Local hospitals sometimes have programs that supply quit aids, as well as city/state/county health departments. Google "free NRT patches " with your zipcode and you might find which in your area does.
The reason you have not been successful could be that you lacked the tools. We can help with that - and provide support, a place to vent, and to ask questions.
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:
As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site
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. 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.
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. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
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!
Welcome to EX Coolcat. Patches & other NRT's are fine to use as a cessation tool but ya know what...they're not a magic bullet. Use em as you need but just know that there's a lot of work on your part required to get the job done. We're here to help.
nothing magical about the patch...that is how i did it , but it is a tough road, but doable and worth it but you must commit you can talk the talk but ya gotta walk the walk
Hello, and Welcome to EX! You have to quit however you can quit and stay quit! It works differently for everyone. Find what works for you and go with it! My family practitioner recommended a program from over at the Hospital that gives away the supplies, however, they offered no follow-up and no support. So I failed. A couple years later I found Ex! I went smart turkey this time, but like I said earlier, everyone's quit is different!
We are so glad you are here! This is a great place to quit smoking. You have been given links to great information and good advice above. Please do the suggested readings. Education, willingness to do whatever it takes not to smoke, determination and commitment are the keys to a successful quit!
I would like to recommend a group called The Daily Pledge Group. It's fun and will help reinforce your commitment not to smoke!
Just click on the link below and scroll down and take the person's hand before you and promise not to smoke! We are on page 4. You can state your # of days, post a picture or whatever you want! This is your quit be proud of it! Please join us!
In my welcome to you, I stated that we are on page 4. WE ARE NOT! I am sorry. With this being a new month, we are on the first page. Just follow the active in August link and it will take you there!
I want to thank every one for their help and support. Last time I quit for six mounths. I hope I can go longer this time and quit for life and not fall back into this bad habit. My grand father died from lung cancer and I won't ever froget him telling me not smoke on his death bed.
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