I want to quit smoking!! But I can't

[trippinmickey]

I would like to quit as well but its all i got . I didnt start till i was lock in the funny farm its all you could do there . I tell myself that it clams me down and helps me cope with my bipolar . I know it does not but its become a trigger.

[Lenny]

Quiting/Changing anythings requires a decision...

Not a "want" to,,not "I'm going to try", not "I'll think about it",,and so on...but a decision.

If this is something that you truly desire,,,then as Nike so decidedly states..."Just Do It"...

IMHO.

Lenny

[MyBestKids2]

Oh dear Lenny, if only if it was that easy. Coffee and cigs are my only vice yet!

Originally Posted by trippinmickey

I would like to quit as well but its all i got . I didnt start till i was lock in the funny farm its all you could do there . I tell myself that it clams me down and helps me cope with my bipolar . I know it does not but its become a trigger.

Being at the funny house, as you call it, made me smoke a lot more than I used to. Before, I only smoke 1 or 2 cigs per day, but now I'm smoking up to 6 or 7 cigs per day!
I also told myself it helped me with my anxiety, and it truly did, but now I can only think that this nasty habit can lead to serious illnesses, so I get anxious every time I smoke a cig.

Originally Posted by Lenny

Quiting/Changing anythings requires a decision...

Not a "want" to,,not "I'm going to try", not "I'll think about it",,and so on...but a decision.

If this is something that you truly desire,,,then as Nike so decidedly states..."Just Do It"...

IMHO.

Lenny

Easier said than done. I wish I had your strength to do it.

Originally Posted by MyBestKids2

Oh dear Lenny, if only if it was that easy. Coffee and cigs are my only vice yet!

I don't have the coffee vice, but what about diet coke? With all that aspartame, yuk...

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by MyBestKids2

Oh dear Lenny, if only if it was that easy. Coffee and cigs are my only vice yet!

It is a lot easier than you think,,,once you decide...

It is the uncertainty that keeps all roads open..when YOU limit your choices to one..your commitment to that one is all you have.

I wish I could share the importance of decisions vs. self deception.

If I was a doctor and was in your presence and looked at you directly in your eyes and told you that these things were killing you and that if you didn't stop very soon you would die a horrible death...

You would stop...because your denial would no longer work for you ...

Pretend I am...

With care,

Lenny

[StarPonysMama]

Well, what can I say? Look at my ticker.

I've tried before with gum and cold turkey. This time I used the State Of Florida's program through the quitline. Come to find out it's actually done through the American Cancer Society.

I got all 3 phases of patches free, I'm now on phase two.

And you won't believe me when I say this but......it's really not all that hard. And just like anything else, give it time, and you will start to smell the stench that smoking gives. You'll be glad you no longer smoke.

I certainly don't miss it now and although I could still smoke a cigarette as tall as a georgia pine - I wont, because I know the effect it has on me.

If you really want to decide to quit and that's what you really want to do......then check around and see if there are any programs in your area. I visited www.tobaccofreeflorida.org and got my info. Support does definitely help and they give you TOOLS to help you quit, continuous counseling, and a lot of support.

It's worked for me thus far!

Originally Posted by StarPonysMama

Well, what can I say? Look at my ticker.

I've tried before with gum and cold turkey. This time I used the State Of Florida's program through the quitline. Come to find out it's actually done through the American Cancer Society.

I got all 3 phases of patches free, I'm now on phase two.

And you won't believe me when I say this but......it's really not all that hard. And just like anything else, give it time, and you will start to smell the stench that smoking gives. You'll be glad you no longer smoke.

I certainly don't miss it now and although I could still smoke a cigarette as tall as a georgia pine - I wont, because I know the effect it has on me.

If you really want to decide to quit and that's what you really want to do......then check around and see if there are any programs in your area. I visited www.tobaccofreeflorida.org and got my info. Support does definitely help and they give you TOOLS to help you quit, continuous counseling, and a lot of support.

It's worked for me thus far!

:Good-Post:Thanks for your post!

I liked your ticker and since I've decided to quit, I got one myself. Temporarily it will just be in my blog but when I have achieved my first goal, I will put it as my signature just like you. Hope you don't mind

I'm gonna try to quit using the nicotine gum (I'm already chewing it!). I don't know if there is a program to quit where I live... I will have to check that out.

To see that someone has tried and been successful certainly makes me feel like I can do it too.

I wish you the best!!

[Cmara]

On the 18th of this month it will be six months since I have had a cigarette. I use to smoke a pack a day for about 20 years. I had my own personal reasons for quitting. And believe me, I had tried so many times before that I thought I would always be a smoker. I know that people who don't smoke don't get exactly how tough it is to quit. There are things I miss about it everyday. I know it sounds crazy, but I love the smell when someone just lights up. I recently walked up to a complete stranger and asked him if he could just blow the smoke in my face. (I know....I'm sick). But, on the other hand I was standing in the post office today and someone was standing behind me that had the "stale" smoke smell. It almost made me sick. The patches worked the best for me. I did all three levels, and continued to use them until I was ready to go without one. I carry one in my purse to this day just in case I am too triggered. There is also another thing that looks like a fake cigarette that you put filters in I think. I didn't think the filter things worked, but I loved carrying the fake cigarette around. It gave me something to do with my hands. There are online support forums just like this one. I think if you look under the American Cancer Society or go to www.nicoderm.com you will find one. Good luck to all of you who want to quit.....YOU CAN DO IT!

