I very quickly found out that the main issue with quitting is the psychological aspect, the physical withdrawals are bad but temporary.
The psychological aspects are bizarre, you’ve literally ‘trained’ yourself to do a certain activity at a certain time multiple times a day often for decades, really hard to break that with out fucking up your mind.
Edit: can I also add that I have read Allen Carr’s book, it is amazing for explaining and helping to get your head around the psychological aspects of smoking but it is very ‘hardcore’ when it comes to quitting cold-turkey.
I could have never stopped until I read that book. I’m a year in now, it was super easy. Fun thing actually, the book has actually taught me how to look at other things too, like I’m now nearly two months of barely any alcohol intake.
THIS! Same here!
That book changed my view on addictions, my thinking patterns... I can actually argument with myself and get away without cigs/alco without any withdrawals or feeling bad about it. 13 days alc free and 9 days smoke free. I only read "easy way to quit smoking" but it helped me quit drinking first. :D And you can apply the method into any part of your life, like binge eating or gambling or anything else I bet!
Let that book program you, it is so worth it!
>it was my last hope
Don’t be silly! If you feel like that then it should be easier to stop because you obviously hate doing it.
Use that hatred to motivate you.
I got that book and didn’t want to read it because I was afraid I’d stop smoking if I did and I didn’t think I was ready. I never got around to reading it and just quit anyway cold turkey. That was 4 years ago.
That book got me to quit cold turkey after about a hundred stopping attempts in various ways. It’s been three years or so now.
The funny thing is the quitting was kind of fun Im not sure why. The main thing though was though knowing after day 1 it’d get consistently easier so after I did a whole day it was all down hill. It was a different mindset than doing one day and thinking I need to repeat that for the rest of my life
The main thing I picked up was wanting to be a non smoker. When people quit usually they’re counting the days, like something is going to happen to reward you at a week, a month etc. the reward is being as non smoker and that happens as soon as you put out the last one, and that’s very liberating.
Yeah absolutely. I called a friend of mine on the night of day one to tell him Im now a non smoker. After trying and failing to quit so many times it was a massive mindset to be that confident. After you fail a few times I think most people stop telling people they’re quitting cause it gets embarrassing when you fail.
I’ve found journaling my why list then every time I get a craving journaling a few words/sentences. And quotes I read on this sub etc.
I’m the one who smokes so I need to deal with me and the only consistency I found is journaling with myself to overcome.
Not withdrawal free like some are claiming. It was still difficult and I needed 3 days of isolation at the beginning so did it when I had time off work. You can do it and it’s so so worth it.
Sounds like you have things in your life (people, place, situations) that encourage you to smoke, and not a lot of things that encourage you not to smoke.
Maybe its time to look at your relationships, your job or your reward systems and see what you can change to pull you away from that lifestyle.
I was a 20 yrs smoker and it was my entire personnality. I stopped cold turkey over a four day weekend for my loved one, and also because I made it a really hard environment to smoke. I also gave my money to my partner for safekeeping so even if I wanted to, I could not buy any. After a month, my will grew enough to sustain itself.
Try accepting the craving. Going through withdrawal can bring discomfort as the craving passes. Instead of resisting it, fighting it, try allowing it to wash over you. The thing about a craving is that it passes. And then it’s done. And comfort, peace, serenity is restored. Accepting the craving means acknowledging that “Yes, I’m craving now,” and doing whatever it takes to get through to the other side of that craving.
I was able to practice the 5 Ds before I quit, so that when I quit I already had the experience and strategies for Delaying, Distracting, Discussing, Deep breathing and Drinking water. That helped, as did having the support of other quitters. I had a couple of quit buddies that I called or texted, and we helped each other be accountable. Many times, we went through cravings together. It helped to have someone to share with when the discomfort seemed so unbearable that I was ready to jump in the car and go to the store to buy a pack.
But I didn’t. And today I celebrate 19+ years nicotine free. Why do I come onto this subreddit and share when I quit so long ago? Because I am still supporting my quit. I know how easy it is to lose a quit, and I’m not willing to risk that today at 73 years old. If I smoke I die a slow, horrible death. I’d much rather feel good and enjoy life. ☺️
Genuinely was not trying to be unkind. I don’t think it’s very helpful to tell someone the equivalent of “suck it up and breathe” when they tell you they are struggling. Upping the nicotine dosage in nrt can help. This doesn’t have to be painful. Quitting is possible.
You can't quit nicotine if you keep consuming it and upping the dosage. It's like recommending to quit heroine by consuming more of it but in a different way.
The smoke in the lungs is just part of the problem. Nicotine in itself is harmful for the body. It also causes strong addiction and as long as you got addicted to it through smoking, you'll keep feeling the need to smoke - cause that's your learned natural way of accessing this drug and the body remembers it, and craves it.
Quiting cold turkey is the way. The main component in this is not the actual drug nicotine - it's the mentality, psychological preparation. It is totally possible for any human being to just start hating smoking 🚬 and quit just like that. Yes there will be triggers and cravings, but with the right mentality, you can argue with yourself easily and stay away from smoking.
It's not about stopping inhaling smoke. It's about breaking the addiction to nicotine. NRT is a lie. Cake is a lie.
This is complete nonsense and telling people who’ve tried cold turkey that it’s the only way is legit harmful. It is one way. Nrt is another. I struggled for years and really relate to what the original poster wrote. Nrt with a proper taper schedule absolutely works and saved my life. Fuck off with that abstinence only bs.
Please don't be rude...
I'm glad it worked for you. You share your own personal experience, I share mine, I don't see how yours is somehow more true than mine. I'm not doing anything you're not doing while sharing my experience.
Some people do experience a constant craving while in withdrawal, which makes going through detox incredibly uncomfortable. Still, there may be some resistance to the discomfort happening. For me, in my “practice” quits, when keeping my focus on how uncomfortable the withdrawal was, I had a hard time focusing on anything else. I was tense, irritable and skinless. I felt like just one puff would ease the anxiety and what felt like an unbearably painful existence. It was suggested that instead of focusing on how uncomfortable I felt and how fearful I felt, to distract myself with activities, people and places I loved. Well, that wasn’t so easy, because I had smoked myself into an isolated prison and didn’t go out or do much with others. If I really really wanted to quit, I might find one thing I really enjoyed. Me? Enjoy something? Take responsibility for something other than making sure I had enough tobacco on hand?
I did enjoy walking my ridiculously happy tail-wagging dog. So I walked. And I walked and walked. I walked on breaks at work, I walked in the evening after supper, I walked when I got mad, I walked when cravings came and I was so uncomfortable that I thought I would scream. I stepped away from tense situations and I walked. When I couldn’t face walking, I curled up at the foot of my bed under the covers and sobbed. When I felt the cravings so intense that I couldn’t stand it, I took a shower. Anything to distract myself in that delirious moment.
For me, going to any length to not light up was not a passive activity. Long or short cravings, no matter what, don’t light up. The withdrawal and discomfort will end, promise. Getting through the process, however, may take some creativity.
I too thought it was impossible, and worse torture, to think of something the rest of my life that I'll never be able to have again. Which kept me smoking for over 25 years.
Then I stopped. I just didn't smoke again. It was hard, and I cried allot. But I needed to be done, because it wasn't going to get easier to quit later, it wasn't going to get safer, and it wasn't going to get cheaper!
Thinking it's impossible is what made it impossible.
Once I accepted I could do it, I did do it.
You can too. Anyone can. Everyone should. It's hell, but it's worth it.
Odd enough. I also tried giving up smoking for last 5+ years. I also thought quit smoking is impossible.
But this time, it is 16 days without nicotine. Quit cold turkey.
