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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I have been smoke free now for 4 days. Yeah! I am very happy about it. Reading these comments really encourages me, and I really hope my comment helps someone else. I started smoking when I was around 13 and only smoked occasionally till I was 16. I then picked up the habit again when I was 20. I told myself that I was going to only smoke for a short period of time, and that I could quit whenever I wanted to. I am 29 now. I can't believe how quickly the 9 years went by. I realized that if I don't quit now, another 9 years will go by quickly and I might get cancer and die. And smoking is definitely not worth it. I am happily married to a man that does not smoke and has wanted me to quit for a while now. He has been praying for me, and I have been praying for myself to quit. I realize that God's grace has always been with me to stop smoking, but that I had to make the steps to stop smoking. I feel God's grace and it's been easier than I thought it would be. And I thank my husband for also being there for me. He is a blessing from God.

Liz from New Jersey

I am 55 years old and quit smoking "Cold Turkey" a little over 5 weeks ago. I know how hard it is to quit, but I encourage anyone who is trying to do it to do so. Think how good emotionally and physically it will make you feel. I find I have much more stamina, I am saving money, and I feel really good about myself. My sister stopped around the same time I stopped and I am very proud of her. She is 72 years old and I hope that I will have her around a long time. We are 16 years apart. Raise those cigarette taxes. It will make it harder for people to buy and hopefully that will be a very strong reason (as well as other reasons) to quit.

Fran from New York

I started smoking cigarettes when I was 12 years old. I just recently quit last November when I was 20. It’s not easy but I can offer up some things that may make your experience a little bit easier. First off it must be your decision. No one else can make it for you. No matter how much your significant other, friends, or parents nag you about quitting it makes no difference on you quitting. This cannot be your motivation. So to start off your journey you need to find a reason that you hate smoking. May that be that it gives you bad breathe, girls or guys don’t find you attractive, or the fact that its killing you, which doesent make a difference to most people. The first week is the absolutely the hardest. So what I would suggest is finding something that takes you away from the ordinary for the first week or so. In my particular case something came up, that just happened to last about a week that took me away from my ordinary. Now this could be a camping trip out into the middle of nowhere just an example. But whatever it is make sure that it occupies you most of the day so you don’t have that much time to think about it. After you complete the first week or so it’s all downhill from there. I began to chew a lot of sunflower seeds. I would also go to my normal smoking spot at work and stand around and talk to everyone else that was smoking just to show myself that I could and that I didn’t need it. It didn’t take long and after a little while I didn’t even notice it anymore. Sure I get cravings once and a while but they just make me laugh to know that I beat the one thing in my life that I never thought I could beat. I feel much better now I have tons more energy, my hands are steady and don’t shake, life itself is much better. It really gives you a new outlook. I hope this helps someone out there. I really do. P.S. Working out a little helps a lot too.

Chris from Ohio

This is my second day without smoking. I feel so great, but I am afraid that I will pick it up again. I pray to God to help beat this. I know deep inside that smoking is no good for my health. I just want to live free from this dirty habit.

CINDY ALVATEZ from New York

I am 26 and have been smoking regularly since I was 15. I am also a recovered opiate and amphetamine addict. I was using hard drugs for roughly 7 years and at that time was smoking 2-3 packs, and about 5-10 joints a day. I just lost my father 2 months ago to lung cancer (small cell carcinoma), which spread to his throat and brain. I am still smoking and can not find it in me to quit for some reason.....even though I hate it so much. It's just a habit that I associate with everything - driving a car, drinking a beer, etc. After sitting here on the internet for a while looking at images of smoker's lungs...I have crushed my pack of cigarettes and they are now in the garbage. If I finally kicked heroin after trying many times on shear willpower and no rehab program, then I know that I can quit smoking.....pray for me.

Anonymous from Michigan

I want to say that I quit 4 days ago. It is the hardest thing I have done. I go through a lot of emotions and every one is so different from the last one. But I just keep thinking that this is how the cigarette companies make their money off of us – if we keep going back to smoking, we keep giving them more money - all the money I could be saving and spending on my 3 kids – not killing myself quicker than it should be. I have the power and the cigarettes don’t! I keep thinking positive thoughts to get through this otherwise I will go back. My husband is still smoking but has slowed down a lot. Hopefully he will realize what I have. So I understand and hope (and pray) that you all will make it through the withdrawal symptoms. I feel and I understand and I have hope that we can all do this!

Elaine from North Carolina

I am on day 3. Feel horrible. I can’t concentrate on ANYTHING!!!! I know why I am doing this, I have even saved 15.00 so far, but this is really difficult. I am already really sick of celery and carrots. Prey for me please......

Brandy from Texas

I just wanted to say thanks for your web site, it’s very helpful therapy for us non-smokers. I smoked a pack every day or every other day depending if I had a drink or not. I smoked For 25 years and decided to cut back first. I quit smoking at work first, and then went cold turkey the rest of the way. My wife says I am grouchy at times I don’t realize it but she’s glad I quit and she has been very supportive (Thanks babe!). It doesn’t control me any longer. It’s been three weeks and I feel good and there’s no turning back. Everyone can do this if you...Get your Head on Right! And never, ever say it’s too late!!! Put something in your mouth besides a cancer stick! Thank you God for giving me a brain!

David from Florida

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

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Content last updated August 6, 2009.