Smoking

[luigi]

How can I stop smoking?

[Stewart]

luigi, a million dollar question!! There are literally hundreds of "solutions" which you can buy (buy being the operative word) I can only tell you about my own experience. I gave up (20-30/day) in April 2001 after 25 years. I used stubbornness and bloody mindedness, with no artificial substitutes. I mentally set the date a week or so in advance ("when I finish this carton") and stuck to it. I consciously smoked my last one, and haven't touched one since. Changed routines associated with smoking, eg after dinner have a cold drink instead of coffee. (My coffee consumption is now a fraction of what it was when I smoked.) Tell people and ask for support. For the first couple of weeks I felt uncomfortable (not really ill) and the urges were strong and frequent. I just gritted my teeth. Gradually they become weaker and less frequent, and now I hardly think about smoking at all. It is no longer a problem. The main thing was the decision itself, then get throught the first few days which are definitely the worst. After that I found the greatest incentive was to think about how I would feel if I smoked a cigarette. Having tried previously I knew the answer. I would feel no better for it, I would hate myself for having given in, and I would have to start all over again. (And face the shame of failure). Sorry to go on a bit, and sorry to be a bit smug. It isn't so easy, and really I was just stubborn. Good luck, and I hope this helps even a bit. Do have a go, I'm certainly glad I did. if you want further advice just post another question.

[mikewith]

I read Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking - and did. Can't recommend it highly enough. See http://www.allencarrseasyway.com/ for details of the book and, if necessary, the clinics held around the country (and the world).
On the other hand, my wife used Zyban and gave up - but she went through two courses of the stuff. Bottomnline: it *can* be done!

[illsley]

A very simple answer... find something you want to do more than smoking and focus on that rather than the weed! I didn't like smoking in our new house so I use to smoke outside. Well one winter it got so cold that it was just too much aggro to keep going outside, so I bought some nicorrette and a good bottle of wine and stayed inside in front of a real fire! Icut down by loads and then one night simply forgot to have a cigarette! It was then that I said to myself that I can really give up and I did and haven't smoked since. Believe me it worked!

[knowall]

I tend to agree with Stewart. I'm 50 now and over the years I've given up smoking so many times! I work in the Health Service and have done since 1968. When I first started it was quite acceptable to smoke on NHS premises, I am a nurse and as a Student Nurse in mental health I would smoke in the ward office, out in the ward with patients and even walking along the corridor! It seems unthinkable now. Eventually - about 15 years ago I decided to stop smoking again having stppoed once for 6 years! I aimed for my 35th birthday on the pretext that 'I'm old enough to know better'. It was well planned and believe it or not I actually looked forward to it! It would be nice to go out and not have to think at the front door 'have I got my fags and lighter'! Or to go to somebodys house who didn't smoke and have to say - 'do you mind if I smoke' and watch them say - 'no - its all right' - knowing full well that they were really not keen at all and the next morning when they went downstairs it would smell awful! Anyway - I did it and never looked back. In the end it was easy - but I don't want to appear that I'm saying it' s easy for everybody because its not - but it really is well worth it in the long run. Just convince yourself you're old enough to know better' and it really helps. But if all this fails then go to one of your local Health Service smoking cessation clinics and get some nicotine patches. I have two younger brothers who were both heavy smokers who have been there this year and have both stopped with minimal effort. I do hope you can sort it out - you really will feel better in the long run!

[Cetti]

Coming from a family with a bronchial history I should never have started but in my youth it looked really cool. 2 years ago I was so ill I decided to give up, I was getting a bit weezy during cold weather and as I couldn't afford patches and all the other bits and pieces I just stopped. The only way to do is the cold turkey approach, cutting down does not work. Good Luck - it really does make a difference - and you feel really smug as well!!

[bimsey]

these answers are inspiring me to pack up smoking i may well give it a try very soon.