Can anyone help me quit smoking?

[violetbloom]

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

violet you are right, but it's so hard, it really is.

Hello everyone. Can I just say please keep at it, it really is worth it. I will be 12 weeks smoke free this week and can't tell you how glad I am. It does get so much easier I don't think about fags at all anymore. I can breathe deeply, My skin is glowing like it has been moisturised from within and exercising is so much easier.

It is hard at first but reward yourselves with a treat, don't worry about putting on a few pounds if your appetite increases. This can be easily sorted afterwards which lung cancer can't.

Nearly 12 weeks later I can stand and talk to someone who's smoking and not want one in fact I think 'thank God I don't have to do that anymore.'

Seriously any cravings will pass, any mood swings will pass and you will come out the other side feeling fab and so proud of yourself.

I was forced to go cold turkey on sunday when I lost my inhaler I have been fine though, get the odd craving but am really not missing it, I think I was 'ready' in my mind to stop

Basking, it is hard,there's no doubt about it. I've found it hard. Even now, over 3 months later, I still occasionally fancy a fag but I have to say it's maybe once or twice a week now that it enters my head and it's not serious.

I've been a lifelong smoker, I've quit and started again twice and totally identified myself as a smoker. Really truly if I can get through it anyone can!

oh shit.... I need a fag... help! Just found out a family member might be very ill... find out tomorrow... scared..

Sparkly, hope you got through it ok, and sorry to hear about your relative - hope all's ok.

If you are panicking, maybe you could go back to the inhalator, in case you get tempted?

OOh Baskingseals, are you in Norfolk too?! When I stop to realise that cigarettes make very poor parent substitutes my craving sort of goes. I would still like to be a smoker despite everything. I am not smoking because I haven't bought any cigarettes and I keep on forgetting that I am a lapsed smoker. It is not a good way to be and I am probably extra bad-tempered as a result.

So... to make it REALLY simple: The reason I am a non-smoker is because I don't buy tobacco and we live in the middle of nowhere so I can't just cadge off a neighbour etc... I would have to make an active decision to buy some tobacco and I haven't quite got that far.

Yes I am in sunny smoke-free Norfolk.

Why do you think you fancy a fag now after 5 years?

Oh I think life has been a bit busy flinging bricks in my direction and I need a bit of unconditional love. Fags do that don't they? They will be your friend forever even if they kill you. Doesn't everyone have friends who they don't like or who dont like them? Just even slightly?

yep.
you just have to remember that it's just an illusion.
are you in norfolk too?

hi guys, how's it going? still strong and free?
I've been a bit up and down, just miss it really, but do have quite a few moments now where I don't think about having a fag. Unfortunately they are just moments - I pretty much always think about it, but just force myself to think positively about stopping.

Finding it hard to deal with stressful moments though especially with dcs - has anyone got any tips?

Hope you are all good - depeche are you still around?

Hi all, I am strong and free!

I don't really think about smoking any more. And it's only been five weeks or so. Considering how insane I was and how difficult I found it at first, that's pretty incredible.

Stick with it, baskingseals. You really are doing amazingly well, because you're finding it hard but you're still sticking with it. Go, girl.

Well done CJ.

Yes, basking, stick with it. Remember that if you smoked, it wouldn't help you get through sticky moments with dc.

When I'm tired or run down, bored or stressed, I have a vague feeling of 'a fag would be nice now.' But I can't even call it a craving really. There isn't anything I can think of to replace the 'satisfaction' of having a fag in one of those moments. I have to just get through them.

But I don't think about smoking ever now apart from when I post on here or someone asks!

Hey everybody - I have posted on this thread twice ... the first time to join in and the second to just say I haven't been tempted back to the ciggies!!

A lot of you have been asking about the Allen Carr book - it's what worked for me. I've tried many times in the past and nothing worked but this time, I'm convinced I'll NEVER smoke again.

His way of thinking (and now mine) is the following:

• There's no such thing as just one cigarette
• It's not a habit, it's drug addiction.
• Ciggies do NOT relieve stress, make you calm etc, all they're doing is feeding the nictine monster i.e. the addiction. All the cigarette does is make you feel like a non-smoker feels ALL THE TIME.
• You're not giving anything up because cigaretters NEVER did anything for you.
• You have to WANT to stop smoking for stopping's sake. If you use any other reason there's a very high change you'll start again. Don't use the health reason - we all know it's bad for us yet we all had that first cigarette and became addicts. I've got mild asthma but it never stopped me starting in the first place. Don't use the saving money reason; you'll have a day when you have a few spare quid in your purse and so the reason no longer holds (that's why my sister stopped smoking and about 3 weeks ago she was feeling a little flush - guess what, she's smoking again). I stopped when carrying DS but once I'd stopped breast-feeding I started again.

I'm now 9-weeks in (I wasn't counting at all, in fact I never think about cigarettes at all - no really - but decided just to check for this post) annnd... guess what?? DP still smokes.

I can't say I'd normally get on my soap-box about anything but can only applaud Mr. Carr's book. It's fabulous, don't be scared or too judgemental about it - give it a go.

thanks guys it does help

So how's everyone doing?

I actually feel, today, like I am not a smoker. And like I never will be ever again.

Must be coming up for 3 months on Friday I think.

Well done! I caved in earlier in the week. I had a butt rollie yesterday and have no more tobacco. I don't feel like a non-smoker and I am still wondering if it is worth getting any tobacco. I don't like the smell so much and I don't like the way it makes me feel. I do live in very real fear that there are things that will kill me before smoking.

sc you always come across as quite negative about quitting, not a criticism, just an observation. It makes me wonder what motivated you to stop in the first place? Can you get back to whatever it was that made you want to quit?

I do miss having a fag now and then and honestly I can't say I'll ever feel like a 'non-smoker' 100% but I don't feel deprived. I feel really glad to be out of the trap that I so wanted to be out of for so long.

Hello everyone. I hit the 12 week mark last week and am feeling so much better. It really does get easier but you have to want to stop because it is hard at first. I can tell you though once you reach this point it really hardly ever crosses your mind. Sometimes I think God it's a lovely sunny day I wish I could sit outside and have a fag then I think but nahh I don't do that anymore. It's all association and once you pass every association milestone you're done and you're stronger. After ther addiction is over it's the ritual that needs tackling but it gets so much easier.

My breathing is so much betternow i can take a huge breath without it feeling like something's sopping it. I have also noticed when I sing to the children I can sing so much better , same with reading them a story and i'm not asthmatic I was just a smoker.

I honestly don't want to sound preachy but want to show you that if I can do it anyone can and when you come out of the otherside you will be so proud of yourself and will be amazed at how much better you feel.

I also suffer from anxiety and tirned to fags as stress relief but it's bollocks they don't really help they just fool you into thinking you do. My heart rate has gone down form 85 beats per min as a smoker to 60-65 as a non- smoker. I feel less anxious and my panic attacks are virtually none existant.

Wishing you all the best in stopping. You can do it.

*turned to fags not tirned!

hi, still managing to not smoke - just feels like its taking ages. it's 7 weeks today and i still want a bloody fag. so boring and exhausting. will i ever stop craving? and why am i still craving? is my life that awful?

fags, they are truly evil.

I haven't smoked today. It's weird that it is so easy NOT to smoke. There is nothing to like about cigarettes, but a strange comfort. It is a bit like being in an abusive relationship and not quite being able to leave. I spoke to a friend today who stopped smoking over 20 years ago. She said she still would like to be able to smoke. Sometimes it seems to have the answers. Oh the illusion!