I Quit Smoking!...Need a bit of encougragement (I'm jonesing!!!)

[ccga3359]

I've never quit but I understand that coffee can trigger the nic fit. Cut back on the coffee apparently that will help.

[Glen C]

I quit about 25 years ago now, and I've watched alot of others quit and alot of others go back. First of all use the patch if you have it. It helped my wife alot. The first week is the hardest until that the nicotine is out of your system. Next comes the situational addictions. If you liked to sit and have a cigarette with your coffee, beer or talking on the phone, find something else to do rather than just sitting there. At least get up and move around, change your routines around abit. Last of all don't challange yourself! I have a friend that has quit at least a dozen times and after a year or so always finds himself in a situation where he has a cigarette just to see if he is still addicted. Guess what, he is!
Good Luck, just do a day at a time. It does get easier.

[Amoskeag]

One day at a time. Fortunately you get to determine what a day is. I used the formula that it was from when I woke up to when I went to sleep. Naps were my friend! When things got weird I'd have a snooze. Sometimes on weekends I cram five or six days into 24 hours. Obviously work precludes a lot of the mid week "mini-days" but it worked for me. (it was a technique I learned earlier in my life with another "social addiction"). I found that my behavior was a little on the strange side, but it really didn't matter, this was about me getting better. I had been selfish in smoking for all those years and it was time to use the selfishness for good. I really didn't care what I had to go through, I knew that smoking was ultimately going to kill me before it was my time. Stick with it, it will get better and easier as you go. I like the previous idea of not losing all that "clean time". A day without a smoke is precious, you worked hard for it. It's something that you haven't been able to do for a long time

I used the progressive patches. When I got to the time to go to the next lower patch I felt OK and told the doctor that I was cool to stop the treatment. Oh No! When I went to the next level down I realized that it was just a false level. See the program through to the end, do whatever it takes(what your doing is very serious stuff), count the days; even the three hour ones, and you'll get through.
Good Luck and ALL my support that I can send via "internet vibes",
Bob

[jhockin]

good for you ! I've quit before, and hope to do so again. Here's what i found helped:
- for the " oral fixation": buy some licorce root ( looks like small branches, about he size of a cigarette) , and chew on one - also helps your breath and teeth.
- think one cigarette at a time: " I won't give in to the craving for THIS cigarette" ; I found that after a few minutes the craving went away.
- avoid stressful situatuions, as much as possible ( what got me smoking again, after 18 months, was a threat, by my employer, to fire me for being on the union negotiations committee).
- avoid drinking: "the beer bone is connected to the smoke bone"
good luck!

[Rogerson785]

Try running or cycling to help repair your lungs, it will hurt like hell for a while, but eventually your difficulty of going up two flights of stairs and stamina will increase.

[Arizona Scot]

Good luck and keep the faith it really is a up hill battle at first. My last cigarette was Feb. 20,2000 at 12:30pm, I will always know that date and time. Smoked for over twenty years finally took my wife developing emphasema from second hand smoke for me to quit.

[Fox]

Drink water when you get the urge, it helped take off the initial edge for me. Then try watching your breath. I mean really watch it enter your nostrils, expand your belly, and leave your nostrils. Try it three times, ten times, or a whole hour. If you find yourself thinking about the past and/or the future, gentely bring yourself back to the present moment and start over, counting every exhalation. It is very basic meditation but potentially powerful mojo. I am four years happily clean from all inhaled vices.

[ardchoille]

I've never smoked, but I have been to medical school and I must say quitting is a challenge but it can be done. Congratulations, you should feel extremely proud of yourself. Your body, attitude and personality will all benefit immensely from this.

Just remember.. one day at a time.

[Kilted_Campbell]

Hang in there it is the best thing you will ever do. I am 15 years now Not Smoking. My daughter is now stopping ( yea ). Use a patch, gum, or what ever you need to get over the initial withdrawal. I used the patch, with out it I became sick when I tried and just couldn't handle it.

Good Luck !!!

[Howard Clark]

I had to quit drinking coffee at the same time to make it work. And quit going to the pub. And I chewed a lot of gum, nicotine and other. Good luck, and hang in there.