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Smoking
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I stopped smoking this morning but i've just had a rollup after my tea. I feel properly gutted. Has anybody else tried to stop and failed at the first hurdle?
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Awwww, well done for wanting to give up and commiserations. May I suggest that you try NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) instead of the *cold-turkey* method. NRT - patches, gum, tabs etc allow you to gradually wean yourself off the addictive nicotine while you get used to being without the habit ! A lot less grief too! Go into the chemist tomorrow and talk to the pharmacist - you'll get loads of really useful help of him/her.
But whatever you do, don't give up giving up ! Good on ya for trying !
PS - a lot of folk find they get a rash from the patches - try waving them around in the air for about 10-15 seconds before applying them to allow the alcohol to evaporate and thus no rash !
But whatever you do, don't give up giving up ! Good on ya for trying !
PS - a lot of folk find they get a rash from the patches - try waving them around in the air for about 10-15 seconds before applying them to allow the alcohol to evaporate and thus no rash !
..thing is ...you did not fail.... you just had a lapse.... just because you've had one, don't give up ....you are now a non smoker...if you need one tomorrow then so be it....just don't shrug and say I blew it yesterday i might as well admit defeat....
it's not easy.... I gave up for 2 years, started again , 5 years later and I quit again a week last friday... 11 days and counting with no ciggies.... I use the patches, find they really do work for me, however the 24 hour ones give me really freaky dreams, so I take them off before bed.... I used to buy real licorice root (looks like a twig) cut them up into ciggy size pieces and just chewed on them when the urge struck, after meals is the hardest time, I sympathise...
...good luck and stick with it, and if you fall off the wagon and have one, don't dispare....
it's not easy.... I gave up for 2 years, started again , 5 years later and I quit again a week last friday... 11 days and counting with no ciggies.... I use the patches, find they really do work for me, however the 24 hour ones give me really freaky dreams, so I take them off before bed.... I used to buy real licorice root (looks like a twig) cut them up into ciggy size pieces and just chewed on them when the urge struck, after meals is the hardest time, I sympathise...
...good luck and stick with it, and if you fall off the wagon and have one, don't dispare....
Hi Skreecheeboy
Never give up giving up! It took many many attempts over many years for me to give up.........but finally succeeded this time round, 5 months to date..........I never thought I'd succeed, but I also learnt never to come down on myself, it just makes it harder to try quitting again. So well done for doing so well, you will succeed when the time is right and you are really ready to do so. Also agree that going cold turkey isn't for everyone, I didn't get on with the patches very well - this time had a combination of Hypnotherapy, EFT and NLP, hypnotherapy on it's own doesn't have the same success. If you would like more info on this let me know.
Hey, and a huge well done Ermintrude, you obviously didn't give up giving up! Good luck with it.
Never give up giving up! It took many many attempts over many years for me to give up.........but finally succeeded this time round, 5 months to date..........I never thought I'd succeed, but I also learnt never to come down on myself, it just makes it harder to try quitting again. So well done for doing so well, you will succeed when the time is right and you are really ready to do so. Also agree that going cold turkey isn't for everyone, I didn't get on with the patches very well - this time had a combination of Hypnotherapy, EFT and NLP, hypnotherapy on it's own doesn't have the same success. If you would like more info on this let me know.
Hey, and a huge well done Ermintrude, you obviously didn't give up giving up! Good luck with it.
keep trying skreecheeboy! I first gave up in 91 when pregnant with my eldest son. I stupidly started again two years later , why, i will never know as i never craved it, just got offered one this one time and that was that!
However , i gave up again in 2003 and that's me done! i will NEVER make the same mistake again as i regretted taking it up again so much! Thing is, i really dont want to smoke again and dont have any desire to do so. Smoking is getting harder and harder to do these days and im glad that i dont have to go for a beer and stand outside if i want a ciggie (the best smokes are the ones with a beer)
Good luck in your quest!!!!
However , i gave up again in 2003 and that's me done! i will NEVER make the same mistake again as i regretted taking it up again so much! Thing is, i really dont want to smoke again and dont have any desire to do so. Smoking is getting harder and harder to do these days and im glad that i dont have to go for a beer and stand outside if i want a ciggie (the best smokes are the ones with a beer)
Good luck in your quest!!!!
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I think it's all in the wording Skreech, if you'd have decided to ' cut down ' instead of ' stop ', you'd have been as pleased as Punch at 1 after your tea wouldn't ya ?
I used to start a diet intending to lose 4 stone, an unrealistic target which just disheartened me during day one. So I lowered the bar to 1 stone ( achievable ) and reset it at a later date.
And bingo, I'm still fat !! ( just joking, do it in small stages and the pride and self esteem you gain from reaching each goal will be all the incentive you need )
Concentrate on the cigarettes you DIDN"T have today instead of that piffling 1 that you did x x
I used to start a diet intending to lose 4 stone, an unrealistic target which just disheartened me during day one. So I lowered the bar to 1 stone ( achievable ) and reset it at a later date.
And bingo, I'm still fat !! ( just joking, do it in small stages and the pride and self esteem you gain from reaching each goal will be all the incentive you need )
Concentrate on the cigarettes you DIDN"T have today instead of that piffling 1 that you did x x
Well done for trying Peppy. I have tried to quit numerous times, and failed miserably on each occassion until I fell pregnant and the choice was taken away from me then really - I CAN'T smoke because of the baby.
