Cold Turkey or NRT

[Barbscloud]

Is it really necessary to have this debate about cold turkey or NRT every time there's someone new?  Many on this site (and in the world) have been successfully used NRT to quit.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don't think it's fair to individuals contemplating quitting and they're told adamantly (by some) that NRT  doesn't work, you'll become addicted, etc.  If I had read some of these posts when I first joined, I probably would not have stayed.  And, would not be a non-smoke today.  I do have to wonder if it's made some feel like there's something wrong with them that they need or choose an aid. The goal is the same for all us and we can choose different paths to achieve it. 

It's not just the message, sometimes it's the delivery of the message.

[anaussiemom]

Absolutely agree!

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

I don't think anyone is against NRT's. There just needs to be a plan to break away. Whatever it takes to get off the smokes.

[DavesTime]

Amen!

[TW517]

Guilty as charged.  Although I’m pretty sure I’ve never “adamantly” told anyone that NRT doesn’t work.  But I do believe that. I strongly believe that no method works.  It is us that must do the work.  No tool in the world can do it for us.  And I like to share my experiences with it to warn others not to fall into the same trap I did.  There are many on this site who have used NRTs with success, and I don’t doubt them.  However, in my personal experience, me and every family member, friend and acquaintance I know has failed miserably using NRTs, and in fact made their addictions worse than before.  And yes, shame on us.  We are to blame for not using as directed.  Knowing what I know now, I think I would use an NRT like the patch or maybe even lozenges again to quit.  But I like to warn people that it is very easy to mis-use them and not to rely on them as a panacea. 

[IrishRose]

I've been hypnotized, mesmerized, pregnant, used patches, chewed the gum, taken pills as prescribed, etc.  The last time I quit, it was cold turkey, and that was almost nine years ago.  

If you use an NRT to quit, so be it, but if the NRT becomes another habit, that's not good.  I never vaped, because they did not have vaping back then.  If they did, I would have tried it.  Problem was, all those other times I quit before my forever quit, I was not committed enough to remain smokefree.  

I have had a lot of practice with "quitting", and I would go with the cold turkey, because you break the addiction, without depending on any crutches that just help you continue on with your addiction.  If you find something good to do to replace the time you would spend with smoking or NRT's, you leave everything behind, and get to start your life over again without the addiction.  But, that's me.  With everyone, though, you have got to be true to yourself, and truly committed to quitting.

Irish Rose   

[sweetplt]

No judgement here Colleen

[DonnaMarie]

It does work for some and you might remain addicted to the nicotine for a while. It's not my choice because I didn't want to quit twice - behavior and systemic. It is safer, though not safe. We all know that and people who vape know that. Whatever works, that's what works. It's personal choice and though I'm not an advocate, I'd rather see that than a cigarette in a loved one's hands. 

It's a debate no one will win. I was an anti-vape person for a long time and then my niece came to visit. My only concern for her was the amount of times she was drawing on the device. I took her to the vape shop to get liquid and the salesperson was the same way. They both used the devices a lot more than most people use cigarettes. I still have to process how I feel about that. BUT, I am not anti-vape for anyone other than myself.

People are going to come and go from EX who are using NRT in a lot of different forms and many who just chuck it all and go cold turkey. If they quit smoking, I'm all for it

[maryfreecig]

    I thought it was a newcomer who brought up the topic? I quit cold turkey and am pro NRT or meds and smart turkey ur, or whatever works. Sometimes I joke about going back to smoking to quit by using wellbutrin or chantix because of the positive comments I've read. But it is joke--because smobriety works just fine now. 

    I don't believe that the few adamant cold turkey believers can or ought to be silenced because in the end, someone on Ex will make it loud and clear that it is always take what you need, leave the rest. 

[Sootie]

I have actually NEVER seen any blog on here state adamantly that something does not work....period. I have seen blogs where people are saying it did not work for them and/or they don't believe in it. That is different from a flat statement....it doesn't work.

I agree with TW517‌ that many times when people are choosing an aide for assistance in quitting....they think they are using a "magic potion". Not everyone.....but some.

