Quitting Smoking

Atrbiohazard

Airship Passenger
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Yeah yeah, another Real Life topic.

Me and Dowzer were both going to quit smoking together when he moved down here. Well, last Monday (June 13th), I was having a hard time breathing and suddenly couldn't breathe. I passed out and ended up in the hospital for a few hours. That's when I decided I was going to quit no matter what.

I have been smoking for 4 years. One pack to one and 1/3 pack a day. On Tuesday, I started on my goal to stop. I tried to go cold turkey but it didn't work. I got a brilliant idea that every 30 min, I would smoke two puffs, put it out, then come back in 30 min for another two. Within a few hours, I was able to go an hour between each.

Yesterday (Sunday), I finished off a pack. I'm currently at two puffs every two to three hours unless I'm busy. Like, when I leveled DRG from 13 to 20 without a single break to smoke. Not even when seeking between parties. Those two puffs are just enough to calm the craving and my cravings seem to be getting longer apart and not as bad.

Today, I told Dowzer of my progress. He was happy for me and asked my secret. I told him my trick on how, and the fact that not being able to breathe scared the crap out of me and made me want to stop.

He is now going to try this same method. I simply told him that if he doesn't want to end up like me, where you are having a really hard time breathing then suddenly you just cant, he should stop now.

So now, I have Dowzer (he's been smoking a pack a day for 5-6 years), my dad (he's been smoking a pack a day for 38 years), my mom (she's been smoking a pack a day for 10 years), my uncle (he's been smoking two to three packs a day for 40 years), and me on this method. My dad and uncle are doing great. The only problem with my mom is that she really doesn't want to quit so she isn't trying. I'm also going to get my sister on this method.

So, I'm going to keep posting my progress, as is Dowzer. Ever since I cut down, I have no problems breathing. I have been able to run a mile without being out of breath as bad as I used to be, I've been able to do my speed inline skating practices with no problems, and my "chase the dogs around all day" isn't as painful anymore.

Anyone on here who wants to quit, feel free to jump in with us on this method. It won't work for everyone but hey, if you really want to quit, you'll try anything. If you do jump on the bandwagon with us, and you start getting a bad craving before it's time, don't be afraid to /tell me or Dowzer. We can give you our MSN messenger addys, too. That way you have someone to talk to instead and me and Dowzer can more than likely find something fun for us to do to take your mind away from it. I also have AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, and Xfire if you don't have MSN.

I won't do the patch because if you're around anyone who's smoking with it on, you'll turn ghost white, not be able to breathe, and pass out. The gum is a joke for me. Cold turkey was too hard so this method seems kind of nice.

Monday June 13th : One pack
Monday June 20th : Two cigarettes
 
I remeber when I quite smoking. My trick was I told myself I could never agin buy cigarettes. Never. I went on the patch for like 2 days, and then just went cold turkey. I dunno if I could have done your method, because if I was under any stress, I would've justified smoking a full cig.

I just quite, and whenever a nick fit hit, I would figure out something to do to get over it. Lots of tootsie pops.I started smoking my freshman year in hs, and quit in college. It's been 6 years now.
 
The only way I could quit was cold turkey. If you keep smoking, be it 2,3,4 cigs a day. You eventually will go back, because you don't have anything in your mind to compare why you should quit. Even when you go cold turkey, you'll go back, you'll actually prob go back many times before you realize you don't need it anymore. Another bad thing to do is to go to light cigs, that only keeps you on longer.

The thing that helped me quit was the good feeling after you quit, the feeling that you had when you where off the stuff for couple weeks, days, months.
These are the things I concentrated on that made me quit.
I"d compare HOW FOOD TASTES lol
How I wasn't stinky anymore lol
I liked the smell of my fingers lol
There wasn't a icky film on the windows of my car
I ACTUALLY FELT GOOD WAKING UP and didn't need a cig.
When I got sick I never get that bad cough anymore and oh, I hardly get sick now.
I felt good more often.

What I missed... and still miss.
- That one good cig when you cant sleep, Oooo that was good.
- Blasting away at the cigs while drinking so you can out drink anyone.
- Cig after doing it. Ok nuff said.
- Cig on the potty, ok now I'm saying too much. ><
- Cig in the morning, aw but now I realize it aint that great cuz I feel better in the morning without smoking.
- The Cig you take when your really pissed off or just stressed, this one I still miss.

Well I thought I'd just share my expierience. My friends did it your way, I quit cold turkey. I won ^^, they still smoke.
 
Oh... And I guess I shoulda added this.

Another HUGE reason was that I wanted to be or at least try to be an example to my Nephew.

Stuff like that helps you to quit, because it burns into your mind. And its only your mind that keeps you on those death sticks.
 
Best of luck to you!!!

If you get desperate, my friend swears by Hypnotherapy. He had smoked a few packs a day for years and years - saw a therapist a few times a week for about a month and cannot even LOOK at cigarettes now.
 
If you can go a week without a cigarette it pretty much breaks the habit because it takes at tops a week for your body to completely get rid of the nicotine in your body, and it's the nicotine that gives you the cravings.
 
Lokkin said:
If you can go a week without a cigarette it pretty much breaks the habit because it takes at tops a week for your body to completely get rid of the nicotine in your body, and it's the nicotine that gives you the cravings.

..... um I am pretty sure it takes WAY longer than "a week tops" to get all of the effects nicotine out of your body. You should feel results as early a the first full day that you go without smoking - but yeah. It's not like someone who smokes 40 cigarettes a day for 20 years can clean their lungs after 1 week of resisting the temptation. :?
 
My father did hypnotherapy and has been smoke free for 13 years. He swears by it.
 