What I have found to help though is, as Peppy points out, setting realistic targets. I used to find that if I told myself I was allowed one cigarette every evening at, say, 8pm then I would not have cravings the rest of the time because I knew I was "allowed" one later. I also didn't punish myself so much for breaking, eventually when it comes around to 8pm, I would think I;ll see if I can go til quarter past without, then half past, then quarter to nine, etc - then all of a sudden it's bed time and I haven't had a cigarette for a whole day! The next day you feel realy proud of yourself for not having one, and the NEW cycle starts again.
Another thing I found to help was to ban myself from smoking during certain times (my favourite cigarette was the first when I got infrom work at around half 5, and so would ban myself between 4 and 6 for example) or in certain areas.
Good luck, and remember we are all here to help you if you feel you're going to crack!
What I have found to help though is, as Peppy points out, setting realistic targets. I used to find that if I told myself I was allowed one cigarette every evening at, say, 8pm then I would not have cravings the rest of the time because I knew I was "allowed" one later. I also didn't punish myself so much for breaking, eventually when it comes around to 8pm, I would think I;ll see if I can go til quarter past without, then half past, then quarter to nine, etc - then all of a sudden it's bed time and I haven't had a cigarette for a whole day! The next day you feel realy proud of yourself for not having one, and the NEW cycle starts again.
Another thing I found to help was to ban myself from smoking during certain times (my favourite cigarette was the first when I got infrom work at around half 5, and so would ban myself between 4 and 6 for example) or in certain areas.
Good luck, and remember we are all here to help you if you feel you're going to crack!
Whatever you do, don't see this as a failure. As the others have said it is just a lapse..and the longer you go without one the next time, the better.
The first time I gave up I just chucked my ciggies in the bin and quit. I didn't smoke for 6 years ~ in fact I didn't even crave one. When I found myself going through a divorce I stupidly had a ciggie..and the rest is history!
The second time I gave up was much harder. Even though I managed the first week ok, the second week was hell on earth. I took advice and went onto nicotine replacements ~ the gum was excellent as it tasted as though someone had emptied an ashtray into my mouth, which certainly put me off smoking.
I haven't smoked for about 4 years ~ and have to say it can still be a battle sometimes as the craving pops up every now and then.
Rather like dieting, you need to focus on the positive ~ a lapse is just that..you pick yourself up and start again.
Good luck...and well done :o)
The first time I gave up I just chucked my ciggies in the bin and quit. I didn't smoke for 6 years ~ in fact I didn't even crave one. When I found myself going through a divorce I stupidly had a ciggie..and the rest is history!
The second time I gave up was much harder. Even though I managed the first week ok, the second week was hell on earth. I took advice and went onto nicotine replacements ~ the gum was excellent as it tasted as though someone had emptied an ashtray into my mouth, which certainly put me off smoking.
I haven't smoked for about 4 years ~ and have to say it can still be a battle sometimes as the craving pops up every now and then.
Rather like dieting, you need to focus on the positive ~ a lapse is just that..you pick yourself up and start again.
Good luck...and well done :o)
Cheers everyone! I hate to admit it but I actually had another 2 last night after that one. I've not had any today though and I'm going to try and stay off them till at least 6 o'clock (got a volunteer meeting and we are all a bunch of friendly smokers so it will probs be hard to not smoke round them all but you never know....)
All kind words above but skreechy mate, get your head round it, you are never going to crack it with your approach. Don't let yourself weaken. Stop making excuses to fail, all this meeting bit, no they are not a freindly bunch of smokers, they are a bunch of sad addicts don't be one of them. Sorry mate, get brutal, trying to be cruel to be kind here. I've known quite a few people give up and they all agree on one thing. Cold turkey is the only way. Patches, Gum all that are just delaying the innevitable. At some point you are going to have to do without the nicotine.
The 1st step to quitting is making a few failed attempts. These are actually the initial winning steps that everyone must do, so don't loose heart - keep going! You're right!
I have a trick for you to try, I did it and it actually worked (might work for you too). Roll up a piece of office paper in the same way you would do a rollup. Now go through the motions of smoking (trust me). You'll inhale pure air and believe it or not you'll feel the same relief as if you were actually smoking. I know it sounds barking. Try it, it helped me come off my 15 year 20 a day habit. Good luck.
I have a trick for you to try, I did it and it actually worked (might work for you too). Roll up a piece of office paper in the same way you would do a rollup. Now go through the motions of smoking (trust me). You'll inhale pure air and believe it or not you'll feel the same relief as if you were actually smoking. I know it sounds barking. Try it, it helped me come off my 15 year 20 a day habit. Good luck.
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Oh Lord yes... All the time! The thing is, I can quit for days/weeks at a time for health reasons, for financial reasons etc... However you can't take away the fact that I enjoy it and probably always will. An alien concept to non smokers no doubt.
First three days, first three weeks, first three months and then first three years are generally the problem areas. Always know what the obsitcals are before you start something. It helps to be prepared.
First three days, first three weeks, first three months and then first three years are generally the problem areas. Always know what the obsitcals are before you start something. It helps to be prepared.
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