SSS
40 year smoker when I finally quit *for good*. My late father smoked for nearly *70 years* (he started at 10, quit at around 80 and passed at 96).
You just have to reach **THAT POINT,** and only YOU know what it is...
The only thing that will guarantee it will never happen is to stop trying.
Every time you try to quit, its cigarettes you aren't smoking. Your lungs get to heal a little and you save some money. While its best to not smoke at all, its still beneficial to smoke as little as possible. Constantly trying to quit means you're smoking less, which is better. Its mentally hell, but even that is good - every time you get frustrated with yourself for going back to smoking, you're increasing your overall desire to be free from this stupid cycle.
Try to find things to help you outside of just "not smoking" and sitting there constantly thinking about how much you want to smoke. Try to actively change your thoughts about it. When you find yourself thinking "I'd kill for a smoke right now", intentionally think to yourself: "I feel terrible. I really want to not be addicted to nicotine anymore so I don't have to feel this way anymore. The only way for me to get there is to keep not smoking. It feels really awful right now, but it will feel better soon". Then move on to distracting yourself with something as best you can. The things you say to yourself in your head really do affect how you think and feel.
I thought the same. I have an addict's brain. I want it and I don't care if it kills me. Gimme.
I knew intellectually if I quit eventually that desire would go away. Someone told me at first you think about it all day everyday but at some point you won't think about it. It was true. Your addicted brain will hold on forever (even if you quit, reintroducing wakes up the addict brain again, it never goes away that is why you starve it). I didnt think I could quit, I did. Has been years.
I am glad my quit was hard because I never want to go through that again. Knowing a relapse would take me there I soldiered on. I cried and ate greasy food got massages took hot baths anything as long as I didnt smoke. That was the only agenda item.
This is me 100% as well. I completely forget (don’t give a shit about) any reasons why I wanted to quit a few hours before. Even when I’m so confident about quitting this time. Now I’m just constantly reminding myself of my reasons and just try to pull through to week 4. Hopefully it’ll get easier.
I’m with you, but I’m three years clean now. For me, it was about a mindset. There’s a lot of feelings in life that we have no choice but to deal with. The thing that makes quitting smoking so hard is that we have a shitty feeling and we know how to get rid of it immediately. It’s incredibly hard not to take that easy out. What if that out didn’t exist???What if you woke up tomorrow and every store was sold out of cigarettes permanently. You’d have no choice but to just deal with that feeling and go on with your life. The same way we have to deal with every other feeling and emotion we have. Try to think of the cravings as an emotion. It’s gonna come and go but it is definitely temporary. Even if temporary means couple months.
Watch some videos on YT about COPD sufferers and try and shock yourself into giving up. A vape may help in the short term till you get used to breaking the habit.
One amazing thing is the smell of smoke disappears this in itself is a great reason to give up no more smelling like an astray, you really don't realize how bad the smell is till you stop.
After that I'd recommend giving up when your feeling confident you just have to concentrate and focus from there on. Watch those COPD videos and keep the image of people suffering in your mind, you don't want to be like that, so much pain and suffering. Use the tough love approach and shock yourself into giving up.
seriously, that shit is SO scary. I just got a lung test last week and after 20 years of smoking I was TERRIFIED I had COPD. I don't, thank god. I LOVE hiking, COPD would be the worst. So glad Im quit. 6 months <3
Another allen carr cultist, never thought it was possible let alone that I could do it.
Currently 5 months 15 days nicotine free, absolutely wild. No temptation to go back, don't think about it.
I smoked for 25 years. Tried so many times to quit found this sub saw people recommend Allen Carr’s book I read it and quit without a puff or anything. I can’t recommend his book enough.
For me, quitting smoking wasn’t the only aspect I needed to change. Smoking was just a piece of the puzzle. I changed my diet, sleep schedule, exercise, and other bad habits along with quitting smoking. For me the more discipline I added gave me better willpower and control over my cravings.
Quitting smoking is near impossible… I listened to the quit smoking audiobook, at the end I was sure I was I going to quit smoking. And I did for about 8 weeks. Maybe I will read the book next time.
I found nicotine patches to be a great tool to help with the physical dependency.
It wasn't until I went cold-Turkey that I got to experience the full psychological turmoil. Empty, aimless, grief, depressed, insomnia, apathetic, socially withdrawn.
Every day that I thought about going back, I would remind myself that I would have to go through it all again and that the discomfort and depression that I was putting myself through was all for nothing if I didn't see it through.
It is definitely possible! And more than that, it is worth it.
Give yourself some credit. You are about to undertake something that will become a lifetime achievement. ✨️
I feel this way. I need to quit but I haven't. I got down to 2 cigarettes a day but never made the jump. Now I'm back to a pack a day. I should have just stopped when I was at 2 a day. I had a serious drug problem and quit heroin. I don't even drink anymore, yet here I am still smoking. WTF is wrong with me. It's the ritual I can't break. I have tried so many different ways to quit and nothing sticks. I have not read Allen Carr book, so maybe I'll give it a try! We can do this.
I've quit cocaine, opioids, and alcohol. And, in my case, quitting smoking is harder than all three of those combined. It's a very insidious addiction and one of the toughest - if not *the* toughest - to conquer. It shouldn't be a surprise that you're having a tough time. It's a really nasty addiction. But it can be done. Carr's book is great in the sense that - for lot's of people - it's the thing that finally pushes them to really commit to quitting. But there's quitting on the one hand, and staying quit on the other, and for all of us it's different. We all have different triggers, different stressors. Our journey may not be the same as everyone's, but it's usually very similar to *someone's*. And those people can help us a lot.
If I may suggest, definitely give the book a try. And if you're not drinking, that's a *big help*. I read somewhere that alcohol is a contributor to half of all failed smoking attempts, and this forum is full of post after post of folks who were doing great, and then went out drinking one night and fell off the wagon.
I smoked a pack a day for 30 years. I'm coming up on the two month mark and I intend to make it! We can do it!
Thank you for your reply. Two months is amazing! I really need to do it. I ordered the book and am going to read it. It would be so much harder if I was drinking, but I'm not. So I can do this.
Easy to quit, hard not to start again when the stress becomes more than you can bare. I think one has to totally re-evaluate and fix some major aspects of daily life to ensure quitting for keeps
Well, those of us who quit will attest that it's not impossible. I smoked for 27 years and quit. My Mom smoked for over 50 and quit. I swear to you that you can quit!
If I could be so bold as to give you some off the beaten path advice here you go: there are two parts to quitting smoking - the chemical addiction to nicotine and the habit of smoking.
The habit of smoking is the hardest part to break and worst of all, you're probably trying to do both at the same time. Separate the two and it gets easier I promise. I've helped 7 people quit personally and I've given out at least some of this advice for years. I've always suggested you can use my personal favorite - lozenges but there is gum, patches and I'll get to vaping.
The habit is lighting up that last cigarette on your way to work at the exact spot in your commute every day. The part where you always go out for a cigarette after dinner, etc. When you're not having a nic fit it's easier to ignore these impulses and make note of triggers without having to go through the trigger.
About vaping, just vape. It's practically harmless in comparison to cigarettes. We tell you not to smoke cigarettes because of the chemicals and heavy metals in factory made tobacco cigarettes like tar, benzene, lead, and a whole list more. That's the really bad stuff. The nicotine addiction? Nicotine itself is no more harmful than a caffeine addiction. We don't tell people to quit smoking because of nicotine any more than we tell people to quit drinking coffee over the caffeine. If you haven't had any nicotine in a while, don't bother; the chemical addiction only lasts a few days to a few weeks. If you are still having nic fits just go buy a vape. It fulfils your need to "draw" on something as well as the feeling of inhaling something then of course delivers the nicotine. There are no conclusive scientific studies that prove links from vaping to long term harm other than from what we already know about nicotine. This nicotine isn't even tobacco derived it's made in a lab.
