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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask you how you quit smoking?

87 replies

BooksAndGin · 27/12/2021 20:56

I'm going on a massive life change mission in January.
I suffer with chronic illnesses, bad mental health that's effected in every way possible, I always come to a crash in April as it's the anniversary of my three sons death.
I don't want that to happen next year. I want to be level headed and positive.
So the first thing I need to do for myself is quit smoking (for my DC, my health! And myself)

How did you give up smoking? I don't want tablets, vaping, patches or anything like that but at the same time I can't go cold turkey as I tried this year and failed.

Thank you Thanks

OP posts:
inheritancetrack · 27/12/2021 21:37

The point of that is, the addiction (physical) isn't as strong as you think it is. He never had a pang and was 40 a day.

BringBackCoffeeCreams · 27/12/2021 21:38

i went cold turkey knowing that withdrawal symptoms get worse and worse for just 3 days and then fall away very quickly. Breaking the habit can take a lot longer but the actual addition only takes 3 days. Knowing this I went to bed on the 3 night and cried myself to sleep the cravings were so bad. But just as the helpline person said, I woke up the next morning and knew straight away I was no longer a smoker.

NamechangedGamechanged12 · 27/12/2021 21:40

Please read Alan Carr - Easy Way to stop Smoking. I tried everything and I mean everything!! I read the is book and stopped after smoking for 30 years after multiple failed attempts. I recommend this to everyone, best fiver I ever spent!

SpookyMargot · 27/12/2021 21:41

For those posters mentioning the death of their smoker relatives, please bear in mind the OP is grieving the loss of her sons. Please show some tact and compassion.

Georgeskitchen · 27/12/2021 21:42

I find nicorette chewing helped me
Although that itself can be addictive.....

Hunderland · 27/12/2021 21:44

At the beginning of the pandemic, I read about the covid effect on lungs and thought that was what I was doing to myself by smoking.

I quit there and then (been a smoker since my teens, now 50).

Sarahlou63 · 27/12/2021 21:45

Just wanted to add - please don't add any emotional significance to stopping; it's a physical thing like changing to a different make of car, new supermarket or brand of toothpaste. Nothing more.

FlowerFlour · 27/12/2021 21:46

Allan Carr's Easy way to stop smoking did it for me. The book was about £8, so even if it only makes you stop for 2 days you'll have saved money vs spending on cigarettes.

I quit 7 years ago and have never felt tempted to restart.

BobbieT1999 · 27/12/2021 21:47

I'm so sorry about the loss of your sons, op. Flowers

Given that you're embarking on this process while dealing with poor mental health and carrying your grief, I urge you to seel the support of your gp.

Not only can they prescribe smoking cessation tablets, but they can give you pastoral /emotional support as you quit. You might also find it useful to self refer for some cbt sessions to help you.

@spookymargot - completely agree, the number of people replying with a lack of sensitivity is saddening!

Rosenborg · 27/12/2021 21:48

Very sorry to for your losses OP.

X

DimplesToadfoot · 27/12/2021 21:48

I fell of a horse who accidentally kicked me in the head and I simply forgot I smoked,

I don't recommend it though, I also forgot my life, my name, my kids, partner, work home etc etc when my memory eventually did come back so did the cravings, I eventually gave up permantly with the help of Champix, also not recommended ... actually I'm no use at all am I 🥴

MrsFizziwig · 27/12/2021 21:49

Alan Carr book. I also used patches for the first few weeks to take the edge off.

Smarshian · 27/12/2021 21:50

Another vote for the Allen Carr book. I quit 7 years ago and have never been tempted to restart.

HappyGirlNow · 27/12/2021 21:50

Alan Carr. The book almost worked for me but not quite so I went to the seminar (money back guarantee).. 4 hours out my life, ended almost 20 years of chain smoking 20 - 40 cigarettes a day… I thought I ‘loved’ smoking.. 💁🏻‍♀️ It really is ‘easy’ because it changes the way you think. No willpower needed! That was 16 years ago and I’ve never missed it once. Please do it 💕

HappyGirlNow · 27/12/2021 21:51

@MrsFizziwig

Alan Carr book. I also used patches for the first few weeks to take the edge off.
I don’t understand this? Using patches defeats the whole ethos of the Alan Carr method surely…
JaceLancs · 27/12/2021 21:54

