Trying to quit smoking....

Haha, right! I started on the timing again today. Bad yesterday....smoked over a pack. I switched brands shortly after starting the timing, to a brand I didn't like, but I wanted to smoke more....? I was smoking Winstons before, additive free. So maybe that's got something to do with it? Fount buy two get one free deal for Camel yesterday....that's why I smoked so much I think. The Camels were like a treat. I've had 10 today. Not feeling well. Stuck on my couch reading. Think about smoking even more when I don't do anything.

I smoked 6 today. I can really feel it in my lungs, too. I keep coughing. I guess it's a good sign 'cause I can't tolerate it like I use to but this has got to stop. After this pack is finished no more.

Maybe *one more* thing to try to remember is that in our lives stress will never end ... we'll keep having stress of one sort or another and smoking won't change that a bit.

Not smoking will certainly add a bit to the CASH situation

I haven't had a cigarette for 11 months and 5 days.

thanks for that breath of fresh and un-tobacco laden air! I really can use that on a day like I'm having (about 9 weeks) I used to use smoking as a coping technique, now I'm deep breathing,and trying to exercise when stress hits,or even being on the internet! at least it won't give me emphesyma...if all that does'nt work I just think about who's getting rich from my slow death.

Hi altonwoods -- I'm in MO too. Born and raised here. I married an Air Force man and we spent 26 years moving around (mostly back and forth between CA and ND - boy, is that hard on a wardrobe ) but came back here on retirement in '93.

Anyhow -- if you've made it 9 weeks without smoking you've completely beaten the nicotine addiction and just have the HABIT to beat. Best wishes.

I'm also native,thanks once again for the encouragement,it means more than you know,well maybe you do know...now when I want a cigarette I can think,"I'd have to tell old woman I started smoking again" and I really don't want to do that! hopefully we can talk again sometime.

Hey why don't you play a little game that might help! Remember this is just and idea....... Try to smoke one or none then tomorrow post if you did it and that might work because just think of all the praise you would get and people would think 'Wow that was great they really are great." Sometimes praise and acknowledgement can be a great reward!

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altonwoodsdrphil said:
I've been smoke free now for about 6 weeks.I still want one sometimes.what keeps me from lighting up?I want to quit,worse than I want to smoke. that and prayer have kept me smoke free. when i feel tension,or any of my trigger feelings,I take deep breaths,and observe myself and my stress,I then feel a type of empathy for me where I want to support myself and that really helps.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post"> FANTASTIC!

Well - Prayer is the main, maybe the only thing, that got me to quit. I'll admit that I'm a weakling with no courage or strength and I knew I would get no support from DH who was convinced I couldn't do it. He never had see me be strong. (He quit more than 20 years ago).
So I asked God to help me with quitting and He did !!

I had the brain surgery ~shudder~ and the breast surgery without a smoke but I had God with me all the way.

I'm still down from 30 a day to 12. I can't wait to tell my neurologist on Tuesday! He'll be so happy that I'm cutting back so much without stressing my body too much. Yay!

Ray..you are doing great! I am still in the "trying" phase. I did okay for a bit. But ya know, stress and other people around me who smoke...well, it seems to be more of a challenge then expected.
I want to quit. I need to quit!
Tomorrow..new day, new plan!

(((to all those who posted here)))
Whether you are still trying to kick the butt of the thing you just lit up...or if you have gone a day, a month, a year without smoking...All together...One Great Big Cheer!

Hi Everybody!
I'm still smoking. I have a dozen excuses why but you probably already know them all.
I'll see how it goes after I finish this pack. I'm not taking it as seriously as I was and I got to get back into wanting it as badly as I did awhile ago.
I don't know what happened. It's like I don't care anymore.

Is it really that hard to stop cold turkey? Perhaps can you replace it with another way to soothe yourself. I guess smoking is an obsession. Like find a loved one or activity you are dedicated to.

Actually smoking becomes a chemical dependance. Nicotine mimics a chemical in the brain, so eventually the brain stops making it on its own. When the chemical is needed, we crave nicotine. It's been proven to be THE hardest habit to kick, so yes, it is that hard to quit cold turkey. It's not an obsession. It's not needed to be soothing. The brain has to learn how not to smoke. That's why there is more success in the wheening process, just like an infant has to be wheened from breast milk or formula to food. The longer a person smokes, the harder it becomes to quit.

smoking is not an obsession, it is an addiction to the chemicals and nicotine, as Rayna said the longer ya smoke the harder it is, my hubby quit cold turkey and I envy him, I'm now down to 4 cigarettes a day, and am so sick of lollypops and carrot sticks

I haven't been doing as well as I was. Still not smoking as much, but some of the dicipline has faded. Need to get back to the timing!

Maybe you should start playing online games, chew some gum, do push ups, put a strw or something else in your mouth, try sour candy!

Smoking really serves several needs--it gives you energy when you are tired, relaxes you when you are stressed & is a good procrastination tool. I quit in my 20's (started when I was 15 when my depressions also started) after having a preemie baby (talk about guilt) due to smoking & drinking while pregnant (had untreated bp).

Then 10 YEARS later I feel into another deep depression & couldn't cope & started smoking again! I smoked for another 10 yrs. then was able to quit once I got on the right meds for my bp. I just didn't need them anymore. It's been about 4 years since I quit & I can't imagine myself smoking now. Also, I used the very low-dose patch for some extra psychological back-up cuz you absolutely are not supposed to smoke when you use those. I think I used them for about a month. It's a wonderful freedom to not smoke--not constatnly thinking about when/where you can smoke, feeling antsy when you can't (like on plane trips). Keep trying!--Suzy

Glad to hear your success story Suzy.
Helps me because I am not doing so well.
I think about how I am failing @ this everyday.
It is so hard to quit.

You really do not, I know people who did and see people smoke, it sort of makes them look lower class, falling apart and ugly. But anyway I saw this on a commercial and it looked like a great site, so I checked it out (I do not smoke never did and never will) but I thought of you folks and thought that i should post it because it looks like such a great site and I hope you all full fill your goals and hopes of stopping so you can have a healthier more enjoyable life. Best of luck! http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/qu...ndex_flash.asp

Sarah, we need possitve support, we already feel ugly ya don't need to rub it into our open wounds, this is an addiction not always a choice
Marie

I did not mean you are ugly I meant that, for example you walk down a city street and there are a group of smokers, it seems pretty cold, haunted and lower class, then you go and find a street without smokers, perhaps a group of people going shopping or talking. There is a big difference, they just seem more happy with life!

With the availability of patches now being sold over the counter, I would hope that more ppl would try them. I know using a doctor to find your way through this maze of patches and strengths and all would be better, but if you can't afford all that, then certainly following the patch guidelines would help you stop this dangerous habit?

Not too long ago I actually entertained the idea of meeting some members here. It all went away when I found out they smoke. I am SO allergic, I can't be near anyone who smokes or MY airways beging to close.

Maybe you have friends you haven't met yet, that you'll find once you stop?

This is a powerful addiction. I would hope that you wouldn't continue to give in to it, and also not beat yourselves up over being addicted. You didn't ask for that. BUT you can stop. I hope it becomes easier for you to.

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