again, I was just so miserable. They were gone the next day, and were never as bad again. People giving up now are lucky because of the vaping alternative. I didn't have that.
It is wonderful, too, not to be paying to kill yourself.

Sorry to gatecrash OP! I've just looked on Amazon for the Allen Carr book - there's quite a few about smoking, are they all the same or is there a specific one which is best? Good luck OP!

Sorry - didn't RTFT Just seen you asked the same question op!

I cut down first. I had times i would light up throughout the day so I changed my routine and habits and on spots i couldnt change i had a bag of cucumber, carrot, celery sticks id munch on instead.

I smoked 20 a day for 25 years, barring pregnancy and one failed attempt (during which time I put on a stone in weight and was so miserable I made myself start smoking again just to lose the weight!).

Stopped completely just over a year ago, initially with patches, then switched to vaping. It's the only thing that satisfied the hand-mouth thing which scuppered my first attempt. I put on a tiny bit of weight again but nothing like the first time.

The biggest thing was that I genuinely wanted to stop whereas my first attempt I didn't really want to, just knew I should.

I honestly have no desire to smoke again, ever.

Good luck OP, I've been smoke-free for 15 months now and so happy to be 'free' of it.

There are many different ways and everyone is different, so don't be disheartened if it takes you a few tries. This is my 3rd!

1st: Went cold turkey, was fine as not working at the time and every time I felt like howling at the moon I went for a bike ride/run so lost weight too. Lasted 18 months, don't really know why I started again, just had a shit day at work (pathetic, I know).

2nd: Used Champix, again it worked, but 4 days after I quit, my BF dumped me (which left me homeless), which was a tad stressful, so started again.

3rd (now): Have been using Nicotine QuickMist spray, it really helps with a quick solve to the cravings, but again some people may think it is a cheat as still technically nicotine. But I'm OK with that as I barely use it these days unless stressed at work and it's much better than picking up stinking fags ago. 15 months and counting...

It took my Mum about 7 attempts to give up, but she did too.

Just keep at it and you'll get there, and you won't look back!!!

DH gave up after 50 years after getting pneumonia last year. He used Champix, and found it easy - he's been 5 months smoke free after being a heavy smoker. Sadly he has since been diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to his lymph nodes.

I tried a number of times and methods to stop, but finally cracked it with nicotine gum. I picked a date, used the gum and stopped. The first few days were hellish, but it’s absolutely worth it when you finally get through the other side of it.

Every day, I put what would have been my cigarette money in a jar and it mounted up at a staggering rate. I felt quite rich

Good luck, op! You sound very ready to stop.

Champix for me. Absolute miracle.

I'd tried patches and gum but had no willpower whatsoever.

Champix switches off the receptors in your brain (or something like that!) and all of a sudden, I just didn't want to smoke.

Didn't crave it, didn't think about it. I know it's not for everyone but I honestly think that without it I'd still be smoking. As it is, I've not had a cigarette (or even wanted one) for three and a half years.

Good luck OP, giving up smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

I quit cold turkey and also did Dry January the first month too, to avoid drinking and lowering my willpower...

A few days after stopping I read the Alan Carr book, LOVED it, downloaded the audio book and listened/read it over and over. It really made so much sense. I became a bit of a bible basher with his book it changed everything ... please read it! You have nothing to lose!

4 years later and not a single puff has passed my lips. Maybe twice a year I think oh I feel like a cigarette, but honestly it never usually even enters my mind! I never thought I'd be able to be around smokers comfortably but it is possible after reading the Allan Carr book... do it!

One more tip: throw away everything smoking related! (Or at least put them out of sight if u need a lighter for candles!)

Ashtray, lighters, matches, cigarettes (duh) or whatever else reminds you of smoking... bin it!

I read the Alan Carr book but it didn't work for me. I'd been smoking for over 40 years. I think when I read the book I didn't really want to stop. When I decided i really wanted to stop I went to the Drs and she booked me in with the stop smoking lady at the practice. I had patches to start with but became allergic to them and didn't fancy the tabs or gum as I didn't want the habit of putting something in my mouth so ended up using nothing. That was 6 years ago and I haven't had one since.

The two things that helped the most were the nhs app which I had on every thing I could, even had it on my desktop on my works computer, and having to go to the practise every week and blow into a meter to check I hadn't been cheating!

Good luck op

I gave up cold Turkey on 28th Nov and honestly haven’t missed it, I read Alan Carr’s The Easy Way to Stop Smoking and it changed my mindset completely. I have had a couple of bad moments but largely haven’t even thought of it. Good luck!

Well done for making this decision op.

I went cold turkey and started with breaking the associations. For me this meant giving up alcohol too as I enjoyed nothing more than coming home from work, having a glass of wine and a rollie! I set a date and just stuck to it. It was hard for the first few days but got progressively easier. After a while I was able to introduce the odd glass of wine without taking up smoking again.

Dh tried absolutely everything and never stuck to it. He took up vaping and hasn't had a single cigarette in two years. He still vapes but it's loads safer than cigarettes and it doesn't make him smell bad, so we're both happy with that. Whatever works!

Good luck.