Can anyone help me quit smoking?

[violetbloom]

I'm so keen to stop. All advice and tips very gratefully received.

Well, based on other threads on MN, Allen Carr's book gets most votes. Have you read it? Also, try reading the articles on THIS site.

How much do you (really) smoke?!

This really helped me

nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/2006/03/stop-smoking-in-28-days.html
Print it out. Keep it with you. Read it all the time.

Also read Allan Carr.

I successfully gave up 3.5 years ago

Thanks! I smoke between 6-10 a day. I've smoked more in the past. I've also quit in the past - once for 3 years!!! But I haven't tried to quit very hard over the last 3-4 years and my chest is bad, dd doesn't like it, I'm just totally fed up with it.

I think I've got Alan Carr around somewhere, I'll dig him out. And I'll check that blog. Thanks!

oh, but I didn't do the smoking replacement thing - I had patches for 3 days but they almost made me worse. I went cold turkey 3 days after my 'SSD', and I was literally climbing the walls, but after 2 days it started to get better. After 1 week it was much MUCH easier.

I remember that horrible creeping climbing the walls feeling where you can't relax. I guess I've quit / tried to quit so many times now that I dread the process. Pity I don't dread it enough to never start smoking again. I'm such an idiot.

VB - if you're up for it, how about we stop together? I smoke more than you (about 15), but must give up otherwise my dentist will probably murder me , apart form all the other reasons.

I have never given up for more than 6 weeks and so I'm simultaneously bricking myself and looking forward to knocking it on the head once and for all...

What do you think??

That's exactly what I was hoping for - an ally! Much easier when you're not alone. And we should be totally honest about our successes and failings. For instance, i promised I wouldn't ahve one today and I did on the way to work. Now just about to leave and I'm going to try not to but I think i will. I'm DESPERATE...

Will be back later on after school pick-ups etc. etc.

Yes! Let's be a team.

I quit 9 yrs ago and found this positive angle really motivating here
whenever I felt like a fag I read that and it spurred me on to keep going. I also put little postits in the places I got urges to smoke like on the telly, on the phone etc.The postits had encouraging phrases from that link .

Good luck it is fabulous to be free from smoking. You have to think of yourself as a non smoker from your SSD , no longer will you have to think about where or when you can have your next cigarette.

Also you GP surgery may have a smokestop program you can join , worth looking into.

Yikes. OK. Well, I have 5 left in the packet. I fully intend to finish them, because I am weak. I will make a special MN effort to finish them later today.

I'll try to check-in to MN (this thread) daily, but somtimes I can't so don't think I have deserted you .

I have ggirl's timetable - see above - on my phone, plus a short list of 'reasons why quidnunc is a total idiot if he doesn't stop smoking'.

Remember - drink fruit juice for the first 3-4 days. It's all about sugar levels & cravings. See the whyquit.com site for details. Apparently it makes a big difference.

I'm going cold turkey. If my DW can squeeze out one DC and go through a CS, I can stop smoking.

Bon chance,

QN

Quid, I want to stop with you.
Right- stock up pn fruit juice
I am visiting a friend tonight who laso smokes and will have my last couple there

Crap tip probably but did help a couple of friends when they gave up.

Don't say 'I'm trying to quit', say 'I don't smoke'. It sounds stupid doesn't it but said friends would be out and somebody would offer a cigarette and the first phrase leaves room for questioning, temptation, an 'are you sure?'. The second is an absolute. I suppose it's a CBT thing, don't think of yourself as trying to achieve something positive but having already done so.

I'll second what ShowofHands says.
Also a bit of Allan Carr is you don't say "I'm giving up smoking" because that makes you feel like you're depriving yourself of something. You aren't giving up anything, just gaining so much!!
I'm a bit evangelical on the Allan Carr subject . He succeeded where so many others faile and I've been a non-smoker now for 4.5 years and can seriously say it was easy peasy, with not a single wobble, doubt, craving, anything since. Read his book!

Ruffalo - You're on!

If you're a bit anal about progress, try www.quitmeter.com. It's a bit naff, but at least you can pretend you feel the effects listed HERE

Two weeks ago I went nearly three days without a cigarette before caving in. I used so much gum I gave myself mouth ulcers. I really really want to stop. When I get home I am going to see if I have Allen Carr book, take a look and may join you if that is alright. Feeling a bit scared at typing this! Currently a good 20 a day of strong cigs, and have been for 30 years. I have failed so many times at quitting....oh I don't know. Sorry waffling! At very least I will watch this thread and cheer you all on. x

Right, quid and violet bloom
Tomorrow is our first day of freedom!
I am going to post on here when I fancy one

GonnaBH... you and I are in similar position re how much we smoke, and how long for (ish).

I have only really tried to stop twice. Both times lasted around 6 weeks. I'm definitely one of those people for whom a single cigarette means the end of stopping, straight back onto 15-20 a day - and and [jibbering village idiot emoticon].

It very much an all or nothing deal for me

I would like it to be nothing, and I will give some serious thought about it this evening. I really hope it can be nothing for you this time!! Ta for pointing out the similarities...sometimes I feel just such a twit. Not helped by knowing very few people who smoke and meeting general disgust!

It's a good idea to plan a day to stop smoking so you can prepare yourself and others, maybe a week from now. Tell everyone and smoke your guts out up until your final day.

You will be sick of it and actually want to quit which is the real secret to quitting.

Try not, do or do not, there is no try.

It works on so many levels.

I wish I'd had a chance to get back to this yesterday evening! I did quite well in the daytime yesterday, avoided cues to smoke like leaving work, walking home from the tube. But then I went to a friends with dd and there was beer and on the walk home I succumbed. And then, well, I'll be totally honest, for the rest of the evening it was like I'd never even thought of quitting ... isn't that dreadful?

Today I haven't quit. But I've been being very conscious of how many I smoke. I'm going out in 20 mins and won't be back for about 4 hours and I'm not taking any cigarettes with me. If I don't have them one me I can't have one and I won't be near a shop. I'll probably be desperate for one when I get home.

My current plan is to set a definite stop date. At the moment it's next Monday. Then between now and then try very hard to avoid having a cigarette unless absolutely desperate, to sort of give myself a head start.

Are any of my allies still with me?

Still lurking, VB...

My story is that I was a bit naughty. Not the type of naughty I'd have liked, but the type that meant I didn't finish the cigarettes I had yesterday, so I still have 3 left. Normally I'd get through 15-18 a day so there is some progress (grasping at straws, I know).

Still, I'm off skiing for the weekend so it's an ideal opportunity to stop, rather than fantasise about stopping...

Today I haven't smoked once. And I don't have any. Lunchtime will be a bit test - lots of shops nearby ...

Gimme strength someone? I feel quite determined today although wonder if doing it right before the weekend is really such a great idea ...