This is actually working for me. I tried cold turkey and I just couldn't do it. Plus with people here smoking near me all day, it was too hard for me.

I actually woke up just a bit ago and didn't want a cig. :D

I looked in to Hypnotherapy before but the ONLY person who does it within a 50 mile radius charges $350 a session (1 hour). {No thanks.} :?
 
I was having a hard time breathing and suddenly couldn't breathe. I passed out

I watched my dad cough himself unconscious a number of times when I was younger. Needless to say, I never picked up the habit. =D
 
Yeah when my dad did it they hypnotized him at the clinic and then he had an audio tape to listen to as he slept. It worked... I'm sure if he had to get hypnotized multiple times (and pay for each visit) he probably wouldn't have gone that route.
 
You can make or break a habit in 21 days. I smoked for 18 years and was up to 3 packs a day when I quit. The only thing that kept me from going fully postal was the Nicoderm CQ patch. With the nicotine cravings gone, it was relatively easy to find other things that would occupy my time other than firing up a smoke...

Best of luck to ANYONE who sincerely wants to quit by ANY method, because it is a tough thing, hands down!
 
Cold Turkey is the hardest way possible ^^. But it works, Can't say that about the other methods. And you'll never truely not "want" a cig any longer.

To this day I still crave it sometimes, I simply remember all the "bad" things about cigs, and the "good" things about not being on it, and don't think about how much I liked it. Its a mind thing, you have the will power, you just have to use it.

The hypo therapy is a good one too, just remember 350 dollars is cheap when compared to the cost of cigs or the cost that you'll pay for all the health problems you'll get later. Not too mention dying real slow and painful like most smokers do.

I got my Ex-GF to quit, I threw her damn cigs out the window and constantly reminded her of it when I saw her crave a cig.

She quit cold turkey like me. Of course with a little help :wink:
 
Yeah when my dad did it they hypnotized him at the clinic and then he had an audio tape to listen to as he slept. It worked... I'm sure if he had to get hypnotized multiple times (and pay for each visit) he probably wouldn't have gone that route.
Hypnosis and sleep tapes have been proven fake many times. If you are serious about quiting, don't bother with these unless you like placebos. Cold turkey, patches, and smoking less per day those are the reliable methods.
 
I started smoking maybe two or three years ago.

I can honestly say its more a bad habit than anything as I really HATE the way my fingers smell after. It's horrible and disgusting.

It's been something I'm happy to say I've kept in clubs although I smoke around 10 or so in one night when i go out once a weekend to drink with friends. There was a time this year near the end of the year when i smoked because there was nothing better to do, but I've always been able to stop myself or put out the cigarette half way or soon after I light it because i remind myself this is a habit that stays in clubs and bars only. It just feels good to smoke something while drinking. It goes together well I guess haha.

There have been a few times when I would smoke at night for maybe a months time when walking on the streets but it has always been something i can never do in my room. Haha

Happy to say I stopped soon after the exam periods and that its only a drinking thing...

altho..


DARKDANTE: You said you enjoyed smoking cigs while drinking so you could outdrink anyone? How do cigarrettes affect your alcohol tolerance?! Thats interesting.
 
Xerius said:
DARKDANTE: You said you enjoyed smoking cigs while drinking so you could outdrink anyone? How do cigarrettes affect your alcohol tolerance?! Thats interesting.

If you don't know the answer to this yourself...

U must not drink OR smoke much lol.

Not that its something to be proud of, it isn't......

For an expieriment, try getting wasted and then taking a whole mouthful of dip, see if your still drunk after. lol

If your not much of a drinker to begin with, no amount of nicotine is gonna help ya though, and if you smoke them "pansy" "addict only" light CIGS forget reading this. :P
 
Darkdante said:
Xerius said:
DARKDANTE: You said you enjoyed smoking cigs while drinking so you could outdrink anyone? How do cigarrettes affect your alcohol tolerance?! Thats interesting.

If you don't know the answer to this yourself...

U must not drink OR smoke much lol.

Not that its something to be proud of, it isn't......

For an expieriment, try getting wasted and then taking a whole mouthful of dip, see if your still drunk after. lol

If your not much of a drinker to begin with, no amount of nicotine is gonna help ya though, and if you smoke them "pansy" "addict only" light CIGS forget reading this. :P

Oh
Thanks for telling me

Well you are right, i dont smoke much =) hehe... compared to you "seasoned" smokers haha, but i drink my fair share.
 
Well, yesterday was my first day of cutting down....It went well for the first half of the day, I only had 2 cigs from the time I woke up till around dinner. Not an entire full one, only a couple puffs and out it would go. After I ate dinner....That's when it hit the fan :oops: So I'm pretty sure that after eating is sets off the biggest craving of the day...Sooo, now I'm going to challenge myself to go without smoking after dinner.
In my opinion...I know this is physical addiction but more so a mental addiction..I think if I can really hold my will power and be confident, that will be my biggest help.
My Grandmother quit cold turkey after 50~60 years of heavy smoking....Anyone can do this, just have to believe in yourself. MUCH easier said than done, as I've tried cold turkey before. I really think cutting down will be my best bet.

Thanks for all the support and goodluck to those who are trying as well :)
 
My days go from like 3pm to 9am. That's one day for me so don't be confused if I say yesterday when I already posted yesterday.

Yesterday : 4 cigs. That was my own fault. I smoked two full ones in a row because I had gotten annoyed and was trying to keep my cool. Smoking those hurt so much. I didn't feel good afterwards at all. x.X;

Today : Woke up and didn't want a cig and still haven't had one. :)
 
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