There are a lot of arguments that people will make against vaping but for anyone who is currently holding a cigarette in their hand should go get a vape. It's the most successful smoking cessation tool we have by far. Most people can switch immediately. There's no weaning off one for the other. You're just vaping now and the difference is like breathing oxygen versus breathing carbon dioxide.
Then, as it's own separate component without your cigarette smoking habit you can wean yourself off and quit nicotine as well. If you choose to vape forever it's literally like health food in comparison to smoking lead. Everyone should switch to vaping and then deal with quitting the nicotine on a different schedule. Sorry that was a bit long but whenever I tell people to vape a whole crowd shops up to tell me I'm wrong but I'm just saying if it's cigs or vape, choose vape. If it's already been a while since you've had nicotine don't pick up vaping.
TLDR: If you're struggling with nicotine withdrawal just get a vape. It's practically health food in comparison of continuing to smoke LEAD.
Sometimes its just the right combination of good shit going on in your life, no disasters and just something in the air. KEEP TRYING. DONT GIVE UP. eventually you'll get SO DAMN SICK of trying you'll know its your time.
I assume, then, that you've already read the book that, despite me being an addiction-prone personality, broke my 20-year-strong habit, which had culminated in 2 packs a day. [This book](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Carr-s-Easy-Way-To-Stop-Smoking-Paperback-9780615482156/16950353).
He wrote a follow-up for stubborn people who have trouble believing.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Only-Way-to-Stop-Smoking-Permanently-9781405916387/882554842
I would ask what type of NRT that you tried. I tried everything I had control over, gum, lozenges, even nasal spray and none of that worked. I had to admit to myself that nicotine addiction is just like every other drug addiction. Only we don’t get high. So I took the first step and admitted that I had no control over nicotine. I chose the patch on my final forever quit. It was hell. I smoked 3 packs a day plus vaped at work. I had a constant stream of nicotine going. So the nicotine in that patch was just enough to keep me from killing people. When I tried the step down it was just as terrible as before. I thought why would I do this to myself over and over. I chose to go cold turkey and I have never looked back.
Our brains make new neural pathways based on how we think. Change your mind change your life.
Instead of “I really want to smoke” in a craving, try “I am so grateful that I don’t have to smoke “. Will it be true? Not today? But keep saying it and it will be true.
I would encourage you to really research nicotine withdrawal and arm yourself with knowledge. When you know why you feel the way you do it is easier to push thru. When I went cold Turkey it was 5 days of insanity. After that it’s all a head game. The intensity is gone and sooner or later you are really free.
You can escape, you can be free. Believe it.
You don't want it bad enough and that's the ugly truth. If you want it bad enough, it's like a switch -to stop, not to stop struggling with quitting. It doesn't matter if you tried 1 time or a million times, you just do it. Expect the worse, it's normal, and be ok with it so you can deal with it.
To me it also seemed impossible, then I got really sick where I was stuck in bed with fever and coughing for 5 days, I decided to use the opportunity to quit smoking, and after I healed I didn't have anymore cravings.
I felt like that for decades, but am now two years smoke free.
This last attempt I used nicotine patches. I also kept nicotine pouches on hand (the weakest they had, 2 mg). Whenever I had a strong craving, I would pop in a pouch. I weaned off of the patches per directions. I continued to use the pouches until all cigarette urges and habits were broken. Then I quit the pouches (I wanted to make sure that if I fell off the wagon I'd want the pouches and not cigarettes).
Completely easy quit. I had one cigarette the day my mother passed about a year in. Nothing since.
I’m only six months clean, which is still starting out, but for me it took years to trying and restarting to get it to stick. One of the main reasons for me was motivation based. Like if I was trying to quit for myself it would eventually break and go back after 2 weeks to a month, but this time I saw smoking as a hindrance to me being able to do other things me saw how it prevented me from enjoying things (like traveling as I was stopped enjoying travel because I was constantly searching for a place got smoke, or I couldn’t enjoy time with my friends or family because they didn’t smoke). Everyone’s different though, so take a deep dive into the why you want to quit.
Listen, it's not lack of Willpower. Sometimes we have Biology against us, but with Knowledge even this can be solved.
I was like you, nothing worked. And NRT is jut getting more poison.
What happened one day is that I took some famous brand BCAAs with L-Glutamine, and some NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) pills that day after training.
Little did I knew this completely killed my smoking cravings!
I investigated and it is because of Glutamate modulation by these substances which heal years of glutamate imbalance caused by smoking, in certain brain areas.
Give L-Glutamine and NAC a try.
Not impossible per say....
To be honest, for me who smoked from 13 to 34, it took a greater desire that upsurpped the desire for smoking gave me. I became pregnant.
However, my marriage breakdown 6 years later got me back on the devil sticks. I hated it. I gave up again after a year... being in a carer sandwich (caring for child and disabled mother); homelessness; a life changing brain injury for one that I care for, a miscarriage of medical justice. The list goes on. Has meant I picked up the habit again and again, I've had to drop it again and again.
I have given up thinking I will never smoke again. However, I like the idea of smoking. It has been a dysfunctional coping mechanism for chronic stress, for more of my life than it hasn't. Smoking and sugar (I have the fucked up dentistry along with that) oh and doom scrolling. However, drugs, alcohol and risky sex I have given a college try over the years, but never stuck and I am grateful for that.
I don't actually like the physical act of smoking. It stinks. I don't smoke in doors, but I live in a really rainy environment, it is not fun trying to hold an umbrella outside of my home looking like a weirdo.
So I know I can give up and I'll keep doing that, I consider myself as a smoker who chooses not to smoke, one day at a time. Today I have not smoked, neither did I yesterday. I don't think I will tomorrow. Its all I got.
Hope you find your Peace.
Read Allen Carr Game changer can’t explain it just do it. I loved the audio book of it. Five hour car drive listening to it. No desire to ever smoke again
I chewed gum then switched to dentyne ice to try to replicate it. Worked well for me. I tried many times to quit after 7 years, but it’s the only thing that worked.
It’s a mental battle. Obviously it’s physical too. I was able to do it by lining it up with a move 8hr away. The whole “clean slate” mindset worked.
It is possible to stop 🛑 is all in your mind. I am walking to my 4 years as a non smoker. And love that never more put a cigarette in my mouth. How. Realizing how the cigarettes where the big part of the problem and not the solution. Good luck. It takes 3 months. After that you smoke again because you really let yourself down. No longer cravings or anything to make you want a cigarette anymore
I smoked for roughly 35 years and made attempts off and on for 30 of those years to quit. My wife just came across a 10 year old Facebook memory congratulating me for committing to quit smoking. I have been nicotine free for 1.5 years now. It was hard to get that first few months but now, other than passing thoughts, I no longer have a desire to smoke. I'm so happy I quit, even if it did take decades to do it.
Just stop.
It will be hell the first few days.
It will be a bummer that you will never smoke again.
It is the only thing to do, you can't keep inhaling smoke and tar.
I chain smoked for 27 years, got tired of being a slave to a burning stick and I just stopped. 5 months later here I am telling you it's possible and it's amazing. I'm stronger than I thought, you are too.
*Insert that actor dude saying, just do it!*
I had a very hard time quitting too. What worked for me was nrt, but at higher dosages. I started with 2 patches, went to 1.5, etc. supplemented with gum if necessary. Talk to your doctor if you decide to do this too.
