False starts

Tell me about it Allan Carr’s book taught me about the nicotine trap. My cravings are manageable

My mind plays tricks and gets me to smoke another

Basically the message is that you some the next cigarette to satisfy that empty insecure feeling the last cigarette caused

The nicotine trap is slavery. Cigarette companies market a product that once you start they have you trapped possibly for life, we pay for the privilege in the most horrible of ways, health scares, wasted money etc.. the perfect trap

My habit costs just over $20,000 a year how embarrassing

Hey Karasco, It sounds like you need to stop what your doing and start again I can only recommend Nicoteen replacement therapy Its worked for me and I cant say it will work for you, however, I haven't had a smoke for nearly 1 month and I was a heavy smoker as well and did so for over 35 yrs and Think I'm a fairly Intelligent Individual, we all are . Our brain is a very complexed organ but its also easily confused, by consuming nicotine with patches your mind thinks your still smoking and so your body doesn't experience withdrawal the way you do after not having had a cigarette so it enables you to go longer and longer and get stronger and stronger as long as you are aware of your triggers such as stress, alcohol whatever causes you to want to light up and have a plan for when you do I'm using patches as a baseline to keep a level of nicotine in my system 2 months ago I started with 21mg Patches and I use a Quick Mist spray for extra relief only in times of stress or whenever I feel like a smoke today. How I started was with a strategy that over 4 weeks I would stop and I did. I worked it out that over the first week I would try to go at least 1 Hour between a smoke, then on the second week 2 Hrs between a smoke then on the Third week 3 hours between a smoke and finally by the fourth week I was able to go 4 Hours and by the Fifth week I was able to stop altogether. Remember to apply your patches regularly and if possible remove before going to bed at night as they tend to give you weird dreams because while your body rests and you sleep your mind keeps going and tends to become overactive. Remember the nicotine is feeding your brain and stopping your body from withdrawal if you awaken thru the night find something to eat or have a protein shake instead of a smoke and you should be able to go back to sleep and have a peaceful nights rest. Remember that your mind needs to be tricked into line so on the fifth week get rid of all your ashtrays and anything associated with smoking or at least take them outside so you cant see or smell them (Out Of Sight Out Of Mind)and the Demons will begin to disappear. From what you've told me you can go 2 or 3 days without a smoke if you can do that you should have no problems doing this for 1 Day at a time as you get used to it and Remember to keep your mind distracted and productive, whilst your mind is active and focused on what your doing you try to keep your hands going you will find your thinking less and less about having a smoke, Celebrate each day you go without it and reward yourself somehow, I hope you give this a go and keep in touch as I will be looking forward to knowing what you are thinking and am only too happy to help with anything you have trouble with, Cheers Ron

Ron, Thanks for the feedback and providing me with your strategy to stop.

NRT has never worked for me and I prefer to not use NRT.

My issue is that I can deal with the cravings (the little nicotine monster - the physical cravings), it the big monster that gets me all the time, the psychological cravings, "go on just one more". Then that one more satisfies that empty insecure feeling, caused by the previous cigarette and then it tricks me into having another to satisfy the effects of the previous cigarette (empty insecure feeling casued by the last one).

Nictonine has enslaved me, I make solemn promises, throw away full packets etc.. and then light up, become dissapointed and start all over again.

Causing me issues at work with concentration, time watching, broken promises to family members etc....

Like all of us I wish I never wanted to be part of the "boys" and light up and end up signing a contract with the nicotine monster "till death do us part".

I will continue until I quit only to get hooked for life.

I have stopped many times. This is the last time. I have been listtening to Alan Carrs book over and over again as I know there are no logical reasons to smoke.

Have to make a list of the positive things, and a list of things to do instead of smoking, when the wanting hits .

I will beat that nicotine monster and not be a slave anymore and contribute to the cogarette companies ill gotten gains.

Red & Weewillem thanks for the comments.

On my way to another quit attempt, revist Allen Carr's book once again, his method makes sense

This site has heaps of valuable information

http://whyquit.com/ffn/index.html

Never give up on giving up. You can do it!

Learn from past quit attempts. Plan it out. Stay determined. Tell yourself. "No i do not need that cigarette". It gets easier with time.

Good luck!

I've always believed you are what you reap if you Keep telling yourself you're a slave, you will be. Where only as happy as we make up our minds to be If you keep telling yourself your trapped you will be, Tell yourself you have broken free and you will be Free. Ron