Has Allan Carr helped anyone?

[Murphs1]

Hi
Im on day 3 and have nearly finished listening to the Allan Carr book. I’ve read various versions of it and it didn’t resonate but I have listened to the audiobook, did a week on patches, had a night of wine and smoking and now have been cold turkey for 3 days with minimal cravings! It’s interesting and wound love to hear others experiences with it.

I know this is an old thread but just wanted to add that I stopped Vaping after reading the Allen Carr vaping book.

I have been vaping for over 10 years and thought I’d struggle but it totally shifted my mindset.

a couple of points of the book if anyone is interested….

you’re not actually ‘giving up’ anything. So you’re not depriving yourself.

nicotine replacement is pointless,you’re still an addict.

After several failed attempts to stop smoking in my 20s,
I was in my 30s when I heard myself wheezing in bed one morning and said Right, that's it, I have to stop smoking!"

Someone had given me the Allan Carr book a few years previously but after the wheezing incident I picked it up and read it on my commute to work. I read it intently and made sure I understood every thing he was saying so I didn't rush it. But before I got to the end I was ready to stop smoking. But followed his instructions and finished the book. I even started it again just to be sure but after a couple of chapters I picked a day to stop and did. First day I stayed busy, cleaned the whole house to remove any trace of cigarette smoke. The dog got 3 walks!

I haven't smoked since. Never had any craving to have a smoke. Moved house a few months after stopping and I didn't even "need" a cigarette then. The only thing which was kind of funny was that for the first few days my hand kept going out to reach for the packet of fags and lighter! But really I found it all to be easy.

So I highly recommend the method but you have to really want to stop. Not just try. Stop or don't stop. There is no try!

That bit stayed with me as well as the chapter on positives of smoking and it was a blank page.

I’m listening to this at the moment and on day 10 ciggie free! Really hope this is it for me. Have. A weekend away in two weeks with my friends who all smoke so fingers crossed! But love the book, really makes you look at it all differently

I’ve just seen people have posted on this thread, I had to re read as I did return to smoking again but have now been smoke free for some time. I did also use patches - although I realise that’s not recommended in the book, the combined approach worked for me. Good luck @bowiesgirl - you can do it x

Another thing that really helped me was asking people for what benefits they had experienced aside from the obvious money/health ones, as I found that quite motivating 😊

Well done trying again! I really found it hit home when he asked what do we ACTUALLY enjoy about smoking and if you break it down, it’s actually disgusting!

yes this is so true, I think we convince ourselves it’s a habit we can’t live without, but I feel so much more relaxed without it and able to concentrate far more easily. Keep at it and before long you don’t think about it at all.

It worked for me too, so grateful. I did briefly start again, but reread the book and it's been over 20 years now.

When I was smoking, I could never understand what the big deal about olive oil was, it was just the same as any other oil. What a revelation when I could properly smell and taste things!

Yep, I gave up and my husband too. I’ve not smoked for 20 years and don’t miss it at all. I would class myself as a non smoker. I don’t think the audiobook would have worked the same for me though, it would be too easy to drift off and stop listening.

It worked for me. He encourages you to keep smoking while reading the book. I clearly remember reading a line that said, have a cigarette now and thinking: I don't want to! I just stopped. From smoking more than 20 a day I went to zero and didn't smoke for years. Although I have smoked since, it has only been very occasional, for pleasure and never led to a habit.

@YesThatsATurdOnTheRug there is an Allen Carr vape specific book which I used to quit in July.

I started smoking at 17 and was a heavy smoker. I tried to give up with different methods and failed umpteen times. Allen Carr’s method worked and I have not smoked a single puff in the 20 years since I gave up - I’ve never even been tempted. The cravings in first 48 hours were very, very unpleasant - the key for me was to keep busy - I spent 2 days solid delivering leaflets for a certain political party. I could keep going because I knew the cravings were temporary and I understood the way nicotine is addictive. I would have bought into delivering courses but I don’t think the NHS endorsed his method - all I can say is none of the NHS recommended methods worked for me and Allen Carr changed my life. RIP Allen.

I was able to give up after 45 years of smoking and fifty a day. It really was easy with Allen Carr

Yes I read it years ago and went from 20 a day to nothing really easily. A few things still stick with me now when I’m trying to move on from bad habits.