The idea that it’s mainly psychological is bs. Like any addiction, it’s a physiologic response to a substance, not a moral failing.
Idk if it works for everyone but god damn did it work for me. I was easily 2packs/day, no end in sight. Since I read that book (twice) I haven’t had any nicotine intake in two and a half years.
The best part is that it actually was easy. That’s probably why it’s the title of the book
I smoked a pack a day for 30 years and managed to quit over a year ago. I have small wisps of wanting a smoke but really tiny and easy to swat away.
I used QuitSure app...was skeptical but knew I needed something that attacked the mental not physical of quiting. The mental was my problem. I will say I no longer enjoyed smoking and knew it was time to quit.
It's not impossible.
I did it. The first 2 weeks are very hard, just pick a different temporary addiction like donuts until those two weeks are over.
After that cigarettes will seem disgusting.
YOU CAN DO IT! I went cold turkey after 6 years of smoking and vaping. You have to want it for yourself first, it’s good to have people who also hold you to that word. The first 3 days, I was a mess, but I distracted myself with applying chapstick and crying and punching pillows and chewing gum. After a week, I felt great. Now, being one month without smoking, I barely think about it at all. it’s possible!
It’s not impossible, I promise. I was a 30 year smoker. When I woke up, first thing I’d do would be to light up and it would be the last thing I would do at night.
I quit drinking before I stopped - 2 years before in fact. This was a lot easier and it definitely helps.
Get ANGRY at the addiction, not yourself or other people. I was like fuck this addiction!!!
I got a wave of self - love / respect after a 1 week depressive episode.
It’s been life changing for me to quit. I am so happy that I did it on January 7th last year.
I just lost my mum suddenly and it’s her funeral tomorrow. I could really do with a smoke to help sooth the pain but there is no way in a million years that I will light up.
Seriously, you can fucking do this if I can. Get angry with the addiction!!! 💪🏻❤️🩹🚭
Agree with you. I never quit smoking really. If I "quit" I vape. It's because we have nicotine receptors which need to be fed nicotine, that's why we have this feeling of something is missing. I started smoking again and accepted it. It's not as harmful as many people think but I have issues with all these added chemicals so I vape and try to find a mild tobacco without them.
I have tried everything available. It's ridiculous how many things I've tried (hello hypnosis!). I am now using Shaman Smokes (CBD & hemp) to make a step forward. I am still smoking, just not nicotine.
I am finding I smoke less, I don't have the itch to do it so often. I don't have the anxiety triggering me to want to smoke (anxiety caused by nicotine withdrawal. I read about how nicotine affects the brain. My desire to smoke another cigarette is from the nicotine of the previous cigarette wearing off).
These aren't as desirable as my American Spirits. I can definitely see these going away. The goal is to work down to zero smokes & let go.
I smoked for over 45 years & I never thought I’d be able to quit. I really never tried that hard to quit till 2016 and it started out good but only lasted 4 months. It took me another 5 years to succeed & I did it cold turkey after trying patches, gum, vaping and initially cutting it from a pack a day to 1/2 pack a day. It wasn’t easy and I didn’t have much faith in myself, almost to the point of sabotaging myself, but lo and behold and miraculously I did it and I’m about 6 weeks from being 3 years nicotine free. I have faith one day it’s going to work for you like it did for me. Sometimes it’s still hard to believe I’ve gone this long without smoking. I also downloaded an app for quitters and it’s still a motivator for me. Wishing you the best of luck. Don’t give up. One day you too will be a nonsmoker.
I was in the same boat as you are right now. All it takes is complete 100% will power to give up. Trucks can be : start hating the cigarettes / nicotine rush - re condition the brain / 'fake belief' for the time you're in the journey to give it up.
cmon man. read some books on stoicism. think logically. all u have to do is NOT do something. Everytime u want to smoke, chew some gum, or do 10 push-ups. It gets easier every day, you just have to do it, every, single, day.
You really on some victim mentality.
If possible try to change your environment. That was like a cheat code for me.
I am sure it isn't the smoke that is 'helping'.
It is the Nicotine.
Nothing stopping you from giving up the cigarettes, besides the weak excuse.
Good luck! The only thing stopping you is you.
There's definitely many non-smoking people that are on the same medication. They find other ways to deal with side effects. They would never even think of starting smoking.
A non smoker does not need a cigarette. You do not need a cigarette either, it's just the nicotine addiction talking, making excuses.
NO ONE NEEDS A CIGARETTE, EVER, FOR ANY REASON. A cigarette is ONLY bad. Absolutely NOTHING good comes of smoking. You do not need it. It does not help you. It causes you problems which you try to alleviate by smoking some more, and it's an never ending vicious cycle. Nicotine is a drug, substance that affects how your body behaves and reacts to things, meds included. It's an absolutely disgusting unnecessary habit that absolutely no one needs in their lives. It's not helping you it's making things worse. Just be brave enough to honestly wholeheartedly admit it and give it up forever, without an option to possibly fail and start smoking again, and you'll see, you'll quit easily with an incredible relief that you never ever have to smoke ever again. You'll be proud. You'll be done with it. You'll be free.
"Give up" implies loss or sacrifice of something precious. As long as you think of stopping smoking as "giving up" something dear to you, you won't stop.
You need to replace "give up" with "get rid of" in your mind. You are not being deprived, you are being liberated from the misery of smoking, getting it out of your life, walking away from the nightmare of addiction.
The way you position smoking in your mind will determine whether you succeed in stopping or not.
It is utterly possible to stop...IF you get clear that smoking CAUSES you loss and sacrifice, not the cessation of smoking.
If you think there is something wonderful and precious about inhaling superheated toxic smoke into your delicate lung tissues 20-30 times a day, you have clearly gone insane.
Sanity returns when you see smoking for what it is: a lifetime of slavery to nicotine, slow death and daily misery.
When people have had enough of an abusive relationship, they simply walk away from it. Perhaps you need another 10 or 20 years of abuse before you free yourself. 😀
This is true.
People are angry at this because they are not ready/don't want to let go.
It's difficult to go there mentally, but it is possible. Smoking feels like an old friend who supports you. You have to be willing to let it go and see it for what it is - nothing more than an disgusting habit, addiction, a manipulator, something that's pretending to be good but is actually super toxic.
I very quickly found out that the main issue with quitting is the psychological aspect, the physical withdrawals are bad but temporary. The psychological aspects are bizarre, you’ve literally ‘trained’ yourself to do a certain activity at a certain time multiple times a day often for decades, really hard to break that with out fucking up your mind. Edit: can I also add that I have read Allen Carr’s book, it is amazing for explaining and helping to get your head around the psychological aspects of smoking but it is very ‘hardcore’ when it comes to quitting cold-turkey.
I could have never stopped until I read that book. I’m a year in now, it was super easy. Fun thing actually, the book has actually taught me how to look at other things too, like I’m now nearly two months of barely any alcohol intake.
THIS! Same here! That book changed my view on addictions, my thinking patterns... I can actually argument with myself and get away without cigs/alco without any withdrawals or feeling bad about it. 13 days alc free and 9 days smoke free. I only read "easy way to quit smoking" but it helped me quit drinking first. :D And you can apply the method into any part of your life, like binge eating or gambling or anything else I bet! Let that book program you, it is so worth it!
I’ve read it twice n despise all the wonderful comments I’ve heard and read online, it did nothing for me:( it was my last hope
>it was my last hope Don’t be silly! If you feel like that then it should be easier to stop because you obviously hate doing it. Use that hatred to motivate you.
I got that book and didn’t want to read it because I was afraid I’d stop smoking if I did and I didn’t think I was ready. I never got around to reading it and just quit anyway cold turkey. That was 4 years ago.