Yes....as repetitive as it seems...many discussions happen over and over again here because new people come on all the time. We may feel....oh no!!! Not that question again....but it's new to them and if we stay, then we have to get used to the repetition. I used to wonder  how JonesCarpeDiem‌, Giulia‌ and Mike.n.Atlanta‌ kept going! But they do as do we all. Because as I always say------WE are EX.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

EDIT (I hadn't read the original post. I was responding to Sootie's response to Tom)

NRT  I think they work if the person who is using them thinks they work.

If you want nicotine, they deliver nicotine.

To think they do any more than that is to be misinformed.

You might ask yourself, "how does using nicotine distance me from smoking?"

_________________________________________________________________________________

Repetition: So true.

There's only so much to write about.

I write to spur new people into thinking in different ways.before they get caught in their own crossfire.

[TW517]

I'm probably a little sensitive about hurting peoples feelings today, and worried that it might seem like we are ganging up against Barbscloud 's heartfelt post.  I really understand where you are coming from Barb!  I get a bit frustrated with strong opinions on here too.  I am so glad you are a member here and love following you!  And I'm super proud of your One Year Quit!!!!

[beazel]

I am a serial quitter - I have tried hypnosis, the  patch, the gum, cut down to 3 cigs a day, Chantix, Wellbutrin, cold turkey...you name it....I've tried it.They all worked great - till the big excuse came (and it always came!).

My secret weapon for my sticky quit was a quit smoking forum. I got the education and support that I needed to help me.

Quitting along side committed addicts such as myself was a Godsend.

Talking daily to folks who were/have gone through the same stuff was the perfect tool for me. Every difficult situation I dealt with, someone else dealt with also - we helped each other through everything. They became some of the best friends of my life and I will always hold them in my heart. They help me put things in perspective when my brain was going haywire.

I learned the lies and I learned the truths.

I pledged everyday because I knew I wouldn't lie to all those wonderful people who believed in me, sometimes more than I believed in myself. That NOPE pledge saved me more than once!

I learned others mantras and used them as needed when I wasn't on the board and needed a kick in the butt.

I learned the most powerful tool of all -  a simple phrase that connected with me very early on, and something that I have repeated to myself at least a million times.....Smoking Is Not An Option - simple stuff, right?

Whatever works for you works.

Sorry about rambling, I'm having a moment.

[Daniela2016]

I have to agree with Sootie‌ here, if we stay after we quit, is by desire to help others, newbies, who are reminding me of myself when I joined, 3 years ago.  I used some patches, then the e-cigarette, decreasing the amount of Nicotine, then I came here and Dale told me flat out "to me using the e-cigarette is just smoking with a battery".  My feathers got all ruffled, but guess what?  The next day I packed away everything related to that vaping device and never looked back.

Why do I bring it up?  Just to exemplify that we never know whose comment can help one's quit, and how.

There is another thing we always say, "take what works for you, leave the rest".  So yes, we are repeating the same mantras, we are suggesting similar choices, but for someone new, one of these will make the difference between a successful quit or a failed one.

[Mandolinrain]

 It's only important that we quit.

Relaying what works for me~ may not work for someone else.

Same as what did not help me~ may help someone else.

All any of us can do is share our experiences and let the individual 'go through' as we all did , to find the best solution that helps and works for them  Easy-Peasy

Nice blog Barb!

[IrishRose]

With my cold turkey, I had this site and the people on it to cheer me on.  That is something I never had with all of my other quits that failed.  I felt the same way too, about disappointing the folks on Ex that helped me get through some of the hardest times I had ever experienced with quitting.  That is why this site is so awesome.  They give you all the tools you need.  You even get to vent, vent, vent.  You get to talk in the middle of the night, and someone is out there to talk back at you.  You get to ramble on, and your buddies help you sort things out and see the nature of the beast.  Sometimes, I just needed someone to talk to who knew exactly what I was going through.  I am anti-vaping big time; sorry, I cannot help that.  I just see it as another gimmick to close to mimicking the smoking of a cancer stick.  I can see that mimicking gimmick now, because I have been quit for a good while.  I see it for what it really is, and it angers me that people are making money off of others who want to find a way to get away from cigarettes.  Problem is, smoking is an addiction, and I see vaping as something very easy to slip into and easily make it someone's new addiction in their escape from cancer sticks.  You are still feeding the beast within you.  It is a mimicking gimmick, and it will be found in another ten, fifteen years, to cause health problems just like cancer sticks.    

