How I started to stop
I had been smoking for 11 years before I eventually managed to quit smoking. I had attempted to quit a few times, but it didn't work out.
After starting my new job and finding a smoking buddy, we both decided it would be good to quit together, and give each other the support.
I started on Nicabate 24hr Patches. I wore one every day for work which was the easier part.It was the weekends that were the hardest.... knowing I'd be out with friends who drink and smoke etc. I still wore a patch when I went out, but I allowed myself to a smoke or two on the Friday/Saturday nights. And with that, I didn't go too hard on myself, because we all dread that time when we go out while trying to quit smoking.
After a few weeks of patches, and occasional weekend smoking, things got easier. My friends knew I was trying to quit, and would make fun of me for giving in to my addiction, so that helped me stay strong, and eventually I did not smoke at all on the weekends, though I still wore my patches.
As I hit the 2month mark of "starting to quit" I forgot to put on a patch for my work day.. It was my first day without any assistance to quit smoking, and it was a lot easier than I thought.. it was 3rd October 2011, and I have been counting the nicotine free days from that day.
With every month that passes, I feel better and better.. and the will power gets stronger because I don't want to ruin my great progress. I occasionally have dreams where I give into the smoking temptation and ruin my streak. These dreams can get very vivid and I can feel the heavy disappointment, until I wake up and realise it was just a dream and a huge wave of relief passes through me.
To keep myself going, I post monthly updates on facebook, and the support from my friends and my boyfriend keep me proud of myself for coming so far, and not looking back.
It's been 11 months so far since I've had any nicotine.. and I am really looking forward to my first anniversary, and many more in the future.
Great story toshka. I have had those dreams also where I had a smoke and was cranky at myself for doing so till I woke up and realized it was just a dream - what a relief
I also took up some hobbies while I was trying to quit.. Healthy hobbies, that is....
I took up Latin dancing, it's quite the workout which also makes you feel healthy and not want a cigarette, and then I also joined a gym to repair my lungs :)
Good luck to you all, and I hope you have as much success as I do :)
Thank you for your post. How did you handle occasional weekend smoking without relapsing? Did you buy a packet or smoke OPs?
No, I never bought another pack packet since I started the patches.. I knew doing so would only end badly even for just one night...
I scabbed cigarettes from my friends.. it was only one or two in the night so they didn't mind so much.
Then the next day after the club/pub when I am at home, without any cigarettes, there wasn't any way for me to relapse because I still had my patches on and I wasn't with a social crowd, so there were no temptations to further give in to, if that makes sense.
I guess my advice for handling social events with smokers would be:
Wear a nicotine patch, and if you do decide it's too hard to go the whole night without touching a smoke, then set yourself a time during the event for when you can indulge once or twice (maybe somewhere in the middle of the outing, or at the beginning and at the end) and stick with that.
And I also strongly recommend using patches. They will help you more than you think.
Even though you should not smoke when you have a patch on, don't take it off when you do have a cigarette (as long as it's no more than a couple).. there will be times when you are halfway through the cigarette and you will start to fill like you've had too much nicotine intake, and you will want to get rid of the smoke before you even finish it.
I hope this helps!
Let me know if you have any more questions :)
Your post helps me. Because it offers a way of having a drag or 2 without feeling like a failure and throwing in the towel. I will take the tip of not buying a pack come what may.