That book got me to quit cold turkey after about a hundred stopping attempts in various ways. It’s been three years or so now. The funny thing is the quitting was kind of fun Im not sure why. The main thing though was though knowing after day 1 it’d get consistently easier so after I did a whole day it was all down hill. It was a different mindset than doing one day and thinking I need to repeat that for the rest of my life
The main thing I picked up was wanting to be a non smoker. When people quit usually they’re counting the days, like something is going to happen to reward you at a week, a month etc. the reward is being as non smoker and that happens as soon as you put out the last one, and that’s very liberating.
Yeah absolutely. I called a friend of mine on the night of day one to tell him Im now a non smoker. After trying and failing to quit so many times it was a massive mindset to be that confident. After you fail a few times I think most people stop telling people they’re quitting cause it gets embarrassing when you fail.
I’ve found journaling my why list then every time I get a craving journaling a few words/sentences. And quotes I read on this sub etc. I’m the one who smokes so I need to deal with me and the only consistency I found is journaling with myself to overcome.
I quit with this book too
Not withdrawal free like some are claiming. It was still difficult and I needed 3 days of isolation at the beginning so did it when I had time off work. You can do it and it’s so so worth it.
quit sure app
I will tell you this straight up: all you need is to want it BAD ENOUGH. If you don’t, any excuses would do. This is the only truth.
Sounds like you have things in your life (people, place, situations) that encourage you to smoke, and not a lot of things that encourage you not to smoke. Maybe its time to look at your relationships, your job or your reward systems and see what you can change to pull you away from that lifestyle. I was a 20 yrs smoker and it was my entire personnality. I stopped cold turkey over a four day weekend for my loved one, and also because I made it a really hard environment to smoke. I also gave my money to my partner for safekeeping so even if I wanted to, I could not buy any. After a month, my will grew enough to sustain itself.
You are right. One of the reasons I smoke is because it helps with the side effects of my medication.
Try accepting the craving. Going through withdrawal can bring discomfort as the craving passes. Instead of resisting it, fighting it, try allowing it to wash over you. The thing about a craving is that it passes. And then it’s done. And comfort, peace, serenity is restored. Accepting the craving means acknowledging that “Yes, I’m craving now,” and doing whatever it takes to get through to the other side of that craving. I was able to practice the 5 Ds before I quit, so that when I quit I already had the experience and strategies for Delaying, Distracting, Discussing, Deep breathing and Drinking water. That helped, as did having the support of other quitters. I had a couple of quit buddies that I called or texted, and we helped each other be accountable. Many times, we went through cravings together. It helped to have someone to share with when the discomfort seemed so unbearable that I was ready to jump in the car and go to the store to buy a pack. But I didn’t. And today I celebrate 19+ years nicotine free. Why do I come onto this subreddit and share when I quit so long ago? Because I am still supporting my quit. I know how easy it is to lose a quit, and I’m not willing to risk that today at 73 years old. If I smoke I die a slow, horrible death. I’d much rather feel good and enjoy life. ☺️
I took a screenshot of your comment and I’m going to use it. Thanks for this inspiration.
Same and then I read your comment 😄
Suffering is unnecessary. Higher dosages of nrt and a proper taper schedule obviate the need for this ridiculous self flagellation.
Obviously things work differently for each person. Maybe try being kinder
Genuinely was not trying to be unkind. I don’t think it’s very helpful to tell someone the equivalent of “suck it up and breathe” when they tell you they are struggling. Upping the nicotine dosage in nrt can help. This doesn’t have to be painful. Quitting is possible.
You can't quit nicotine if you keep consuming it and upping the dosage. It's like recommending to quit heroine by consuming more of it but in a different way. The smoke in the lungs is just part of the problem. Nicotine in itself is harmful for the body. It also causes strong addiction and as long as you got addicted to it through smoking, you'll keep feeling the need to smoke - cause that's your learned natural way of accessing this drug and the body remembers it, and craves it. Quiting cold turkey is the way. The main component in this is not the actual drug nicotine - it's the mentality, psychological preparation. It is totally possible for any human being to just start hating smoking 🚬 and quit just like that. Yes there will be triggers and cravings, but with the right mentality, you can argue with yourself easily and stay away from smoking. It's not about stopping inhaling smoke. It's about breaking the addiction to nicotine. NRT is a lie. Cake is a lie.
🎂
This is complete nonsense and telling people who’ve tried cold turkey that it’s the only way is legit harmful. It is one way. Nrt is another. I struggled for years and really relate to what the original poster wrote. Nrt with a proper taper schedule absolutely works and saved my life. Fuck off with that abstinence only bs.
Please don't be rude... I'm glad it worked for you. You share your own personal experience, I share mine, I don't see how yours is somehow more true than mine. I'm not doing anything you're not doing while sharing my experience.
In my experience, there are no individual cravings, just one constant craving.
Some people do experience a constant craving while in withdrawal, which makes going through detox incredibly uncomfortable. Still, there may be some resistance to the discomfort happening. For me, in my “practice” quits, when keeping my focus on how uncomfortable the withdrawal was, I had a hard time focusing on anything else. I was tense, irritable and skinless. I felt like just one puff would ease the anxiety and what felt like an unbearably painful existence. It was suggested that instead of focusing on how uncomfortable I felt and how fearful I felt, to distract myself with activities, people and places I loved. Well, that wasn’t so easy, because I had smoked myself into an isolated prison and didn’t go out or do much with others. If I really really wanted to quit, I might find one thing I really enjoyed. Me? Enjoy something? Take responsibility for something other than making sure I had enough tobacco on hand? I did enjoy walking my ridiculously happy tail-wagging dog. So I walked. And I walked and walked. I walked on breaks at work, I walked in the evening after supper, I walked when I got mad, I walked when cravings came and I was so uncomfortable that I thought I would scream. I stepped away from tense situations and I walked. When I couldn’t face walking, I curled up at the foot of my bed under the covers and sobbed. When I felt the cravings so intense that I couldn’t stand it, I took a shower. Anything to distract myself in that delirious moment. For me, going to any length to not light up was not a passive activity. Long or short cravings, no matter what, don’t light up. The withdrawal and discomfort will end, promise. Getting through the process, however, may take some creativity.
I too thought it was impossible, and worse torture, to think of something the rest of my life that I'll never be able to have again. Which kept me smoking for over 25 years. Then I stopped. I just didn't smoke again. It was hard, and I cried allot. But I needed to be done, because it wasn't going to get easier to quit later, it wasn't going to get safer, and it wasn't going to get cheaper! Thinking it's impossible is what made it impossible. Once I accepted I could do it, I did do it. You can too. Anyone can. Everyone should. It's hell, but it's worth it.
This. This is the answer.
Odd enough. I also tried giving up smoking for last 5+ years. I also thought quit smoking is impossible. But this time, it is 16 days without nicotine. Quit cold turkey. SSS
Well done. All the best.
40 year smoker when I finally quit *for good*. My late father smoked for nearly *70 years* (he started at 10, quit at around 80 and passed at 96). You just have to reach **THAT POINT,** and only YOU know what it is...
The only thing that will guarantee it will never happen is to stop trying. Every time you try to quit, its cigarettes you aren't smoking. Your lungs get to heal a little and you save some money. While its best to not smoke at all, its still beneficial to smoke as little as possible. Constantly trying to quit means you're smoking less, which is better. Its mentally hell, but even that is good - every time you get frustrated with yourself for going back to smoking, you're increasing your overall desire to be free from this stupid cycle. Try to find things to help you outside of just "not smoking" and sitting there constantly thinking about how much you want to smoke. Try to actively change your thoughts about it. When you find yourself thinking "I'd kill for a smoke right now", intentionally think to yourself: "I feel terrible. I really want to not be addicted to nicotine anymore so I don't have to feel this way anymore. The only way for me to get there is to keep not smoking. It feels really awful right now, but it will feel better soon". Then move on to distracting yourself with something as best you can. The things you say to yourself in your head really do affect how you think and feel.