Cmara

[trippinmickey]

The way i look at it I have a mental illness (Bipolar) Smoking is the least of my problems .My whole life is dictated by what stage of cycling im in . I learned from past mistakes that drinking or doing drugs will stop my meds. from working and make me completely nuts! I dont think i know anyone with a mental illness who dose not smoke and drink coffee. I dont have many things of which Im in control of. My meds. tell me when I can get up and when I can go to sleep My bipolar tells me what I can do and where I can go that day and how I should feel wether I like it or not .But smoking i control do i smoke one or 3 pack its my choice .

[bluevixen]

hi i just want to say i quit 6/27 and i was doing real good and last friday was real bad so i bought a pack of smokes...the worst mistake i have ever made....i got the patches again and i'm trying to quit again...what helped me the first time was sunflower seeds...brushing teeth alot...lemon drops from walgreens(best kind)...something about the lemon that takes the craving away...i chewed on straws..the craves only last about five mins..anytime you wanna talk just pm me....hugs

Originally Posted by Cmara

On the 18th of this month it will be six months since I have had a cigarette. I use to smoke a pack a day for about 20 years. I had my own personal reasons for quitting. And believe me, I had tried so many times before that I thought I would always be a smoker. I know that people who don't smoke don't get exactly how tough it is to quit. There are things I miss about it everyday. I know it sounds crazy, but I love the smell when someone just lights up. I recently walked up to a complete stranger and asked him if he could just blow the smoke in my face. (I know....I'm sick). But, on the other hand I was standing in the post office today and someone was standing behind me that had the "stale" smoke smell. It almost made me sick. The patches worked the best for me. I did all three levels, and continued to use them until I was ready to go without one. I carry one in my purse to this day just in case I am too triggered. There is also another thing that looks like a fake cigarette that you put filters in I think. I didn't think the filter things worked, but I loved carrying the fake cigarette around. It gave me something to do with my hands. There are online support forums just like this one. I think if you look under the American Cancer Society or go to www.nicoderm.com you will find one. Good luck to all of you who want to quit.....YOU CAN DO IT!

Cmara

Congratulations because you have managed to don't smoke in so many months! I feel happy for you .
I know exactly what you mean when you say you love the smell when someone just lights up. It's a smell I love too .
I am trying the chewing gum and its working, well kind of, I'm still not smoke free but have reduced the amount of cigarettes considerably. I just have to remember to chew more gum to be completely free of it.
I already went to http://www.nicorette.com/ and saw the support program they offer there. It feels nice to have the support quit smoking. I am even going to receive a free package of their gum.

Thank you for wishing us luck... hope we can do it!

Originally Posted by trippinmickey

The way i look at it I have a mental illness (Bipolar) Smoking is the least of my problems .My whole life is dictated by what stage of cycling im in . I learned from past mistakes that drinking or doing drugs will stop my meds. from working and make me completely nuts! I dont think i know anyone with a mental illness who dose not smoke and drink coffee. I dont have many things of which Im in control of. My meds. tell me when I can get up and when I can go to sleep My bipolar tells me what I can do and where I can go that day and how I should feel wether I like it or not .But smoking i control do i smoke one or 3 pack its my choice .

I completely understand what you are saying. I used to think that way too, but when the cigs. started to make me cough all the time, I could not avoid thinking of the damage I am doing to myself. 'Cause cigs. give people cancer and I don't know if I could be one of them. That's something I would not like to experience. And as you say it, you control if you smoke 1 or 3 packs, I wish I could say I control if I smoke or don't. I prefer don't!

Originally Posted by bluevixen

hi i just want to say i quit 6/27 and i was doing real good and last friday was real bad so i bought a pack of smokes...the worst mistake i have ever made....i got the patches again and i'm trying to quit again...what helped me the first time was sunflower seeds...brushing teeth alot...lemon drops from walgreens(best kind)...something about the lemon that takes the craving away...i chewed on straws..the craves only last about five mins..anytime you wanna talk just pm me....hugs

I'm so sorry you smoked again, but if you managed to quit one time and to stay that way for some time... I think you can do it again. For what I see, the patches are a nice method... but I will stick to the chewing gum, and if that fails, then I'll go for the patches.
Thank you for all the suggestions of how to cut the craves , and to letting me PM you .
Hugs to you too!!

[Cmara]

Hey Cat Eyes, thanks for the well wishes! I appreciate it! I am so happy that you are trying the gum. I say go for anything that works. Take it slow and have faith in yourself that you CAN do it! I know it's hard. And, I know that some people probably can't do it.

Trippin Mickey, I totally understand where you are coming from. You're right....it is your choice. And if it's working for you amidst your troubles - than do what you want to do.

Blue Vixen, I am sorry that you lapsed. I did it many times in the past. If it's what you want then please get back on the horse and give it another go. We all just have to do what we feel in our hearts, and go at our own speed. I have even made it through a very stressful family medical crisis without smoking. It's been hard. I miss it everyday, but I feel completely free!

[CrazyTinkerbell]

My therapist told me not to quit smoking yet. She said it'll only make what I'm going through with my bipolar worse. Now I have an excuse not to quit GREAT!! lol. Good Luck to all that are doing it.