try try again

[mark-david]

ok, so i failed horribly after 2 days, it was getting very trainspotting (good movie) i was sweating and pissed off and twitchy, and i just went out and got a pack before i even knew what happened. I have determined the gum is useless to me. It never made alot of sense in the first place honestly, you don't give heroin addicts little bits of heroin to gnash on while they detox. So I am starting anew, I'm doing everything i can think of, I made a substantial bet with a friend, I've ordered some herbal things including smokeless cigs to occupy myself with (just an herbal cig that you don't light) and of course the relaxation techniques and whatnot to try and get through this. The herbal stuff should arrive friday so I'll start up this weekend. I mean to do this, I never realized how addicted i was honestly. so we'll try that again and see if it works out better this time.oh, also going to see if my friend who works in a doctors office can get me some samples of this medication that is supposed to make you nauseous if you smoke, the old clockwork orange method. so yeah, wish me luck or i'm gonna be out a pile of money. (anyone tried the stubborn betting method? lol)

[hwc]

Mark:

You don't need bets or medicine that makes you nauseous. Those are all things that "punish" you if you smoke. Being a nicotine addict is punishment enough. The secret to this whole deal is being honest about what cigarettes and nicotine addiction do for you (nothing) and visualizing how much more enjoyable your life will be without dragging that ball 'n chain around 24/7. The drug addiciton has brainwashed you for years to make you believe you need to smoke. You need to turn the tables and brainwash yourself that you don't. Nobody beats nicotine addiction by willpower. If we could, none of us would have smoked a pack a day. You can, however, beat it by being smarter.

I would strongly recommend that you commit some serious time to these links. They will really help you:

Links to Quitting Educational stuff

[hwc]

BTW. My sister in law made a sizeable bet that she could quit for a year. She didn't touch a cigarette for 365 days, collected her money, and started smoking again the next day.

[gmvirtual_gina]

Mark....hwc is correct. you seem like a person that would best suited for cold turkey. I did it this way, and it is empowering to conquer a day. it's a mental choice - and it gets tough, you have to stay strong and remember you are fighting a demon and you can win. The 1st 3 days are tough....get through those with a clear mind and death to the demon.....and you can power through the days ahead.....just my 2cents....

I can tell you why the betting won't work for ya - eventually your addiction demon is going to tell you - screw it-this is a bet you can lose because a smoke will be better. And with the nausea things, you are just setting yourself up to NOT take them, and then the addiction is still there. And with holding an herbal cig (even unlit) your brain is not FIGHTING the demon.....it's just putting it to sleep for a bit. Eventually it will wake up and say, dang it get a real cig and light it turkey!

Again just my 2cents....but judging by the personality that shows in your blog, you are a strong guy - that really just needs to grab this demon by the freakin shirt collar and say "hell with you, I've got the power, and you are gonna die!!"

you should check out Alan Carrs blook - google it, or many people on this site have the link to it....it helps. The whole book is good, but if you have short attention like I do....start on page 60 and read til the end. HWC has some great links posted above too!!

[mark-david]

here's part of the issue guys, I am a strong person yes, part of my issue is getting it into my head how to live as a non smoker, I've been at it so long it's just how things work, and the reason for the herbal stuff and medication and whatnot is I am a big guy, and i used to have a temper issue, I kinda saw that rising again in the couple days and that's no good I'm not trying to use this as an excuse i swear it's just something i'd like to avoid. I honestly would love to just get locked in a room for a week and get through it with nothing, but fake herbal cigs and whatever are something to do that's not beating the crap out of something. I'm sure once i get through that initial sweaty twitchy pissy week and the nicotine is out of my system it'll be a breeze afterwards comparatively but if i'm gonna be among people, yeah i'd like to try it with something. thanks for all the support everyone I'm really glad i joined this site.

[hwc]

I've got four Allen Carr books linked on the page of links above. The little short Illustrated book is a good one to start with. Takes maybe an hour to read it.

These videos, books, and articles are the perfect way to fend off a crave. Intead of thinking about smoking, dive into this stuff. It'll not only take your mind off the crave, it'll help you use the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal as way of making you really, really want to escape the trap and enjoy life as an ex-smoker. For example, Carr makes a brilliant observation that it is not ex-smokers who suffer from withdrawal cravings. It's smokers who suffer, starting an hour after each cigarette. They smoke another to stop the craving, but that only ensures that the craving comes back in a endless cycle. Ex-smokers don't have to live like that -- dragging around a ball 'n chain. Qutting is not something to fear. It's something to celebrate.

[gmvirtual_gina]

makes a lot of sense - and you know yourself better than anyone. We don't know you just from a post on here.....and yes, i know a lot of people that have had great success with aides. Chantix has done wonders for some poeple. Anyhow, look at the links hwc posted.....and do what you can to get yourself into your quit. Most of all lean on people here! It's a great site and 80% of the reason I'm on day 45.....it's not easy. A week in a coma.....a month on the moon....none of it prepares us for the disappearance of the smoking...especially after many years.....so even with the aids....you've got to get your mind right. Because it's never really easy until your mind truly believes you don't want to smoke....and for some people it takes weeks and others of us battle here and there for days, weeks and months, and maybe even years.....do the reading to get your mind right use the aides to help the physical side.....and you will be well on your way to a great quit!! Best of luck!

[Carenda]

Mark, you can do this. If you had doubts you would not have joined this website. I saw an interesting websibe on hwc's blog/page: Go to www.whyquit.com after viewing the pain, suffering, and deaths of so many people, it just puts quitting in a much different perspective. I don't know about you but I personally do not like pain and needles. We can do this!!

[doris_mccoy]

Don't worry about the fact that you slip up. the point it that you are starting over . YOU CAN DO THIS ! ! ! and remeber we are here for you

[cindywilson]

the anger thing unfortunately is one of those things that happens as we go through withdrawal, but hwc, , is right. I smoked for 38 years and I can tell you this is totally a mind thing and the more your mind understands what it is going through the better. Gina is right, no one says this is easy,but your mind is your ally or your enemy here. The stronger you are in your understanding, the stronger you will be in your quit. I spent three days in the house so I could get through the worst of it. I also tried to have very little interaction with people except on here and then I said nothing but I was reading like crazy, because I knew me and I figure you know you. The important thing here is to learn what will work best for you, perhaps your doctor could help with that decision.. I am not a big fan of anything that has cigarettes in the name, because Gina is right, your brain is going to laugh and say hey give me the real one what is the difference? Spend the next couple of days doing some reading to get perspective, Candid Quitters is great, Relapse traps, the ex plan, whyquit.com and Allen Carr is great too, hwc has the links right above...

[edith2]

I did the lozenges. Hated the patch and gum. I wouldn't recommend the herbal cigarettes though. It's like a junkie pounding his arm with a syringe without a needle. It still sets off the addiction. I knew a gal once that got rushes when she knew she was going to slam cocaine. You can do this. I didn't think I would ever quit and I didn't want to go through the uncomfortable part of the beginning. But I did it. You can too.

[theresa-sargent]

Hey Congrats on coming back and not giving up. I quit with a friend at work and she just totally gave up after her relapse. I know eventually she will try again and I will be there for her. I agree with a lot of people on here.read read read and read somemore about tobacco and nicotine.There are a lot of hurdles to get over but it is well worth it, I am sure I will have more as I go.