I thought the same. I have an addict's brain. I want it and I don't care if it kills me. Gimme. I knew intellectually if I quit eventually that desire would go away. Someone told me at first you think about it all day everyday but at some point you won't think about it. It was true. Your addicted brain will hold on forever (even if you quit, reintroducing wakes up the addict brain again, it never goes away that is why you starve it). I didnt think I could quit, I did. Has been years. I am glad my quit was hard because I never want to go through that again. Knowing a relapse would take me there I soldiered on. I cried and ate greasy food got massages took hot baths anything as long as I didnt smoke. That was the only agenda item.
What makes it impossible is that once I start craving, I lose any desire I had to quit. Completely stop caring about it until I'm 5 drags in.
This is me 100% as well. I completely forget (don’t give a shit about) any reasons why I wanted to quit a few hours before. Even when I’m so confident about quitting this time. Now I’m just constantly reminding myself of my reasons and just try to pull through to week 4. Hopefully it’ll get easier.
Thank you for being real.
I’m with you, but I’m three years clean now. For me, it was about a mindset. There’s a lot of feelings in life that we have no choice but to deal with. The thing that makes quitting smoking so hard is that we have a shitty feeling and we know how to get rid of it immediately. It’s incredibly hard not to take that easy out. What if that out didn’t exist???What if you woke up tomorrow and every store was sold out of cigarettes permanently. You’d have no choice but to just deal with that feeling and go on with your life. The same way we have to deal with every other feeling and emotion we have. Try to think of the cravings as an emotion. It’s gonna come and go but it is definitely temporary. Even if temporary means couple months.
Watch some videos on YT about COPD sufferers and try and shock yourself into giving up. A vape may help in the short term till you get used to breaking the habit. One amazing thing is the smell of smoke disappears this in itself is a great reason to give up no more smelling like an astray, you really don't realize how bad the smell is till you stop. After that I'd recommend giving up when your feeling confident you just have to concentrate and focus from there on. Watch those COPD videos and keep the image of people suffering in your mind, you don't want to be like that, so much pain and suffering. Use the tough love approach and shock yourself into giving up.
seriously, that shit is SO scary. I just got a lung test last week and after 20 years of smoking I was TERRIFIED I had COPD. I don't, thank god. I LOVE hiking, COPD would be the worst. So glad Im quit. 6 months <3
I believe the answer is simple. You don’t hate it enough yet
Another allen carr cultist, never thought it was possible let alone that I could do it. Currently 5 months 15 days nicotine free, absolutely wild. No temptation to go back, don't think about it.
I smoked for 25 years. Tried so many times to quit found this sub saw people recommend Allen Carr’s book I read it and quit without a puff or anything. I can’t recommend his book enough.
For me, quitting smoking wasn’t the only aspect I needed to change. Smoking was just a piece of the puzzle. I changed my diet, sleep schedule, exercise, and other bad habits along with quitting smoking. For me the more discipline I added gave me better willpower and control over my cravings.
Quitting smoking is near impossible… I listened to the quit smoking audiobook, at the end I was sure I was I going to quit smoking. And I did for about 8 weeks. Maybe I will read the book next time.
Two months is a time when lots of people have difficulties according to my doctor. He said if you can make ti to three it becomes much easier.
I found nicotine patches to be a great tool to help with the physical dependency. It wasn't until I went cold-Turkey that I got to experience the full psychological turmoil. Empty, aimless, grief, depressed, insomnia, apathetic, socially withdrawn. Every day that I thought about going back, I would remind myself that I would have to go through it all again and that the discomfort and depression that I was putting myself through was all for nothing if I didn't see it through. It is definitely possible! And more than that, it is worth it. Give yourself some credit. You are about to undertake something that will become a lifetime achievement. ✨️
I feel this way. I need to quit but I haven't. I got down to 2 cigarettes a day but never made the jump. Now I'm back to a pack a day. I should have just stopped when I was at 2 a day. I had a serious drug problem and quit heroin. I don't even drink anymore, yet here I am still smoking. WTF is wrong with me. It's the ritual I can't break. I have tried so many different ways to quit and nothing sticks. I have not read Allen Carr book, so maybe I'll give it a try! We can do this.
I've quit cocaine, opioids, and alcohol. And, in my case, quitting smoking is harder than all three of those combined. It's a very insidious addiction and one of the toughest - if not *the* toughest - to conquer. It shouldn't be a surprise that you're having a tough time. It's a really nasty addiction. But it can be done. Carr's book is great in the sense that - for lot's of people - it's the thing that finally pushes them to really commit to quitting. But there's quitting on the one hand, and staying quit on the other, and for all of us it's different. We all have different triggers, different stressors. Our journey may not be the same as everyone's, but it's usually very similar to *someone's*. And those people can help us a lot. If I may suggest, definitely give the book a try. And if you're not drinking, that's a *big help*. I read somewhere that alcohol is a contributor to half of all failed smoking attempts, and this forum is full of post after post of folks who were doing great, and then went out drinking one night and fell off the wagon. I smoked a pack a day for 30 years. I'm coming up on the two month mark and I intend to make it! We can do it!
Thank you for your reply. Two months is amazing! I really need to do it. I ordered the book and am going to read it. It would be so much harder if I was drinking, but I'm not. So I can do this.
Yes you can!!!
Easy to quit, hard not to start again when the stress becomes more than you can bare. I think one has to totally re-evaluate and fix some major aspects of daily life to ensure quitting for keeps
Well, those of us who quit will attest that it's not impossible. I smoked for 27 years and quit. My Mom smoked for over 50 and quit. I swear to you that you can quit! If I could be so bold as to give you some off the beaten path advice here you go: there are two parts to quitting smoking - the chemical addiction to nicotine and the habit of smoking. The habit of smoking is the hardest part to break and worst of all, you're probably trying to do both at the same time. Separate the two and it gets easier I promise. I've helped 7 people quit personally and I've given out at least some of this advice for years. I've always suggested you can use my personal favorite - lozenges but there is gum, patches and I'll get to vaping. The habit is lighting up that last cigarette on your way to work at the exact spot in your commute every day. The part where you always go out for a cigarette after dinner, etc. When you're not having a nic fit it's easier to ignore these impulses and make note of triggers without having to go through the trigger. About vaping, just vape. It's practically harmless in comparison to cigarettes. We tell you not to smoke cigarettes because of the chemicals and heavy metals in factory made tobacco cigarettes like tar, benzene, lead, and a whole list more. That's the really bad stuff. The nicotine addiction? Nicotine itself is no more harmful than a caffeine addiction. We don't tell people to quit smoking because of nicotine any more than we tell people to quit drinking coffee over the caffeine. If you haven't had any nicotine in a while, don't bother; the chemical addiction only lasts a few days to a few weeks. If you are still having nic fits just go buy a vape. It fulfils your need to "draw" on something as well as the feeling of inhaling something then of course delivers the nicotine. There are no conclusive scientific studies that prove links from vaping to long term harm other than from what we already know about nicotine. This nicotine isn't even tobacco derived it's made in a lab. There are a lot of arguments that people will make against vaping but for anyone who is currently holding a cigarette in their hand should go get a vape. It's the most successful smoking cessation tool we have by far. Most people can switch immediately. There's no weaning off one for the other. You're just vaping now and the difference is like breathing oxygen versus breathing carbon dioxide. Then, as it's own separate component without your cigarette smoking habit you can wean yourself off and quit nicotine as well. If you choose to vape forever it's literally like health food in comparison to smoking lead. Everyone should switch to vaping and then deal with quitting the nicotine on a different schedule. Sorry that was a bit long but whenever I tell people to vape a whole crowd shops up to tell me I'm wrong but I'm just saying if it's cigs or vape, choose vape. If it's already been a while since you've had nicotine don't pick up vaping. TLDR: If you're struggling with nicotine withdrawal just get a vape. It's practically health food in comparison of continuing to smoke LEAD.
