Substitute

[Pawr]

I read that the highest percentage of long term success is quitting cold. I'm not sure about that. What about using drugs, gum or vaping? I have smoked a long time and need some help. Thanks

[beazel]

I quit cold turkey this time.

In the past I have tried EVERYTHING from hypnosis to patches to gum to etc........

None were easy - for me. There is not now and probably never will be a magic pill or potion.

You have to be committed to put in the work to become a nonsmoker.

Education about the addiction - important.

Mindset & positive attitude - important.

Belonging to & being active in a support group forum - important.

Take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time - important. (don't think too far ahead!)

If you are feeling in danger of giving in - reach out to us, let us help you off that cliff - very important.

And the absolute most important (in my quit anyway).......

Smoking Is Not An Option.................EVER

We are here for you, we understand exactly what you are going through.

We believe in you and very soon you will believe in yourself. 

You can and will achieve your sticky quit this time & never have to go through this again!!

[Barbscloud]

Nothing wrong with using NRT to get some help.  The important thing is the end result - quitting smoking.  I used Welbutrin and nicotrol inhalers this time along with the support from this community.   No matter what you choose, the important piece is to educate yourself about nicotine addiction and prepare for your quit.  That's where this site can really make a difference.  There's a wealth of information here and all the support you need to be successful. 

Understanding the process has made all the difference for me this time.

Barb

272DOF 

[marciem]

Pawr‌...

For starters, basically I quit what I call "Cool Turkey".... I started with patches, but after four days I joined a support group and was told by several people that I didn't need patches to quit.  I accepted that challenge, and quit using the patch, while giving myself permission to slap one of those puppies on if I came to a "kill someone or smoke" crossroads.  I came close to that, but it never happened, and after a few intense days of withdrawal, I started learning how to live smoke-free.  It wasn't easy, by any means, but turns out very simple... "Don't put things in your mouth and light them on fire" as my friend said many times.

OK, my story told, at this point most of the nicotine has left your body, your receptors are shriveling up and going to sleep.  Re-introducing nicotine will serve no purpose but to waken those receptors, you've already gone through the worst of the physical withdrawals.  Its a habitual/behavioral/psychological (call it what you will) process now, of un-learning old behaviors and mindsets, and working on building new ones.

As beazel‌ said above, you've got most of the important things outlined for you, and it looks like you're putting them in your toolkit.  You have already gone "cold turkey" so turning back should not be an option.  You're reading and educating yourself, you belong to a support group, and I'm sure you're working on your mindset also.  

Patience with the process is necessary.  You're doing exactly what you need to do, i.e. not smoking, reading and writing at your support group as needed, and learning about this addiction as you overcome it.

Keep up the good work!!

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

There are as many opinions about what works best for quitting as there are idiots in this world!  If an NRT has worked for you for the past week - stick with it.    Most of the studies done about success rates have been done by a group that has skin in the game, so it's difficult to know what is accurate.  I don't know what you are using, so it's hard for me to give advice about lowering the dose over time and then getting off of it. 

The 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. You can search for it online or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
 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, quitsmoking.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.

 If you are using gum, lozenges or an inhaler, be careful not to sub one  for every cigarette you used to smoke.  You will then just be trading one addiction for another. Use them only as a last resort after you have employed all of the other tools in your kit.   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 in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  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.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. 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

[AnnetteMM]

If you've read all of the above, you know there's no one perfect answer. Frustrating right? All we have are our own experiences. 

I hated all the NRTs. Gums and lozenges were gross. Patches made me ill. I loved vaping, and could easily have kept doing that forever...so, CAUTION! Vaping helped me "quit" some of the habits, like buying and carrying cigarettes, lighters, etc. I didn't have ashtrays in the house for awhile. Then I had to stop buying the vape materials. Also, I threw away the actual vape equipment.

So that's my story. Basically, it was cold turkey but after switching nicotine delivery systems.

[elvan]

I quit cold turkey or smart turkey...to be honest, it was half dead turkey.  I have nothing against nicotine replacement or anything that helps someone quit.  I waited until the decision was made FOR me...it was either smoke or breathe and there were no compromises.  It's really surprising how much value breathing takes on when we get really sick.  I had been sick before, I had always gotten better and convinced myself that it wasn't that bad...my denial was that strong and I repeatedly went back to smoking.  When I was able to read the blogs on this site and I was able to learn from the people who had gone before me and even those who came after me or at the same time as me...I was able to see this as an entirely different thing.  It is a journey and it really is one day at a time or, in my case, it was one emotion at a time...all of those emotions that I should have learned to deal with as an adolescent.  Here I was, in my 60's with the emotional maturity of a 17 year old and not even a particularly mature 17 year old.  I have learned so much in my over 4 1/2 year quit and there is no way that I could have done it without this site and every single person who I have been blessed to "meet."

We are here for you, we have likely all been exactly where you are, if not, we can certainly relate to you in some way.  Hang on and please believe me when I tell you that it WILL get easier.  It takes time and sometimes one day at a time is too long and we have to cut it back to one experience or one feeling at a time.  The only rule is...DON'T SMOKE, NO MATTER WHAT.  Not One Puff Ever...NOPE!  One puff will get you back to the beginning and maybe even a bit behind it.  We all want you to succeed, no one and nothing can do this for you...but we sure can make it easier.

Best to you,

Ellen

[Gwenivere]

I use NRT because I know a cold quit would not have worked.  First goal - no smoke.  It is insane to put something.to your mouth, light it in fire and inhale it.   My.withdrawl will be drawn out, but I can only echomwhat everyone has said, whatever works except cigarettes.  I don’t want to inhale anything anymore but air.  I hope to become nicotine free someday.  But one goal at a time.  The NRT might draw it out, but I want to succeed.  After 40:plus years of smoking, it going to take time to undo no matter which route is chosen.  I guess all you can do is try oneorvthe other and see how you react.  You have options.  And lots of support people at your fingertips,thats something to be grateful for.  I’ve frustrated people here, and yet they help.  It’s priceless.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

The patch is best in my opinion because you don't get in the habit of getting nicotine every time you think of smoking.

YOU TRUST THE PATCH. Pick the dosage closest to the number of cigarettes you were smoking just before you quit.

Figure out a way to replace the dopamine. I played guitar 10 hours a day my first two weeks. Music, exercise, anything that causes a dopamine release other than driving off a cliff or robbing a bank.   

[JMcK3]

Don't feel bad about using a NRT if it helps you to reach your goal! I used the patch this last (and final) time around and it was a big help. It takes the edge off while you are trying to learn to live without smoking. I only used the highest patch for a week, then stepped down to 14 mg for 2 weeks, then 7 mg for 2 weeks, then done! Kept a calendar on my fridge to cross off each day so I could visually see my progress. The box tells you it takes several months of patches but that's not necessarily the case with everyone. I also used an app on my phone called Smoke Free that tracks all your daily achievements (how much money you are saving, how many days of life you have regained, etc). Most important, tho, is to educate yourself, as everyone here tells you. For me, it was the fear of quitting that sabotaged my attempts in the past. I thought I would never be able to survive without a smoke! But once I understood how addiction can twist your thoughts and actions, I was able to fight it--and it will be 2 years, next month! This site was my most important source of information, advice and support-- so read, read, read! And Good Luck--you can do it!!