Smoking

[pugndolly]

What is the best method to quit smoking?

I need to know.

Thank you!

[kittygilchrist]

I posted a thread under support groups a few months ago when I wanted to quit: reasons to quit smoking. Many people offered encouragement and help. The best I can offer is that there is a heavenly God who wants the best for you.
Praying for you to have strength and wisdom how to quit.
Kitty

[CFrance]

Do you have a doctor? If so, I would ask him/her to go over the options with you.

[Janet & Carl]

The desire to quit and lots of prayers. Took me 3 times to quit after 30 years of smoking. As of November 2013 I have been smoke free for 13 years.
Best of luck to you,
Janet

[tippyclubb]

I quit two years ago using the electronic cigarette. Like the patch you are still getting nicotine without the tar and 3,000 nasty chemicals. My doctor approves of me using the e-cig.

[Fourpar]

Toss your cigarettes in the trash. Then start praying that you can stay strong enough to not allow them to come back and run your life......And make that prayer every time you think you need one. Eventually you can get there. But it isn't an easy trip, regardless of all the "aids".
Good luck, it is a trip you (and those who love you) will be glad you had the guts to take.

[kaydee]

I was told by a hairdresser that there is a clinic/doctor of some sort that does, are ya ready for this, laser treatment. Her husband had 3 treatments and last I knew was smoke free. Personally I had never heard of such a thing. I've thought about researching myself but just haven't done so yet. I'm told this facility is located on 441 North of 42 on the left. In that same strip is a chiropractor by the name of Dr Aiken. Hope this helps and I wish you luck. Honestly, I sympathize with you as I am a smoker as well and I must admit I need to quit but sadly I have not taken the next step yet.

[mjdollard]

Cold turkey

Set a date - something like a birthday, a special event, first of the month - whatever. If you decide to make it sudden, like tomorrow, you might not make it as you need to get your mind prepared for the change.

Smoke up to the chosen day as you normally would. When you wake up on the chosen day you have gone 8 hours without a cigarette. The only thing you have to do is keep adding hours.

The first few days are tough but after about 72 hours is gets easier - it takes about that long to flush nicotine out of the system, after that point it is memory not the body looking for nicotine. Because of that I feel nicotine reduction programs just prolong the misery.

A few things to avoid for a few days - alcohol (reduces power to say no), coffee (ok to have but the norm is a cup and a cigarette, stick to just the coffee). One odd thing is sharp cheeses in the first few days - somehow they mimic nicotine to the taste buds.

After the first few days it gets easier but keep telling yourself that one puff and the smoke free journey ends, and that isn't your goal.

Quitting smoking is said to be harder that quitting heroin - smoking is legal, it is easy to obtain cigarettes and (somewhat) socially acceptable.

Good luck, you WILL feel better

[Jayhawk]

Cold turkey

Set a date - something like a birthday, a special event, first of the month - whatever. If you decide to make it sudden, like tomorrow, you might not make it as you need to get your mind prepared for the change.

Smoke up to the chosen day as you normally would. When you wake up on the chosen day you have gone 8 hours without a cigarette. The only thing you have to do is keep adding hours.

The first few days are tough but after about 72 hours is gets easier - it takes about that long to flush nicotine out of the system, after that point it is memory not the body looking for nicotine. Because of that I feel nicotine reduction programs just prolong the misery.

A few things to avoid for a few days - alcohol (reduces power to say no), coffee (ok to have but the norm is a cup and a cigarette, stick to just the coffee). One odd thing is sharp cheeses in the first few days - somehow they mimic nicotine to the taste buds.

After the first few days it gets easier but keep telling yourself that one puff and the smoke free journey ends, and that isn't your goal.

Quitting smoking is said to be harder that quitting heroin - smoking is legal, it is easy to obtain cigarettes and (somewhat) socially acceptable.

Good luck, you WILL feel better


This is the best way. And you have to WANT to quit. Can't be for anything other than you want to.

[CFrance]

I tried cold turkey, and it didn't last for more than nine months. Then I tried it again, and it lasted for five months. Then I tried patches, and quit for two years. But the iresistable urge came back. Then the fourth (and thankfully the last) time, the patches were available over the counter. When the urge returned after two years, I slapped on the lowest level patch for a couple weeks, and bingo. Have never had a problem since, and it's been close to 15 years. I was the poster child for the slogan Don't Quit Quitting!

I found using the patches to be way less stressful than quitting cold turkey. My nicotine fits with cold turkey did not go away for weeks--months. Everyone has their own story of what worked for them, but cold turkey was just horrible for me.

Hopefully you will find your own way. We can only offer you our own stories. You have to try something and see if it works for you. Just start something. The best part about quitting is not worrying constantly about what you're doing to your health. Good luck!

