I Tried to Quit 6 Times and Nothing Worked

I only started smoking four years ago when my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and by the lucky freak of geography I got to be mom's sole caregiver (everyone else was way too far away). So in between waiting on her hand and foot, taking her to the ER, staying with her in the hospital, and finally putting her in a GOOD nursing home (where she lasted about a week before dying), I stupidly adopted smoking as one palliative for myself. Unlike most pancreatic cancer sufferers, mom lasted for three years after diagnosis, and I had to be with her almost all the time. After she finally died, I tried to quit smoking. I tried six different times and ways. I've tried the pills, the patches, the courses, a laser, cold turkey by myself. And nothing works. I still smoke about ten cigarettes a day. The fact that my own life is a total mess doesn't make quitting any easier. We have terrible money problems, like a lot of people. So buying cigarettes is not just something I can shrug off; I need the cigarette money for other pressing expenses. Any suggestions?

Have you read, "Easy Way To Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr?
I recently quit with the help of patches and the book.

just stop. it's not working because you're not dedicated enough.
Have you tried leaving gum and candies and cigarette sized straws everywhere you hang out that you're likely to get the urge to smoke? Doing this may help with oral fixations :3

i hear ya. i finally went to my general doc and we made up a quit plan together. i use chantix and commit lozenges- makes no sense for the 2 together i know but i took chantix a year and a half before i finally quit. i am an intense addict 2 smoked for 26 years two packs a day in the end. i gotta hand it to you trying cold turkey ....i tried that once and went into a dark depression but we are all different. i wish you the best.

I typed out a big long answer and it seemed stupid and preachy.

I quit in Jan after smoking for about 6 years (5-10 a day). Mostly I wanted to prove to myself I could do it. That was it. Also, I didn't finish the pack I had... like left 5-6 so "if I needed/wanted them, they were there". Somehow knowing that if I really wanted to go out and smoke I could, but that I wasn't because I had the self-control, was really the ticket for me.

I was ready to quit though. Maybe you aren't ready yet?

I stopped with champix (australian name) your doctor can tell you more about it. If you try it, make sure you make the quit date within the first two weeks cause you need the entire three months to really kick it. It makes some people feel sick, but not for me. Of course, it would have been much easier to leave candies everywhere incase I wanted to smoke...I'm sure that would have killed the nicoteen addiction just as easily

Hi, James. That sounds like an interesting book. I'll check it out on Amazon and buy it. Anything that helps is good. Take care!

Of course you're right, El-ahrairah. And no, I haven't tried the gum/candies/straws idea. It's a good idea and I'll do it. Thanks, and be well.

Hey, maureen,

You know, I really LOVE cigarettes. Addictive or not, I find them to be a real pleasure on which I can depend. However, as everyone knows, (1) they're WAY too expensive and (2) they're REALLY, REALLY bad for you. Sometimes I wish I lived in the 1920's, before people knew that cigarettes and fried food are bad for you. It must have been GREAT. Take care. And thanks.

Well, Perp, I really don't know what "ready" means. If it means adopting a totally condemning attitude and HATING cigarettes, then I'm not ready. I LOVE cigarettes, and I will til the day I die. But I'm a rational person, some of the time, and I know cigarettes are BAD for me. So I'll try to quit again. And to be successful I'll indulge myself with food and candy and whatever. But it's only been a week or so now and I still have that longing that I figure won't go away for a month or so. I'm hanging on, and we'll see if I make it. Take care.

Gosh, Y, I'm really impressed! A week is very good!

I can empathize with the situation of your mother's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, since my mother died of the same just two years ago, and I took care of her during her illness.

It sounds like you have the kind of willpower to succeed in this quit. I had to laugh, though, when I read you had "tried to quit 6 times". I tried to quit so many times, I lost count years and years ago. I did try all the over the counter as well as prescription (Chantix). I wanted to add here that Chantix really made me very anxious, and I had to stop it. The ecig is the only thing that has worked for me.