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Give and get support around quitting

propster
Member

quit # i don't even know any more

So when Chantix doesn't work other than the wild dreams, your allergic to the cinnamon in nicorette gum,

acupuncture didn't work, it actually hurt"?

hypnosis worked for 11 days.

what do you try next?

13 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

My guess is that you used these products as a panacea and didn't educate yourself on the addiction, prepare, plan - and take steps ahead of time to help you succeed?  If so, we can help with all of that.  No product is going to quit FOR you - this takes effort and commitment on your part, as well.  I'm happy that you are still working at it - good for you!!!

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmokingonline.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested in My Quit Plan http://www.becomeanex.org/my-quit-plan.php

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.    Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

elvan
Member

YoungAtHeart‌ is right, you HAVE to educate yourself about this addiction and it IS an addiction, I suppose you have learned that by now.  I lost count of how many failed quits I had too...the difference THIS time came from reading, planning, and preparing.  I stayed close to this site, I did not use anything to replace the nicotine or to stop my craves, I learned that they would not kill me whereas cigarettes already had a good start.  I would read JonesCarpeDiem‌'s blog /blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months  I read that over and over again and I planned to quit, I had a "Quit Kit"...I tracked all of my cigarettes and what my triggers were and how strong they were, I PLANNED for what I would do instead of smoking when triggers occurred and triggers WILL occur.  Life is filled with good and bad moments, cigarettes do not fix anything, they just feed our addiction. 

You CAN do this!  On the Home Page, you can click on "My Quit Plan" and devise one and follow it.  NOTHING is going to quit FOR you, you have to be willing to put in the time and make the commitment.  We have ALL been where you are...that's how we established our quits.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

Try changing your mind. If you're gonna use an NRT you have to make them work.

5% NRT...95% you. They're not gonna quit for you.

Keep on keepin on,

M n @

Giulia
Member

When you say Chantix didn't work, acupuncture didn't work - what did you expect them to do?  Take away all cravings?  Unfortunately there is no magic bullet, nor wand that can be wafted to remove cravings.  There are quitting "aids" but they are only aids.  Quitting is a journey, not an event.  Cravings lessen over time and the only real cure IS time.   One has to hang in until something  changes.  And it WILL change.  That saying "You have to go THROUGH to get TO" is true.  Here's some reading that might help you think about quitting in a different way:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/30691-when-does-it-get-easy     /blogs/Giulia-blog/2011/06/07/the-point-of-no-return   I believe quitting is a skill that can be learned, just like any other skill.  It takes hard work, practice, dedication and perseverance.  Keep at it.  Success is just around the corner!

maryfreecig
Member

You try fellowship.

   With fellowship of quitters you get a chance to look at your addiction differently---here at Ex, quitting and recovery are the daily subjects. Nicotine addiction does not mean that one is helpless to change, but it does mean facing ones smoking head on. Coming here and talking as well as reading and learning about nicotine addiction might help you to clear away some obstacles in your way. 

   If all you are doing is abstaining from cigs and missing them (and I don't know if this is the case for you), then you would be better off focusing on your smoking--and focus on what you are telling yourself about smoking. 

   Quitting requires planning, and, in my opinion, support for many of us. But before quitting again, you have to have a very long discussion with yourself.

Recovery is the end goal. Fellowship helps with that.

   My two cents worth, no more. Take what you need leave the rest.

Daniela2016
Member

Everything had failed to help me too: the only thing left is to quit, how people like to call it here : "smart turkey".  The smart is educating yourself, be prepared, and all the tools have been given to you.  Start reading, writing, we'll be here to catch  you when you feel everything around you crumbles.  We've all been there, and we are all still here.  Craves come and go, and they never killed anyone.  Smoking has so MANY negative effects on our health, I can't even begin to make a list.  Just my own list would be too long and boring.

Do the right thing, stick with us, you'll be happy you did it!  You took the first step, start walking the freedom path with us:

prjimm01
Member

It is in your head, or it isn't.  NRT and other quitting aids only go so far.  the rest is in your head.  or it isn't.

Good luck.  Saving your life is worth a little discomfort.