Try, try, try again
I have made about 6 honest attempts to quit smoking. By honest, I mean full out quits, intending to never smoke again. I always said I could never quit cold turkey, but had never actually tried. So, in 2011, the first attempt, I wanted to quit to prove to myself that I couldn't go cold turkey. At least then I could really say I tried, and that it didn't work. I researched for days. I read Allen Carr's book. And I quit that day. With almost no effort whatsoever! I've always been the kind of person that rips patches off and lights up. Nrt really doesn't work for me. I've tried multiple methods of it. Nrt is like going from a pack and a half a day, to somebody lighting a cigarette and making you chase them around all day.
But anyway, I made it 2 weeks cold turkey. I felt great. I had read that smoking actually causes anxiety, and it's true. There is this physical calmness that comes with not smoking. I have always had this constant flow of adrenaline as a smoker, and it's odd to say that quitting took away the constant anger and stress. But then, apparently the relative I lived with felt bad that she was smoking around me, and would literally throw cigarettes at me. And it went downhill from there.
The next few times I tried to quit, that mental magic was gone, and I was an emotional wreck and didn't last a day. Then I found a hypnosis video, and the magic was back. I made it 5 days before the mind games kicked in. I started with noticing how great I felt. Then, my brain says "oh, but don't you remember that one time? Smoking isn't that bad". Then it's "I'm a non smoker now". "oh come on, you read the studies about smoking not actually causing lung cancer. " Maybe not, but definitely emphysema. "Yeah, well that'll be years from now, it's too late anyway, and what if quitting triggers lung cancer?" And on and on, and OMG just shut up already!
So, I'm back to square one. Physical withdrawal isn't the problem for me. The problem is the junkie thinking. I need to figure out how to ignore the monster, and stop obsessing over quitting. I completely overthink it every time. And the reverse psychology suck's. What do you do all day? How do you silence it? I'm not thinking that it's so horrible, usually I'm trying to emphasize how good I feel... So maybe I should just quit and forget about it? No researching, or anything...
I know the feeling I have tried to quit since my wedding day 15 years ago. Have tried cold turkey and hypnosis. It has taken me 5 years to get to a stage where I am over the cigarette. But giving it up 100% is hard.
However I found the problem for me was that it was a passifier I used for problem solving. I was on holidays and did not touch a cigarette for 4 weeks. Came back, got back into the work routine and straight back on them.
I then decided to put rules on myself to cut down. Such as no smoking at home, in the car, socially only if other smoker present in the group. This enabled me to cut down a lot and get to the stage where I don`t want it anymore. Have been off it for 8 days now. I have also increased my exercise activity to prevent me from putting on weight and wanting the urge for one. To be honest I have not felt like one since that day, which has been helped by not putting myself in the environment to want to have one. I suppose it is hard for you when you have a partner who smokes.
Another thing to try is when you get the urge pinch your ear lobe and repeat to yourself that "I am a non smoker and I don not smoke"..
Hi court09, I understand all that you have written as a smoker of 30 years plus I have been hypnotised, paid to attend Allen Carr clinic and used every nicotine product known to man. This time I used Champix 2 weeks before quitting and first 2 weeks of quit although it didn't suit me and t stopped on day 14 and went it alone. I am now on day 23 smoke free and it is getting easier although I did have to change my routine such as not going on patio for a coffee as it is a trigger. My partner smokes and even though it's outside I am struggling with the smell at the moment as couldn't smell it before and now dislike it. For me the main thing has been this time I know I have to succeed as every decade ticks by and still I'm at it and it's got to stop now or never, and I feel so strongly about it this time that I've convinced myself that it is my last shot at it ( crazy really) but so far it is working. All the best and Happy New Year to you.
This sounds so familiar court09. It's tough! My quit attempts have ranged along the same lines. I have made commitments and thought/believed that I was never going to smoke again after a couple of months and then BAM! The bottom line is, I don't want to poison my poor body anymore. It's screaming for help and I just keep on ignoring it. It's looked after me after all the torment I have put it through and now is the time to pay it back. I WANT to be healthy and live a long and happy life....smoke free. As from the 5th of January - hit the road Jack, and don't you come back no more! - I will NEVER put another poop stick in my mouth AGAIN!!
Hi Everybody! In a positive note, I just want to say that I am celebrating my quit it will be 5 months January 9. I am very proud of myself, and very happy. I went and saw my dentist few weeks ago, and updated my Medical Record from: smoker to non smoker. The change really feels good. My dentist is very happy with my quit. My doctor is happy too. My vitals is normal. My lab test normal. I take my quit one day at a time. Good luck to everybody! God bless!
Thanks everybody. I think also, that I need to acknowledge the craving for what it is, perceived stress, and let it pass. Usually I get this nagging feeling that something is missing, and I begin to obsess and let it consume me, until I am raging and cave. I need to acknowledge the craving in order to recognize when I need to apply new coping skills, if that makes sense. I plan to not think about not smoking when I quit, but I need to be prepared to have coping situations.
I have just joined this site and just about everybodys story here relates to mine. The addiction, the cravings, the feeling of losing control. I too paid to do Allen Carrs workshop (lasted one day), hypnosis (lasted 3 weeks) and many many more methods. I guess I have tried them all. I had a major health scare early last year, which meant a major operation. I did quit. As soon as I felt better...guess what. I literally cry when I think of my addiction. I hate this thing and what it does to me. If I dont stop it will definetly be an early grave for me. So I joined this site last night at work and am now getting inspired by all your comments. Thank you. I feel a weight lifted, and I now beleive I can finally do it. Happy NY non smokers!!
Hi All. I am 227 days smoke free! I am Almost 50 and started smoking at 17. I never thought I could do it but I have! I used champix. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Anyway, I just want to say, court09, that you need to stop trying to stop the thoughts that plague you and accept them for what they are, your mind chattering away. Just accept and allow those thoughts to be there while you continue to work towards your goal. After all you are not your thoughts..