Someone wrote into me with this story and is hoping to get some encouragement! Leave some comments if you can:
This is well over my fifth attempt to give up smoking, I’ve smoked for the past five years. That may not seem like a while but to me it does, and the habit is woven into my everyday life.
As most smokers know, it’s a rocky road ahead after quitting. There are so many triggers such as a favorite beverage that goes great with a smoke like coffee, after a meal, boredom, after an accomplishment, driving and of coarse stress and many other triggers.
If I am serious about qutting and staying with my goal, what can I do instead? I thought about crocheting or knitting?? Any good gums or quit smoking aids that can be recommended? I’ve heard about Chantix working well. The patch did not work for me. I am almost out of the two packs of nicotine gum I had saved from the last time I quit. What should I do when I run out?? What are some things I can do to take my mind off of smoking?
May 7th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
hi. i quit several years ago, and it was my 3rd try at it. i used one of those mint sticks to "puff on".. i bought it at a smoke shop convenience type place. really, as time passed is when i wanted to smoke less and less. i think you just have to do anything you can to not do it and just "get over the hump" so to speak. eat, chew gum, puff on those fake minty cigs, go for a bike ride- anything to distract yourself and just take it one craving at a time. i'm proud of you for quitting, i hope you succeed. think of your children if you have any, i wish my mom would stop:( gl to you
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May 7th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
i do it one step at a time. i quit smoking when i drove, then quit smoking after a big meal, quit smoking during breaks, now i only smoke when i drink alot of alcohol. but i can tell there is a big difference, i can not smoke when i am sober, i don't even like it. it was hard to not smoke while driving but i just sucked it up and did it. i've heard using toothpicks help because it's a habit for putting sticks into your mouth.
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May 7th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
There is actually a herbal cigarette you can get at a few places that has no nicotine but you still smoke it when you get a craving and it does wonders to slowly get you out of the habit my girlfriend quit that way and when I quit I'm going to take that route as well
and by herbal I don't mean illegal lol
one example below but there are many different types
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http://www.altcigs.com/herbalgold.html
May 7th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
wow firstly well done
both of my parents were smokers 12 weeks ago they have both given up after 21 years of smoking they both used a prescribed tablet from the doctor and it has worked miracle's, before using the tablet my mum had tried the patches and gum and even hipmotheopy (sorry bout spelling lol), but when on the tablet my mum found it extremely hard to begin with and began just chewing normal chewing gum or sucking on a lolly when she had a craving for one..she is now smoke free and alot healthier for it.
i strongly recommend going to the doctors and asking about the tablet that they are able to prescribe, sorry i don't recall the name! but seriously it works my bf has been taking the tablet for two weeks and he has cut down to 1 a day…
good luck with everything and well done for your five days
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May 7th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Seek professional help if it is available where you live. I am told that nicotine gum is good because you are still getting the "fix" without doing the damage to your lungs. Try and change your trigger habits that you list, i.e. water or dandelion and burdock instead of coffee. It is good to find a hobby that keeps your fingers occupied, crocheting or knitting excellent if you like doing them, embroidery would also require a bit of concentration. What about music, getting a little electric keyboard? Painting with chalks, this is wonderful as you can push the chalk with your fingers to create shadows, and shades of colour and afterwards spray your work with some hair lacquer which keeps it in place? Jigsaw puzzles have a knack of making time pass whilst you are absorbed, do some Small ones or if you have the space a large one, these can be addictive in their own right, and maybe get one of those "things" on which you can roll up a puzzle that isn't completed, if you need the table space for something else.
Listen to your lungs thanking you for the nice clean air, don't listen to your lungs moaning for a cigarette!. Tell your lungs you are doing it for their good and to support you.
Good luck.
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May 8th, 2009 at 1:07 am
No matter what you do, it's not going to be easy. But I've found that chewing regular old gum works best for me. Whenever I have a craving, I just pop in a piece of gum. I used to always smoke after meals, whenever I was in the car. So as soon as I'm done eating, I pop a piece of gum. Before I get in the car, I pop a piece of gum. It's been 10 months since my last smoke, and not gonna lie, I still get cravings. But I just try to keep myself busy. I find that if I'm sitting around bored, I crave them more.
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May 8th, 2009 at 1:55 am
If you really want to quit smoking, take a look at
http://stopsmoking.eu.pn/
It's a new approach for everyone who seriously wants to stop smoking, and it's free.
This site tackles smoking from an addiction perspective; It doesn’t matter if you are a five a day teenager, or a one hundred a day pensioner, male or female, or if this is your first or fiftieth attempt at stopping, if you follow all instructions, certainly you'll become a non-smoker without suffering.
Good luck & happy quitting!
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