[Sootie]

I would NEVER gang up on someone either as I hate when that happens ---or APPEARS to happen. So--let me say a heartfelt sorry if that is what this seemed to be. However, this is a support discussion group---there will be lively discussion and debate....always. Otherwise, we will all just be hitting the like button, posting emojis and moving on.

[TW517]

I agree. Karen Jones leaving today shook me up. I just don’t want anyone to think their opinions aren’t valued here. 

[Sootie]

All are welcome here. That is what makes our community so helpful.

And this was a GREAT blog Barbscloud‌ as it inspired a lively discussion and exchange of ideas.

[bacardigirl]

I quit cold turkey, my husband used nicotine patches. We are both smoke free now ( almost 900 days). Doesn’t matter what method you use to get there, as long as you arrive.

[DonnaMarie]

Mandolinrain wrote:

 It's only important that we quit.

.........................................

Nice blog Barb!

Cosign!

Donna

[Gwenivere]

Barbscloud‌, I am so glad you blogged this.  When I started coming here I was barraged by info on both sides.  It took awhile to settle in, read posts from both sides, fend off a couple that used tough love that made me feel bad if I didn’t make a choice quickly.  I stuck with it and found lots of trusted, caring people and decided cold would be guaranteed failure.  You are absolutely right as at one point I thought I was in the wrong place, trading one addiction fior another without people knowing my personal circumstances.  I do think about when I give up the NRTs, but my first goal was to stop smoking.  I discussed it with my doctors and they really helped saying anything as long as I don’t smoke however long it takes.  Haven’t had a cig since December 2.  There were many relapse triggers that would have gotten me.  I sometimes worry about newbies, and I’m still one myself.  Support means whatever thatvperson has chosen.  If you can’t do that, best to not say anything at all.

[Barbscloud]

Just for the record, I never mentioned vaping in my post.  

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

"It is us that must do the work"

Amen brother. NRT's are just aids, not magic bullets.

[AnnetteMM]

And as long as we get new quitters here we'll have the discussions about all the same things! Nature of the beast, I'm thinking.

[elvan]

AnnetteMM‌ I think you are right...I quit cold turkey but I have nothing against NRT's, I think when someone comes here, they can expect a bunch of different opinions, the one thing that is always the same is that everyone here wants everyone else to succeed, no matter what.

Ellen

[Barbscloud]

Sorry some of you missed the point of the post.  This post was not about opinions or discussing the use of NRT or not.  It was about  "they're told adamantly (by some) that NRT  doesn't work, you'll become addicted, etc." Judgmental maybe? Again, I never mentioned vaping.

[Gwenivere]

I was told by 2 members that I was being basically whiney about NRTs so that was proof they didn’t work and one said just go back to smoking.  The other said I was accomplishing nothing with them.  

[virgomama]

Thanks for your post.Barbscloud

[AnnetteMM]

Good grief

[DonnaMarie]

Jeepers!

[bjh_68]

I think this varies from person to person! My Uncle smoke for 40 years and when his health became a major problem, he just quit cold turkey. I had a Aunt that did the same thing, why a friend of mine had to use patches. Sometimes its health problems and cost also that gets us to the point of wanting to quit. I think though no matter what way we decide to do it, it is going to take us also really  wanting to quit to give us that extra push at trying to succeed.

[bjh_68]

As far as me I have not quit yet, but I hope too! I have set a quit date and plan to use patches as my quit method. I have quit a few times before, the longest time I stayed quit was for about 3 months I believe. This time I hope I stay quit. I am trying to prepare by doing different things to get me ready for my date, such as buying cigarettes I hate to smoke so I want smoke and will go longer without it and to occupy by mind instead when a urge comes on. Thanks all this seems to be a awesome site.

[indingrl]

Welcome and GOOD JOB!

[virgomama]

Good luck on your upcoming quit.  The more planning you do the better your success rate.  Keep making those changes ahead of time.  They really helped me.  I blogged about my pre-quit experiences so I had a record to look back on after I quit.  It did help me prepare.