Hypnotism

HowRudeolfYou · 27/12/2021 21:55

@QueenofDestruction

Alan Carr.s easy way to stop smoking. I stopped about 6 years ago after smoking for 15 years 20 a day smoker. I Tried champix, vaping, patches, hypnotherapy, cold turkey and nothing worked as I still craved a cigarette so started again, I read the book and stopped then and have never smoked or craved a cigarette again. I can spend time with friends who smoke, there are usually cigarettes somewhere in the house but have never had the urge to smoke again.
Basically this. I've been quit five years and i feel like a fraud when people say well done because it was a doddle with that book. (I used the audio book and listened in bed over a week or so)

Some of my family gave up smoking but switched to vaping instead which is better for them health wise but the addiction is still there as they've never weaned themselves off the vape, if anything, some are using it more than they'd smoke because they say it's harmless and will sit and puff on it all the time whereas with a cigarette they had to get up and go outside, I've got two family members who get visibly anxious if their vape isn't in their hand and they smoke cigarettes if they go out for a few hours and forget their vape pen thing. I'm not knocking people who quit the cigs with a vape, it's just the experience I've had with people around me and I know of others who have beaten the addiction and weaned them self off the vape over time too.

Kshhuxnxk · 27/12/2021 21:57

I stopped with this www.annepenman.com/stop-smoking/stop-smoking-programme/. 20 a day to 0, minor stress blip but went onto vapes but went back for another session and haven't smoked for 7 years now.

HowRudeolfYou · 27/12/2021 21:59

If you wanted to try the easy way audio book, if you dont have audible already the first book is usually free :)

WeAllHaveWings · 27/12/2021 22:02

I found stopping easy as I was pregnant.

The hardest bit was not restarting, it took a good 3 years for the cravings to go, especially after I had stopped bf and it wouldnt, in my mind, directly impact dc. It was hard when out, as smoking was still allowed in pubs then, and when MIL visited and actively tried to get us to join her and have just one 🙄. I had to tell myself I was a not a smoker and not take even one as I knew it would lead to more and ruin all my hard work.

Good luck op, when you get through it, it is so worth it.

misssunshine4040 · 27/12/2021 22:05

I was a really heavy smoker, it was my total crutch. But I knew it would end up making me seriously ill.
Jan 1st this year was the date I set to never ever smoke again and I'm nearly at a whole year.
I struggled like hell the 1st 5 days and bought some fake cigs to have something to do with my hands then binned them.
The overwhelming desire and need to stop helped cold turkey and stay strong.
I also used the stop smoking app that tracked your days and I found it useful to reach the milestones.
I barely think of a cigarette now and I honestly used to think I was in too deep to believe that day would ever come.
If you want to stop badly enough you will. Good luck

Totalwasteofpaper · 27/12/2021 22:06

Allan Carr and cold turkey.

One thing I found helpful was changing my routine so my smoking routine and moments/ location were disrupted.

I also drank no alcohol and cut down socialising drastically for the first month. I reintroduced it very gradually, "practicing" having a single drink with no cigarette and building up

IWasHotInTheNineties · 27/12/2021 22:09

For me it was the money! I worked out how much I spent a year and then what I could do instead. Every time I didn’t but ciggies I would put the money into a separate account so I could see it build up.

I don’t even know how much they cost now but I would guess it’s a lot!

SammyScrounge · 27/12/2021 22:26

There was a wild storm and I had left my ciggies in the car. I slipped my coat on over my nightie and went to the door. I felt pathetic for wanting to go and fetch those ciggies and I shut the door again, thinking that I could surely last a few hours without a smoke. And that was it. I never had another cigarette.
To those wishing to stop smoking, it isn't as tough as you might think. The first 48 hours are rough but it gets dramatically easier then. Cravinfg becomes a low key ache and that becomes an occasional surge of wanting one. Now, for me, it's all gone. And that is aftersmoking forty to fifty a day.
Good luck.

LeSquigh · 27/12/2021 22:32

I LOVED smoking and I smoked 20 a day until I gave up about 7 years ago. Allen Carr didn’t work for me but vaping did. You’ve listed most of the options and I think you either have to REALLY want to give up and go cold turkey or use an aid. Vaping kept the action of smoking which is why I think it worked for me. I still vape now but it must be less harmful than smoking. It doesn’t smell and it costs a tiny fraction of what cigarettes did.