Smoking and How to Quit

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Have a helpful hint or motivating thought to share? Tell us your story. Encourage others. Share strategies for quitting smoking. This area is for you.

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Thanks to all of you for your comments – what a great support team! I'm at the end of day six, it's Saturday night and I'm bored, so I naturally want a cigarette. For the past 5 days I have come home and made sure I didn't have a need to leave the house, so I don't want a cigarette. I have purposely avoided people who irritate me and friends who may prompt a smoker’s conversation. I've eaten everything in the house but, I FEEL GREAT! Been a smoker for 25 years and the past few years I’ve been up to a pack a day. I've quit 2 times before, once for a week and a few years ago for 2 months. I came to this site tonight for help and I got it so I thank all that commented, especially the person who wrote, "1 and I'm done!" - That’s so true, you can't have one. That really helped me tonight, so thank you!! Good luck to you all.

Michelle from California

So others get heart palpitations from smoking? Do you ever get them to the point of fainting? I am quitting also. In the last 3 days I have had 4. Today I have had 0 and I am using the lozenge. They seem. to help.

Mary from California

Most insurance companies employ health coaches who are specifically trained to assist members in smoking cessation programs and often have access to offer nicotine replacement products and medications to quit smoking free or very cheap. They are often respiratory therapists and have certification in classes on how to REALLY help folks quit smoking. Anyone who has insurance should make a phone call to their nurse advice line or visit their insurance company's website. It's free and only a phone call away - full support, free - a great gift to give yourself. I did it a few years ago and I’m really glad I did.

Nightengale from Arizona

7 days smoke free cold turkey if I can do this anyone can because believe me I loved it....but I love my daughter more.

Anonymous from Illinois

I’m on day 36 and feeling great. I smoked a pack a day for 20 years. I handled my cravings by trying not to think about smoking. I force myself to think about something totally different. Control your temptations even when you want to smoke badly. It is only you that can make it all happen. There is an important saying: "Those who stand for nothing fall for nothing." You have to remember this wise saying. God bless and good luck. You can do it!

Brian F from California

I am 38 years old and have been a smoker for 25 years. I quit two times when I was pregnant, but started up again shortly after my kids were born. I thought I could just have the occasional cigarette and be OK. I have been smoking a lower nicotine cigarette for the last several years. Actually, if I try to smoke a normal cigarette now, it makes me sick, so it gives me some comfort knowing that. I only smoke about 5 cigarettes a day and never smoke around my kids, however, my 5 year old son caught me sneaking one yesterday and said "Mom! You do that!". I was devastated. I didn't know what to say. All I could say was "No, mommy doesn't do that", but he caught me, so now I'm lying to my son. I decided that was it. There is no way I want to be put in that position again and try to explain myself. Today I am starting a nicotine patch. I am starting with step 2, which is probably more nicotine than what I was getting from smoking the low nicotine cigarettes I currently smoke, but I'll do whatever it takes to succeed. My worst fear about quitting, other than the fact that I enjoy smoking, is how I am going to handle stress. I am going on vacation in 2 weeks and I want to be completely smoke free so I can relax and enjoy myself and my family. Wish me luck!!!!

Christine from New Jersey

I have many times unsuccessfully tried to quit smoking. Varied methods, patches, and medications provided absolutely no results, just side effects. Although I was skeptical, I thought I would try one more time. I went to see an acupuncture physician. After thirty-five years of smoking and due to so many failed attempts to stop smoking in the past, I really had no real expectations; I just thought that I would try one more time. Much to my surprise, four weeks after I started acupuncture, I stopped smoking. I continue to be smoke free and am so very thankful that I have found this solution. I was truly impressed at the acupuncturists understanding of my personal situation and his ability to help me understand that my smoking was a habit and an addiction, and helped me understand cravings and triggers. As a result, I have gained control over my mind and body, and my smoking addiction no longer controls me. I am "Smoke free" at last......What a breath of fresh air!!!

Anastasia from Wisconsin

Here is my magic list of things to do when I crave:

Remember why you quit
Remember what you hated
Remember what you will gain
Remember- It will become easier tomorrow :-)
Remember- your self image ( active, energetic, healthy, positive, happy, strong, self confident, clean)
Remember- it makes you DEPRESSED
Remember- itmakes you uglier- your skin, your hair, your teeth, your smell, your smile, your discusted feeling, your broken self confidence, your self image, your self respect
Remember- crave will go away
Remember your nightmare in fires
Remember your discusted morning feeling, and the urge to quit when you wake up, and the wish to put up posters to remind yourself the feeling throughout the day
Chew a nicotine gum
Eat a healthy snack
Drink water
Exercise, go for a walk
Take deep breaths
Take a hot shower
Meditate
Drive
Take a nap
Think for the moment- YES, YOU CAN DO IT! it will go away and you will deal with it again if/when it comes back
It is ALL in your MIND!!!

Good luck ;)

Anonymous from Alabama

The best way to quit is to Goggle pictures of smokers lungs - rotten black lungs. Print them up and hang them on your fridge so the kids can see them to. That will help kick the habit.

Melisa from Louisiana

I have just made my seventy two hour mark without cigarettes after fifteen years of smoking. The first two days were really bad but today was better. The whole process has been almost like a relearning process, like learning to live without the cigarettes. I will never smoke another cigarette again. Buy the way I tried a lot of things to quit the habit, but the only thing that worked was just going cold turkey.

shelly from Alabama

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Content last updated July 19, 2009.