[jblum315]

Chantix works for some people.

[twinklesweep]

Cold turkey

Set a date - something like a birthday, a special event, first of the month - whatever. If you decide to make it sudden, like tomorrow, you might not make it as you need to get your mind prepared for the change.

Smoke up to the chosen day as you normally would. When you wake up on the chosen day you have gone 8 hours without a cigarette. The only thing you have to do is keep adding hours.

The first few days are tough but after about 72 hours is gets easier - it takes about that long to flush nicotine out of the system, after that point it is memory not the body looking for nicotine. Because of that I feel nicotine reduction programs just prolong the misery.

A few things to avoid for a few days - alcohol (reduces power to say no), coffee (ok to have but the norm is a cup and a cigarette, stick to just the coffee). One odd thing is sharp cheeses in the first few days - somehow they mimic nicotine to the taste buds.

After the first few days it gets easier but keep telling yourself that one puff and the smoke free journey ends, and that isn't your goal.

Quitting smoking is said to be harder that quitting heroin - smoking is legal, it is easy to obtain cigarettes and (somewhat) socially acceptable.

Good luck, you WILL feel better

This is the best way. And you have to WANT to quit. Can't be for anything other than you want to.

Cold turkey worked for me, but I had to be absolutely honest with myself in terms of Jayhawk's comment about MY wanting to quit for MYSELF. It would not work if I had done it based on someone else's wish or demand or that society around us thinks it's a good idea to quit. Knowing the health hazards was a strong motivator too.

Also, I found it extremely helpful to have people I could call on for support at times that I was ready to chew plaster out of the walls. Sharing the challenge at difficult moments with someone who's "been there and done that" is a huge help. Form your own support group among people who clearly care about you and will not consider it an imposition to listen to you.

Using aids available on the market can be a huge help too. Just pick a date and go for it!

[Blessed2BNTV]

For many years I tried what I thought was everything, including hypnosis.

Finally got down on my knees and asked God to help rid me of the awful habit.

I don't remember the date or even year I quit but it has been over 5 years.

I will pray for you.

[Cedwards38]

Oftentimes doctors will prescribe the use of a mild antidepressant that will take the edge off cravings in the initial weeks of quitting. That helped me when I quit 9 years ago. I used Bupropion and only needed it for about a month. Best of luck to you in your quit.

[Bay Kid]

Chantix works for some people.

Chantix worked for me 20 months ago. The dreams were great too! Drink lots of water to wash your system. Take long walks and enjoy the fresh air in your lungs. Notice how you DON'T smell bad! Freedom!!!

[ajbrown]

I am not sure I know the ’best’ way to quit anything, but can relay my experience in the hope it helps you. I quit smoking cigarettes 20 or more years ago. I was a pack a day smoker.

It was not easy for me and took two or three tries. Each attempt was cold turkey.

For me, I can best describe it as a series of MOMENTS where I had to say no. Nothing anyone tells you can help with those moments. For me, not having a cigarette in that moment was all on me. In the beginning those moments seem to come every 5 minutes. In time they space out, but even after weeks you will have a moment when you have an opportunity to have a cigarette.

All you have to do is get past that moment. I am not saying that to be funny or belittle the effort. I am truly not, I know how hard those moments are and some are bigger than others in the process. My point is they really are just moments, do not think of quitting as forever, think of getting past that one moment. With my experience, my huge moment, after no smoking for about 2-3 weeks, I had a moment so difficult it lasted 10 – 15 minutes. I was alone, I had some cigarettes, I had matches. “I could have just one I thought”.

For reasons I do not recall, I made it through that moment……. Although more moments followed for me in the process, none were like that one and I believe it was that moment that I really quit. I cannot remember the last moment I have had it has been so many years….

Not too bore you further but....

I think in hindsight a driver for me was a bet I had. I was with my Dad (never smoked) and a good friend (smoker). We made a bet for $100 that we would quit smoking. My Dad pointed out that was a silly bet, specifically that if we both failed there was no loss. In that moment we designed a bet that likely got me over the hump. Our bet:

If you had a cigarette you had to pay the other person $100 for that month. If you both smoked you each had to pay $100 to a charity. You could smoke for the rest of the month, but on the first of the next month the bet started again. So basically smoking costs you $1200/year.

I do not bore you with the bet so you make a bet with someone, I tell the story as I believe the more people that knew about me quitting, the better. In those moments I describe you will face, it was helpful to think of all the folks that knew I was quitting and how much they were rooting for me to succeed.

In summary, it is hard, it is all on you and everyone is rooting for you to succeed.

Good luck.

[jhrc4]

Lot's of sound advice that you have been given, take it..But most of all " YOU " must Want to. Going cold turkey is very difficult, can you do it ?....You Can Why ? You are asking for Help , and we all believe here on TOTV that you can do it.
Keep us posted ...Go Cold Turkey....You, Your Family, Your Friends, Want you to Succeed ...Go For It !!