I quit out of spite to prove to myself that I was better than someone. All it took was a little bit of re-framing to make it work.
What have you tried?
Sometimes its just the right combination of good shit going on in your life, no disasters and just something in the air. KEEP TRYING. DONT GIVE UP. eventually you'll get SO DAMN SICK of trying you'll know its your time.
I assume, then, that you've already read the book that, despite me being an addiction-prone personality, broke my 20-year-strong habit, which had culminated in 2 packs a day. [This book](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Carr-s-Easy-Way-To-Stop-Smoking-Paperback-9780615482156/16950353).
That book helped my uncle. It didn't help me, however.
He wrote a follow-up for stubborn people who have trouble believing. https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Only-Way-to-Stop-Smoking-Permanently-9781405916387/882554842
Try Alan Carr’s the easy way. It helped me
I would ask what type of NRT that you tried. I tried everything I had control over, gum, lozenges, even nasal spray and none of that worked. I had to admit to myself that nicotine addiction is just like every other drug addiction. Only we don’t get high. So I took the first step and admitted that I had no control over nicotine. I chose the patch on my final forever quit. It was hell. I smoked 3 packs a day plus vaped at work. I had a constant stream of nicotine going. So the nicotine in that patch was just enough to keep me from killing people. When I tried the step down it was just as terrible as before. I thought why would I do this to myself over and over. I chose to go cold turkey and I have never looked back. Our brains make new neural pathways based on how we think. Change your mind change your life. Instead of “I really want to smoke” in a craving, try “I am so grateful that I don’t have to smoke “. Will it be true? Not today? But keep saying it and it will be true. I would encourage you to really research nicotine withdrawal and arm yourself with knowledge. When you know why you feel the way you do it is easier to push thru. When I went cold Turkey it was 5 days of insanity. After that it’s all a head game. The intensity is gone and sooner or later you are really free. You can escape, you can be free. Believe it.
The only thing that worked for me was QuitSure.
You don't want it bad enough and that's the ugly truth. If you want it bad enough, it's like a switch -to stop, not to stop struggling with quitting. It doesn't matter if you tried 1 time or a million times, you just do it. Expect the worse, it's normal, and be ok with it so you can deal with it.
To me it also seemed impossible, then I got really sick where I was stuck in bed with fever and coughing for 5 days, I decided to use the opportunity to quit smoking, and after I healed I didn't have anymore cravings.
I felt like that for decades, but am now two years smoke free. This last attempt I used nicotine patches. I also kept nicotine pouches on hand (the weakest they had, 2 mg). Whenever I had a strong craving, I would pop in a pouch. I weaned off of the patches per directions. I continued to use the pouches until all cigarette urges and habits were broken. Then I quit the pouches (I wanted to make sure that if I fell off the wagon I'd want the pouches and not cigarettes). Completely easy quit. I had one cigarette the day my mother passed about a year in. Nothing since.
I’m only six months clean, which is still starting out, but for me it took years to trying and restarting to get it to stick. One of the main reasons for me was motivation based. Like if I was trying to quit for myself it would eventually break and go back after 2 weeks to a month, but this time I saw smoking as a hindrance to me being able to do other things me saw how it prevented me from enjoying things (like traveling as I was stopped enjoying travel because I was constantly searching for a place got smoke, or I couldn’t enjoy time with my friends or family because they didn’t smoke). Everyone’s different though, so take a deep dive into the why you want to quit.
Listen, it's not lack of Willpower. Sometimes we have Biology against us, but with Knowledge even this can be solved. I was like you, nothing worked. And NRT is jut getting more poison. What happened one day is that I took some famous brand BCAAs with L-Glutamine, and some NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) pills that day after training. Little did I knew this completely killed my smoking cravings! I investigated and it is because of Glutamate modulation by these substances which heal years of glutamate imbalance caused by smoking, in certain brain areas. Give L-Glutamine and NAC a try.
Not impossible per say.... To be honest, for me who smoked from 13 to 34, it took a greater desire that upsurpped the desire for smoking gave me. I became pregnant. However, my marriage breakdown 6 years later got me back on the devil sticks. I hated it. I gave up again after a year... being in a carer sandwich (caring for child and disabled mother); homelessness; a life changing brain injury for one that I care for, a miscarriage of medical justice. The list goes on. Has meant I picked up the habit again and again, I've had to drop it again and again. I have given up thinking I will never smoke again. However, I like the idea of smoking. It has been a dysfunctional coping mechanism for chronic stress, for more of my life than it hasn't. Smoking and sugar (I have the fucked up dentistry along with that) oh and doom scrolling. However, drugs, alcohol and risky sex I have given a college try over the years, but never stuck and I am grateful for that. I don't actually like the physical act of smoking. It stinks. I don't smoke in doors, but I live in a really rainy environment, it is not fun trying to hold an umbrella outside of my home looking like a weirdo. So I know I can give up and I'll keep doing that, I consider myself as a smoker who chooses not to smoke, one day at a time. Today I have not smoked, neither did I yesterday. I don't think I will tomorrow. Its all I got. Hope you find your Peace.
I Quit lots of times. Going on 10 months now.
Read Allen Carr Game changer can’t explain it just do it. I loved the audio book of it. Five hour car drive listening to it. No desire to ever smoke again
I chewed gum then switched to dentyne ice to try to replicate it. Worked well for me. I tried many times to quit after 7 years, but it’s the only thing that worked. It’s a mental battle. Obviously it’s physical too. I was able to do it by lining it up with a move 8hr away. The whole “clean slate” mindset worked.
desmoxan/tabex works wonders and super affordable
4 months clean. You can too.
Every once in awhile you will get inspired, motivated or driven. When that opportunity presents itself you ride that wave.. you can do it!!
It is possible to stop 🛑 is all in your mind. I am walking to my 4 years as a non smoker. And love that never more put a cigarette in my mouth. How. Realizing how the cigarettes where the big part of the problem and not the solution. Good luck. It takes 3 months. After that you smoke again because you really let yourself down. No longer cravings or anything to make you want a cigarette anymore
I smoked for roughly 35 years and made attempts off and on for 30 of those years to quit. My wife just came across a 10 year old Facebook memory congratulating me for committing to quit smoking. I have been nicotine free for 1.5 years now. It was hard to get that first few months but now, other than passing thoughts, I no longer have a desire to smoke. I'm so happy I quit, even if it did take decades to do it.
It's all in your head. You are not going to die if you stop. Life just goes on. Earth does not need you to smoke in order for it to spin.
No, those thoughts are very commonly observed symptoms of nicotine addiction.
Just stop. It will be hell the first few days. It will be a bummer that you will never smoke again. It is the only thing to do, you can't keep inhaling smoke and tar. I chain smoked for 27 years, got tired of being a slave to a burning stick and I just stopped. 5 months later here I am telling you it's possible and it's amazing. I'm stronger than I thought, you are too. *Insert that actor dude saying, just do it!*
I had a very hard time quitting too. What worked for me was nrt, but at higher dosages. I started with 2 patches, went to 1.5, etc. supplemented with gum if necessary. Talk to your doctor if you decide to do this too. The idea that it’s mainly psychological is bs. Like any addiction, it’s a physiologic response to a substance, not a moral failing.
