Smoker needs help to stop ...

Hello,
I'm new to this ~ have visited the site many times but could now do with some advice myself ~ I am a smoker and have tried very hard to stop (hypnosis, Allen Carr, patches, gum and inhalator, etc) nothing has worked. The doc said I had a good heart and that smoking isnt the reason for my pacemaker, however I'm not daft enough to think it doesn't affect things. I think I'm going t give hypnosis one mor go ~ tried the pills that are supposed to stop all cravings etc. but had very bad reaction to this ~ does anyone else here smoke? Anyone any idea's? Consciously I know it's such a bad habit, but subcons., I can't stop ............ any thoughts ~ ideas much appreciated, Pacman.

9 Comments

DONT HURRY

by pete - 2009-01-19 01:01:20

To stop smoking sucessfully takes time. Buy a sharp craft knife. Cut off 5mm from the end of the cigarette and bin it. Smoke the rest. Each month increase the amount you cut off by another 5mm. So on and so forth so whats left isnt worth smoking. If it does not work start again only cutting off 3mm. Cheers Peter

quitting smoking....

by maryanne - 2009-01-19 01:01:54

First let me commend you for taking the first step...that being deciding that you want to quit smoking. Some statistics say that it can take a person up to 5 -7 attempts to quit smoking before they are successful. So don't give up.

I use to smoke. I quit 8 years ago. I had quit for period of times when I was pregnant with my children...but I eventually went back to smoking.

Like you I tried a variety of methods to quit....I didn't want to gain weight. But then I thought it's better to quit gain the weight...I can lose the weight. What really worked for me was that I just came to the point in my life where I felt smoking was a ball a chain. It was becoming so socially unacceptable. I would spend most of my coffee breaks trying to get to the designated smoking area...wondering when I could have another cigarrette...I found it was controlling my life...and finally I decided that I didn't want that. I bought myself those patches....I used the smallest dose...I only used those for 2weeks and I never turned back. Another factor for me was the timing of when I quit. My youngest daughter had been diagnosed with cancer and I thought how on earth could I smoke when my child is going through this. That was a huge movtivator for me.

I truly believe...nothing works unless you are convinced you want to quit....all the drugs, patches, and hynosis won't work unless you are committed to make it work. It's hard....take one day at a time....tell youself...today I won't smoke...or if that is to much...say I won't have a smoke until lunch time....then extend that time..and say I won't have a cigarette until after dinner....play a game with yourself. Most importantly...believe in yourself and tell yourself you can do this!

I am rooting for you.....cheers....

Mary Anne

well said

by jessie - 2009-01-19 04:01:29

maryanne i was like you. i did not smoke for the pregnancies and then took it up again. i really believe that i was at a place where it was no longer something i wanted to do. i did not use aids this time and i just knew i would have to suffer whatever it took to get me there. so i became mentally prepared to feel the cravings but knew they would pass and they do quickly. so keep trying pacman. you will get there. it is something i do not miss at all. the smell of it alone and now when i think i put benzine into my body yuck.......well we lived in the chemical valley for many years and so once we moved out of it no more benzine for me. lol take care and goodluck. maureen aka jessie

Thanks

by Pacman - 2009-01-19 06:01:14

All this advice is great and I didn't expect to hear half of it ~ the idea from Pete ~ never thought of that and it could work ~ Maryanne your so right, you all are and I'm very grateful you took time to respond to me. I'm at the stage where out of the 10 I smoke, I probably only enjoy 1 of them, its ridiculous ~ and very anti social sometimes I actually feel 'shame' ~ thank you all ~ will keep you posted ~ I wish someone sold 'will power' .... the thinking cap has gone on guys!

Patches have worked for me

by Stumpy - 2009-01-19 08:01:30

for the last 6 weeks. I have had some cravings, but so far I can control them.

Best of luck, anyway.

pacman

by jessie - 2009-01-19 08:01:45

it did not take me will power. my decision was made that no matter what i was once 19 smoke free and i wanted to be again. call it will power but honestly it was easy for me once i had decided that no matter what came my way happy or stressful i would not be using nicotine ever again. i was done. it was almost relaxing for me. my daughter smokes and she smoked this summer by our pool and i never wanted to smoke.noone can smoke in my house but other than that fine outside no problem.i hope this has helped. 12 steps too would be good.good luck jessie pacman i loved the game . one summer i played it nonstop at a lodge. jessie

Chantix

by Pacman - 2009-01-19 11:01:00

Hi Angelie,
Yes I tried the Chantix ~ got tunnel vision and sensory shut temporarily ~ very frightening and was advised by doc to stop immediately! That was then my last hope but now I'm not so negative and am going to try hypnosis another time ~ because I want to stop and know how bad it is, I think it might work better if I try again.
Thanks for response, your right and I wih your husband much luck in his attempts .....
Pacman

Have you tried Chantix?

by Angelie - 2009-01-19 11:01:16

Chantix combines a phone/online support group WITH medication.
It blocks the nicotine receptors in your brain. My husband smoked for 30 years and quit by taking Chantix. It worked so well that he got over confident that after the recommended 12 weeks, he felt like he had kicked the habit and stopped taking the pills. Needless to say, he started smoking again, and now he really can't stop. I don't think he ever will.... :(
But I know that first hand, Chantix helped him quit - if only he would have stayed with the program and didn't get all cocky- I believe he would be a non-smoker today.
I have had read depression risks while takibng Chantix, but everyone responds to drugs differently, and my husband never experienced any side effects from the Chantix.
I wish you the very best luck in your attempts at quitting. IT IS POSSIBLE !!!!! YOU CAN do it.
I quit cold turkey by using a "mental" 12 step program in my head. I said to myself if I smoked then I wouldn't get my coin. LOL! I used positive mental reinforcements, and also the negative like the physical damage I'm doing to mine and other people's lungs, bad breath, and horrible smoke smell on my my clothes.
When it comes down to it, it really is MIND over MATTER.
One day at a time tell yourself that you are NOT going to smoke that day. Take each day one step at a time. Try not to tackle the world in one day. Baby steps. Before long, if you take one day and one challenge at a time....you will have a week behind you, then a month, and then 2 months, and so on. After a couple of months, after going through all of what you've accomplished why would you want a cigarette only to start the quitting process all over again?
As seeing with my husband, quitting this second time around has been 50 times worse than the first time- but don't give up. YOU CAN DO IT.

pacman

by jessie - 2009-01-19 12:01:48

hello. this is jessie. i quit a few days before my pacemaker in 2006. i knew that that was it for me. i was also willing to put up with the cravings as it goes. now i seldom crave one and if i do it passes quickly. i dreamed one night i was smoking. it was so real and when i woke up i felt like i did when i smoked. i would never have quit had i never became ill. i had used everything available and it was when i was willing to go through whatever it was i had to to quit that i did. i will never go back now . it was a miracle i was able to quit and i am staying quit. jessie

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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