Skip to content

So hard to quit

Posted in Getting started
By Deb1957
schedule 11 Feb 2021

Today is my first day of quitting smoking. I have smoked for over 40 years and I’m really scared. I have asthma and my lung function is decreasing. I’m 64 years old and I already feel like crying. I need support but live alone. I would love to hear other peoples stories. Oh yes I have a Nicotine Replacement Patch on and am planning on tapering down from 20 cigarettes per day to none. Did anyone else do this? May I ask how it went and how long did it take? How many smokes did you decrease and for how long? Thank you

By Gemma23
schedule 11 Feb 2021

Hi deb welcome.

Your in the right place to get started

Some advice better just to put your patch on after you have smoked your final ciggerate.

Cutting.down is so much harder because your waiting for that next ciggerate all day. So better just to smoke your final 1 and make that the last.you ever smoke.

You will have great support here on this site as I do. Best of luck.

By Peddie
schedule 11 Feb 2021

Hi Deb welcome, Good advice from Gemma23, do not smoke while using patch, nicotine overload, not wise. I smoked 36 years, stopped on two occasions for 6 months and 3 months, now I have reached the 9 month mark and enjoying the fact that I am an ex-smoker. The urge does come-and-go but I feel so much better, you are in control. It is never easy, but think of how many have stopped and enjoying the freedom to have no dependency on that little stick. I smell better, food tastes sooooo much better, I do not weaze at night and my coughing has reduced significantly. Keep it up, just think of today, today I will not have a smoke, and reward yourself with something.

schedule 11 Feb 2021

If you are on the patch, you are getting a steady dose of nicotine. The problem is that your body has become accustomed to that great jolt of dopamine that give us such pleasure on the first couple of drags. When you realize that smoking itself did not make you feel good, but ending the craving or desire for nicotine did. We only kept smoking (addicted) to relieve the cravings it itself caused. We can get a jolt of dopamine in more natural "feel good" ways. Hugs, kisses, love, chocolate, smelling lavendar and best of all EXERCISE. Learning is also a great one too. We get satisfaction from learning new things. We take pleasure in accomplishment. We take pride in quitting smoking.

Learn to enjoy quitting smoking and looking forward to the freedom acquired once you do. There is much more to fear if you should continue to smoke, but that threat doesn't work. You have to find the DESIRE to quit. Remember that you are losing nothing and gaining everything! No one ever wished they could be a smoker.

If you click on my name above, read my story "Never Give Up Giving Up" about how to look at a cigarette when you are smoking. Make smoking something that you do not WANT to do. Cutting back was the hardest part, so i said ENOUGH and went cold turkey. Much easier to my way of thinking. Dive in don't wade in . Has anyone enjoyed wading in? Torture. Don't say good-bye over and over missing a friend that is leaving. Think, it's time to move on and look towards the future! That change in the way of thinking will make all the difference in your journey ahead.

In your travels and getting dopamine while learning, you might also find my stories with links to Allen Carr. Everyoone would benefit greatly by reading it. You can quit smoking!

schedule 13 Feb 2021

Hello Deb1957 just take it one day at a time and say you are not going to smoke today, the more smoke free days you got under your belt the better and more empowered you will feel, hold on to that feeling of amazement for each day under your belt and how amazing that is. I'm on day 7, and can't believe how lucky I've been to change my mind about smoking and just go with that.

By Lia
schedule 13 Feb 2021

Hi Deb1957. Welcome to the quitters club. Totally agree with above comments. Whats more after nearly 6 years quit and $52600 saved from the ash tray I can breathe easy. Like you I was 64 when I saw the light and decided enough was enough. Quit cold turkey. Was half way through a carton of Dunhill Blue and half way through a duty free packet of Davidoff. After 6 years I reckon I should put them on eBay... A carton cost $196 when I stopped. It now costs over $376. I would have gone broke long ago if I had not woken up to what I was doing to my health and my bank account. Can only wish for success for you.

By Lia
schedule 13 Feb 2021

PS: No smoking when you have patches. You could have a heart attack. Total overload of nicotine. Dangerous!

By Peddie
schedule 15 Feb 2021

Hi Deb1957, how you doing? One week smoke free I hope.

By Shower
schedule 22 Feb 2021

Hi iam the same as u at the age of 60been smoking for 45 yrs but I haven’t had a smoke for nearly 3 months iam taking champix only one a day as two are to much u can do it I will never go back