giving up smoking!
 

would just like some advice really on giving up smoking. im getting really fed up of this bad habit and i am quite addicted to it. i keep saying i will cut down first, but that doesnt seem to be working! should i just try and go cold turkey? i like making my roll ups too, so its not just smoking i have gotten into the habit of. has anyone successfully stopped? any quirky ideas on what i could replace it with would be appreciated too!

Erm, I've never quit successfully so I'm not much use, but I know practice nurses are VERY happy for you to make an appointment with them and they can run through all the nicotine-replacement options with you. There's also the Quit Smoking Helpline, who are pretty proactive.

The hardest thing for me about giving up smoking, apart from a slight nicotine addiction (if there is such a thing as a 'slight' one!) is what to replace the whole action of inhaling and exhaling and taking a break. I figured that if I wanted a cigarette, I'd go through the process of making a cup of tea and sit outside with it (weather permitting) to get a change of environment and also go through the process of making something soothing.

Apparently the addiction bit lasts only for a few days (I might be wrong) and you are considered a non-smoker after you've been free for a month. I made it to three weeks before caving - because it's my response to stress. So if you're the same, it might be better to come up with a different way of responding to bits of stress.

I quit for a couple of months earlier this year, sadly I restarted a little while ago so hopefully I don't sound hypocritical here >.<

I went to a local quit smoking service, which was brilliant help as I really couldn't do it cold turkey! Perhaps visit your doctors and see if they have a service like that in your area? I was able to get a lot of patches/inhilators through prescription which made them much cheaper (well, free for me because I'm in Scotland but much cheaper anyway.)
I couldn't have done it without the aids. I tried cold turkey and lasted three days. I tried cutting down and that just didn't work either. I think wuiting is a trial and error process. You've just got to find a method that works for you.
Hope I helped a bit, take care

Thank you for the responses and experiences. I think i will be making an appointment with the practice nurse!

Hey!
I'm quitting smoking too, it's been just over 2 months now for me. I used to smoke rollies too, I definitely miss their taste :\ but overall I feel so much better physically AND mentally (it was my last addiction to break).
:D
Do you have a smartphone? I downloaded this great app for android called 'Quit Now' and it tells me how much money I've saved, keeps track of the days I've quit for and has achievements to win based on how long I've quit for (as a gamer, the achievement system helps me a lot haha :p). I've found it to be really helpful with maintaining the willpower to quit, so I'd suggest getting it or something similar if you do own a smartphone or something..

Congrats on deciding to quit, I'm sure you'll feel much better after nicotine's well and truly out of your system :)

I stopped smoking roughly a year and a half ago. I saw my practice nurse as part of the stop smoking service at my GP practice. She prescribed nicotine patches, and I used them whilst going cold turkey from cigarettes (you need to because if you smoke and use nicotine replacement therapy then you end up taking in too much nicotine and feeling ill). I found the patches helpful, as well as talking to her, but at the end of the day it's still down to you and your willpower!

Thanks guys =] You have both done really well! I will have a look on the apps part of my phone to see if i can find anything roughly similar. Im seeing the nurse later on today so I am hoping she will prescribe me something. I went to the stop smoking service before but I wasn't ready to stop then. I want to stop now though. I've realised what a horrible habbit it is and just how bad it is for your health. Im a bit scared though that i might start eating loads once I quit :/ but at least i will be able to excercise more!

My Mum was an NHS smoking counsellor type person and as well as nicotine replacement options a good nurse will also run through ideas of how to beat cravings. For example keeping your hands busy. If rolling is a big part of it for you then rolling a piece of paper, or playing with blue tack might help. Some people also find it soothing to suck on something like a lolly or to chew licorice or carrots or chewing gum - choosing low fat/low sugar foods when you are craving a ciggie will help satisfy the craving without you gaining too much weight. Any weight you do gain at first you will probably lose later on.

If you smoke rollies the inhalator might be better than the patches, because you have to open it and put the bits inside and then put it back together, it's kind of like rolling a cigarette. I managed to quit for quite a while on it, but then started again because I got into a row with someone I was working with who was a bit of an idiot... but that's another story :P Also the cravings seem to come in three's, the third day, week and month are the hardest, don't know why!

Bear's right, the inhaler worked well for me too.

Thanks, I'm using nicorette gum which seems to be helping =] But i probably still will look into the inhaler. Bit upset that I'm eating more in the evenings but I'm sure that will level out after a while :)

The inhaler is a good idea, its worked for most people I know that have tried it.

Might sound silly but every time you feel really strong cravings put the money you would spend on cigarettes in a money pot and save up, once you get to a milestone go out a buy yourself a treat :) That's what I did, now I have some lovely Hollister clothes lol.

Good luck!

my friend has stopped smoking for i think its 12 weeks now, she uses the inhaler and the patches, and lots of willpower!
she is very happy that she has more money to spend on other things now :)

Good luck with quitting :)
x

My friend quit smoking a couple of months ago and said the book 'Allen Carr's Easy Way to stop smoking' is amazing.

I'd second saving the money and setting milestones to treat yourself.

Good luck! :)

Lol, I spent one night drifting off to sleep imagining all the money i would save and all the things i could get! It was nice =] I lasted a day and a half =[ and then something pissed me off and i went and bought tobacco and now it has snow balled and im chain smoking again. I think Im going to have to make an appointment with the stop smoking service again as they were going to give me patches and the inhaler. Also, I need to keep myself more occupied for this to ever work! Eurgh, I hate smoking! But, considering I am a heavy smoker, a day is good and has proven to me that I can do it when I'm in the right frame of mind.

Thanks for all the encouragement =]