Giving up smoking

[ChampagneMan]

Im hardly a smoker. Just the occasional puff. Infact I gave it up completly about 7 months ago. But the urge still remains. Especially when im having a few drinks. Any solution to keep away from the cancer stick?

[hammerman]

Gave up myself 2.5 years ago and i still get the urge for a smoke....infact, i was talking to my nan who gave up 30 years ago and is now 95 and she still yearns for a smoke too !!!

It's all down to willpower and how strongly you can resist the urge. I just keep thinking to myself that all the good, hard work giving up....and it has been hard work at times, would be undone in a split second.

Best of luck to you mate

[Eve]

I've heard the Alan Carr book is good, i quit for 4 months on patches then went back when i was working in London and still puffing :(

Have had the book recommended by quite a few people and it's sitting on my table waiting for me to read it.

I found that making the smell and though make me feel physically sick worked well but it makes it hard when you're around smoke then, found myself feeling ill being nex to smokers at the bus stop and on the bus and such let alone the pub

[Eve]

I've heard the Alan Carr book is good, i quit for 4 months on patches then went back when i was working in London and still puffing :(

Have had the book recommended by quite a few people and it's sitting on my table waiting for me to read it.

I found that making the smell and though make me feel physically sick worked well but it makes it hard when you're around smoke then, found myself feeling ill being nex to smokers at the bus stop and on the bus and such let alone the pub.

[kjn2]

I gave up smoking over 15 years ago and to be honest there are still times when I feel like a puff ,in exactly the same conditions as yourself, having a drink with mates in a pub/clubs etc, personally I can only say be strong do not give in hold out until next year when the new laws come in and then we non smokers can go to the pub/club and have a nice drink in a smoke free zone with no temptation or smelly clothes when we get home. To the smokers out there I am not preaching just giving my personal view( I do undersatnd that some people find it impossible to give up and respect that )Good Luck and hang in there..

[Pippa68]

Like the others, I too still crave a ciggie every now & then. In fact, last year I was having a wonderful time at a wedding (yes I was tipsy) and I foolishly decided to give in to that urge and have a smoke.

What followed was violent coughing, which led to wretching & almost vomited in public. It was vile! so even though the urge was there, it was the most disgusting thing to actually give in.

I still have some nicotine gum in the cupboard which I do use very occasionally. That usually does the trick too as it tastes like an ashtray has been emptied into your mouth!

Well done to you..and keep up the good work :o)

[Carakeel]

My son lost his life because smoking caused cancer to attack a mildly weakened area in his brain (where he had hit his head in school) . We all have cancer cells in us from birth, but smoking can spark them to become active and attack any weakened areas within the body. Each time you inhale smoke from a cigarette, brain cells die which cannot regenerate. This is the case with regards to active and passive smoking. So, if you are smoking around children, it will affect them too. I have seen the scans showing dead brain cells due to smoking. Please continue trying to give up, you really don't ever want to have to look at things like this.
I fully understand how hard it is to give up and so applaud you for trying to. My partner gave up over a year ago and he too still has urges for a ciggi at times, but having seen photos of Kevin he decided he didn't want to see me having to go through this kind of trauma again. He did this without my ever having to ask him to and I love him so much for for his courage and strong will.
I congratulate you on your efforts and really hope that you manage to give up. Life is so precious and hey ... ChampagneMan ... we want you to hang around! Best wishes!

[woodchopper]

The answer is in the question - Stop drinking as well :o)

[Amara]

Try hypnotherapy - It will teach you how to retrain your mind as far as your attitude to smoking goes. The only reason you still get these urges is association, your brain thinks because you are having a drink that a cig goes with it. Unfortunately if you do give in you will feel bad about yourself again. You are doing really well, don't give up giving up! Amara xx

[Viz]

I gave up smoking in April this year. I am blimmin' annoyed as I have the urge nearly all the time! I drink a lot of water, and simply try not thinking about smoking. When the urge comes on I have a glass of water and distract myself by any means possible. Damn, it's hard - very hard. Sometimes I feel like I'd give my left lung just to have a fag! LOL. But of course I won't start again, my cough has gone and my breathing is not so laboured. So I think of that too, when I want one.
And think of something else - all us ex-smokers will never meet up in an emphysema ward!

[CalamityK2]

Speaking from experience, the trick is to read the Allen Carr book. If you read it properly, by the end of it you will not WANT to smoke any more - the urge will have gone and it will not be a case of needing willpower.

I gave up 8 months ago and yes, I fancied a ciggie for the first couple of weeks but it wasn't the craving I was used to; it was more like the feeling you get when you fancy a cream cake, ie one would be nice, but you don't stress if you can't have one!

I feel really sorry for anyone who still has proper cravings, and relies on willpower. I repeat - read the Allen Carr book AS MANY TIMES AS IT TAKES FOR IT ALL TO MAKE SENSE!!!! and then stop.

It was easy, and that's saying something because I absolutely LOVED smoking and never ever thought I'd be able to stop!