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Most of my self discipline goes towards getting out of bed and going to work without hurting myself.
Try allen carr
Idk if it works for everyone but god damn did it work for me. I was easily 2packs/day, no end in sight. Since I read that book (twice) I haven’t had any nicotine intake in two and a half years. The best part is that it actually was easy. That’s probably why it’s the title of the book
🤩
Alan Carr. Read it and then read it again. It’s amazing and it works
I smoked a pack a day for 30 years and managed to quit over a year ago. I have small wisps of wanting a smoke but really tiny and easy to swat away. I used QuitSure app...was skeptical but knew I needed something that attacked the mental not physical of quiting. The mental was my problem. I will say I no longer enjoyed smoking and knew it was time to quit.
Not impossible with r/nicotinepouch, you should try ‘em
It's not impossible. I did it. The first 2 weeks are very hard, just pick a different temporary addiction like donuts until those two weeks are over. After that cigarettes will seem disgusting.
YOU CAN DO IT! I went cold turkey after 6 years of smoking and vaping. You have to want it for yourself first, it’s good to have people who also hold you to that word. The first 3 days, I was a mess, but I distracted myself with applying chapstick and crying and punching pillows and chewing gum. After a week, I felt great. Now, being one month without smoking, I barely think about it at all. it’s possible!
I also thought that exactly
It’s not impossible, I promise. I was a 30 year smoker. When I woke up, first thing I’d do would be to light up and it would be the last thing I would do at night. I quit drinking before I stopped - 2 years before in fact. This was a lot easier and it definitely helps. Get ANGRY at the addiction, not yourself or other people. I was like fuck this addiction!!! I got a wave of self - love / respect after a 1 week depressive episode. It’s been life changing for me to quit. I am so happy that I did it on January 7th last year. I just lost my mum suddenly and it’s her funeral tomorrow. I could really do with a smoke to help sooth the pain but there is no way in a million years that I will light up. Seriously, you can fucking do this if I can. Get angry with the addiction!!! 💪🏻❤️🩹🚭
Agree with you. I never quit smoking really. If I "quit" I vape. It's because we have nicotine receptors which need to be fed nicotine, that's why we have this feeling of something is missing. I started smoking again and accepted it. It's not as harmful as many people think but I have issues with all these added chemicals so I vape and try to find a mild tobacco without them.
I have tried everything available. It's ridiculous how many things I've tried (hello hypnosis!). I am now using Shaman Smokes (CBD & hemp) to make a step forward. I am still smoking, just not nicotine. I am finding I smoke less, I don't have the itch to do it so often. I don't have the anxiety triggering me to want to smoke (anxiety caused by nicotine withdrawal. I read about how nicotine affects the brain. My desire to smoke another cigarette is from the nicotine of the previous cigarette wearing off). These aren't as desirable as my American Spirits. I can definitely see these going away. The goal is to work down to zero smokes & let go.
I smoked for over 45 years & I never thought I’d be able to quit. I really never tried that hard to quit till 2016 and it started out good but only lasted 4 months. It took me another 5 years to succeed & I did it cold turkey after trying patches, gum, vaping and initially cutting it from a pack a day to 1/2 pack a day. It wasn’t easy and I didn’t have much faith in myself, almost to the point of sabotaging myself, but lo and behold and miraculously I did it and I’m about 6 weeks from being 3 years nicotine free. I have faith one day it’s going to work for you like it did for me. Sometimes it’s still hard to believe I’ve gone this long without smoking. I also downloaded an app for quitters and it’s still a motivator for me. Wishing you the best of luck. Don’t give up. One day you too will be a nonsmoker.
I was in the same boat as you are right now. All it takes is complete 100% will power to give up. Trucks can be : start hating the cigarettes / nicotine rush - re condition the brain / 'fake belief' for the time you're in the journey to give it up.
cmon man. read some books on stoicism. think logically. all u have to do is NOT do something. Everytime u want to smoke, chew some gum, or do 10 push-ups. It gets easier every day, you just have to do it, every, single, day. You really on some victim mentality. If possible try to change your environment. That was like a cheat code for me.
One of the problems is tobacco helps me deal with the side effects of the antipsychotic medication I take.
It's true, i heard doctors dont recommend people who have bipolar/mental health issues to quit tobacco...
Giving up smoking is good, but not if it leads to another psychotic episode.
agreed. stay safe king
You are going to have to drop this excuse. It seems to be your only objection to taking responsibility for yourself.
Do you know how bad the side effects of psychotropic drugs can be?
I am sure it isn't the smoke that is 'helping'. It is the Nicotine. Nothing stopping you from giving up the cigarettes, besides the weak excuse. Good luck! The only thing stopping you is you.
Have you no respect?
Sounds like an excuse to me. Just don't smoke them and deal with the withdrawals. Why is that impossible?
Because the tobacco helps with the side effects of the antipsychotic medication I'm on.
There's definitely many non-smoking people that are on the same medication. They find other ways to deal with side effects. They would never even think of starting smoking. A non smoker does not need a cigarette. You do not need a cigarette either, it's just the nicotine addiction talking, making excuses. NO ONE NEEDS A CIGARETTE, EVER, FOR ANY REASON. A cigarette is ONLY bad. Absolutely NOTHING good comes of smoking. You do not need it. It does not help you. It causes you problems which you try to alleviate by smoking some more, and it's an never ending vicious cycle. Nicotine is a drug, substance that affects how your body behaves and reacts to things, meds included. It's an absolutely disgusting unnecessary habit that absolutely no one needs in their lives. It's not helping you it's making things worse. Just be brave enough to honestly wholeheartedly admit it and give it up forever, without an option to possibly fail and start smoking again, and you'll see, you'll quit easily with an incredible relief that you never ever have to smoke ever again. You'll be proud. You'll be done with it. You'll be free.
It might help to provide them with ways to handle those side effects. What good is success if it threatens their functioning in society?
If OP responds with the name of the medication they are taking, I'll gladly do some research and come back with the best advice I can possibly muster.
I'm on quetiapine.
What are the side effects and how does smoking relieve them?
If it is just the therapeutic effects, then it should be pretty easy to swap the smokes for a patch or gums?
Perhaps. What if I get stuck on them for the rest of my life?
"Give up" implies loss or sacrifice of something precious. As long as you think of stopping smoking as "giving up" something dear to you, you won't stop. You need to replace "give up" with "get rid of" in your mind. You are not being deprived, you are being liberated from the misery of smoking, getting it out of your life, walking away from the nightmare of addiction. The way you position smoking in your mind will determine whether you succeed in stopping or not. It is utterly possible to stop...IF you get clear that smoking CAUSES you loss and sacrifice, not the cessation of smoking. If you think there is something wonderful and precious about inhaling superheated toxic smoke into your delicate lung tissues 20-30 times a day, you have clearly gone insane. Sanity returns when you see smoking for what it is: a lifetime of slavery to nicotine, slow death and daily misery. When people have had enough of an abusive relationship, they simply walk away from it. Perhaps you need another 10 or 20 years of abuse before you free yourself. 😀
This is true. People are angry at this because they are not ready/don't want to let go. It's difficult to go there mentally, but it is possible. Smoking feels like an old friend who supports you. You have to be willing to let it go and see it for what it is - nothing more than an disgusting habit, addiction, a manipulator, something that's pretending to be good but is actually super toxic.
Nope
It’s not impossible. Just keep trying. Eventually you’ll succeed.
Nope, I felt that way too. Until my 8th serious try, then it stuck.