[John_W]

Chantix worked for me in 2006. I was a chain smoker for 35 years and had given up trying to quit. In previous attempts I had to stop coffee and alcohol since they were triggers. Today I have 2 cups of coffee every morning and can drink a beer and have no thoughts of wanting a cigarette.

My doctor was always bugging me to quit and in 2006 he gave me a prescription for Chantix, I filled it just so I could tell him I tried. I started the pills on Thursday and on Sunday I ran out of cigarettes and never smoked again. I like the fact they don't contain nicotine, instead the pills turn off the sensors in the brain that grave nicotine. After my initial prescription ran out after 30 days I didn't refill it because of the nightmares. I figured, since I had quit 25 days earlier I didn't need them anymore. They recommend to continue the pills for 3 or 4 months but I didn't have any relapse, so 30 days was plenty for me.

[DDoug]

I quit 30 years ago. Smoked 4 and a half packs a day. Set a date and a specific time ,I did 2 weeks, and smoke all you want but dont lose sight of the date and time you set. You will begin to slow down on your smoking and when that date and time come around have your last smoke. If you have any cigarettes left flush them down the toilet. There is also an old saying if you want you will. Will is the most important word along with power.

[TexaninVA]

What is the best method to quit smoking?

I need to know.

Thank you!


About 30 years ago, my Dad and I each made a bet ... we would both quit and the first one to start smoking again would pay each other $100

Both of us quit for good because neither of us wanted to have to pay off on the $100

[CFrance]

Everybody has told you what worked for them--cold turkey, prayer, e-cigarette, patches, Chantix. My friend used nicorette gum. I don't think anyone should tell you what method you should use. Talk to your doctor. You should use the method that appeals to you most.

[batman911]

You must really want to quit and look at it as what it is, an addiction to nicotine. Replace the smoking with exercise. You will feel so much better after only a few days that you will not want to go back.

[rayschic]

My husband was a 2 pack a day smoker. He tried to quit several times and always went back. He had a massive heart attack on May 7, 2000. He has not smoked since. Don't wait.

[CFrance]

My doctor told me it takes two years to erase the effects of smoking on your heart; many more years to erase the effects of it on your lungs. Now's the time to quit! Good luck to you.

[Dani Forbes]

This is the best way. And you have to WANT to quit. Can't be for anything other than you want to.

I agree

[Bizdoc]

After quitting many many times over the years, I finally reached the point that I was tired of smoking.

I tried Chantix. What they don't tell you is that some folks develop unreal nose bleeds. As in gushers.

Went back to the doctor who gave me Wellbutrin. Took it for a couple of weeks, then stopped (cold turkey) smoking. Didn't cheat. After 6 months, stopped taking the Wellbutrin.

Still smoke free. Of course, your mileage can (and probably will) vary...

Good luck.

[Villages PL]

What is the best method to quit smoking?

I need to know.

Thank you!

Cold turkey, and stay away from people who smoke, or tell them that they have to smoke away from you. You absolutely can't have people smoking in your presence.

Don't eat BIG meals. You might feel more like smoking after a really big meal.

Keep reminding yourself that it will get easier as time goes by: The first day is the hardest. Then on the second day your attitude should be: If I made it through the first day, I can make it through the second day.

Also, keep thinking how free you will be from a really bad (expensive) habit and how much healthier you will be.

[Josie70]

Cold Turkey.

[tom60]

As already stated you have to want it for your well being. I was at the doctor for a cut I incurred that had nothing to do with smoking. The doctor saw a pack of cigs in my shirt pocket. He took a xray of my lungs and saw a spot on my lung. He showed it to me and it scared me. He told me I should quit. He gave me a prescription for some nicotine gum. He told me to pick out a special day and quit. The 4th of july was almost here so I chose that day. The day came 4th of july 1987. I threw out all of my cigs and lighters. I had tried to quit on my own twice before but I didn't do it. So what the doctor told me and showed me put the fear of death in my heart. All I did was every time I started getting a bad craving to smoke I took a little piece of the gum and put it between my cheek and gum and pretty soon the urge would go mostly away .I made it thru the first day and then I told myself, yes, I am going to do it this time. When it was all over I still had some of the gum left that I didn't need so I gave it away. So that was it. You have to realy want it and be ready to go thru the getting prepared stage. You can do it. Go for it. Good luck. You will feel a lot better after its all over. tom

[Bay Kid]

After you quit there will be fewer butts lying around the golf course! But really you might keep a few smelly old butts in a can. If the urge is strong open the can and have a smell. UGH
It will be like you are released from jail. You will be free to do anything without having to plan your next smoke!