Quit smoking support group

[DirtyDeeds]

It's been 16 days and I'm still having cravings, but I think I have it licked. Had a stressful couple of weeks, but I didn't cave in. Like TP says, the key is being ready to commit to it. I have tried at least half a dozen times before, but kept giving in and postponing it. At some point you just have to realize you're never going to quit if you keep putting it off. For financial reasons and the length of time I've been jeopardizing my health, I finally made up my mind it was time. And like others have said, if you falter, just keep trying. It's worth it in the end.
And 'gola, the dreams are getting weirder by the day with the nicotine patches. A couple have kind of freaked me out. But they seem to be helping.

 

[Tom Petty]

if you still are having cravings, why do you continue using the patch?

 

[forever_town]

My dad uses nicotine gum now. He basically quit smoking, but he smokes on rare occasion. As far as I know, he hasn't taken it back on as a habit.

Perhaps that might be an option instead of the patch?

 

[User 1019]

Nothing since the first week of January.

I hope I can keep it up.

 

[Tom Petty]

Nothing since the first week of January.

I hope I can keep it up.

you can. the physical cravings are gone.

it's all in your mind now. that's exactly what i turned it into: proving to myself that i wasn't mentally weak ... but, ****, it was hard.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

That's what I meant, I guess. I'm not having actual physical cravings, but the habit is still there, like we've discussed before, in the mornings and when I perform certain tasks or think I deserve a reward. Hasn't been too tough after about the first week. I think the patch works pretty well for me.

it's all in your mind now. that's exactly what i turned it into: proving to myself that i wasn't mentally weak ... but, ****, it was hard.

This is exactly the stage I am at now.

 

[Lieslntx]

Ever since I posted here about cutting back, I have actually been smoking more. For some reason, I've been back-sliding this week. Ugh. I keep thinking, "Tomorrow I'll cut back more."

 

[DirtyDeeds]

That was the problem I was having for the longest time. I'd try to quit, then say "Nah, it can wait til next week (month/year)." You'll make the decision to commit when you are ready. Don't sweat it too much.

 

[The Good Doctor]

Bump for Liesl. We're here for you.

 

[User 1019]

Still smoke free since the first of the year. It's the bottom of the eighth and the Cigarettes are down 5-1.

 

[outofplace]

My dad uses nicotine gum now. He basically quit smoking, but he smokes on rare occasion. As far as I know, he hasn't taken it back on as a habit.

Perhaps that might be an option instead of the patch?

Isn't there some risk to smoking a cigarette and still use the gum the same day? I had a friend who quit a few months back tell me that when she had a slip, she couldn't chew the gum all that day. Was she wrong?

 

[Lieslntx]

I've had three less cigarettes today than normal. I'll try to keep that trend going throughout the rest of the day.

 

[KG]

If you like Twizzlers, there's something about them that seemed to help. Also, something about Oreos. It's something about the way your breath feels in the back of your throat afterward. You know, kind of like how after you eat salt and vinegar chips and you feel like you have this toxic gas coming out of your lungs? Same concept.

 

[forever_town]

My dad uses nicotine gum now. He basically quit smoking, but he smokes on rare occasion. As far as I know, he hasn't taken it back on as a habit.

Perhaps that might be an option instead of the patch?

Isn't there some risk to smoking a cigarette and still use the gum the same day? I had a friend who quit a few months back tell me that when she had a slip, she couldn't chew the gum all that day. Was she wrong?

I don't know. I'd have to ask my father since he's both a retired RN and a former smoker.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Since zag chased everyone off the other thread, I'll post this here as well.

I quit my smokeless tobacco habit 5 weeks ago, and it sure as hell wasn't/isn't easy. Even though it was before the tax hike, money definitely was a factor. With the way things are going in this business, I just couldn't justify spending that money anymore. And having used some form of tobacco since middle school I knew the longer I waited the more likely that some health issue would pop up related to it. My epiphany was when I got a sore in my mouth that turned out to be just irritation that healed pretty quickly. But it scared the hell out of me, since I'm a worrier by nature anyway.

Liesl, I really hope you have your breakthrough soon. I have read about your efforts here and I know you're having a tough time. But I have to say that you need to stop telling yourself you can't do it. You really can if you put your mind to it. Get the patch or gum or one of the prescriptions that spnited mentioned on the other thread. They will help, but you're not going to quit until you make up your mind that you can and will do it. I tried numerous times, and it was just too easy to say I'll wait a few more weeks. At some point you'll decide that you want/have to do it now.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

My dad uses nicotine gum now. He basically quit smoking, but he smokes on rare occasion. As far as I know, he hasn't taken it back on as a habit.

Perhaps that might be an option instead of the patch?

Isn't there some risk to smoking a cigarette and still use the gum the same day? I had a friend who quit a few months back tell me that when she had a slip, she couldn't chew the gum all that day. Was she wrong?

I don't know. I'd have to ask my father since he's both a retired RN and a former smoker.

I don't know either, but I know I have used tobacco while wearing the patch, and that's probably not a good idea, either.

 

[RossLT]

I found that when I quit it helped to have a bunch of friends doing it at the same time. I was in college at the time and was coming home for X-mas and my mom used to hate it when I smoked. So I told a few friends of mine who were smokers that I was going to quit and they said they would do the same thing. One of the guys I quit with is still smoke free, as I am, and this was about four years ago.

That's what makes this thread so great, keep it up everyone!

 

[budcrew08]

I've had three less cigarettes today than normal. I'll try to keep that trend going throughout the rest of the day.

Awesome deal.. Keep it up.

 

[Tom Petty]

i really dislike indignant assholes.

OOP was making a point on the other thread until some other douches chimed in. i respect OOP for his point, but in no way does the tobacco industry profit from higher national taxes.

 

[KG]

Liesl, I have to chime in and say that you won't be able to quit until you actually want to quit. I know lots of people say they want to quit, but they don't truly "want" to. It's hard to explain the difference in those wants, but people who have quit get the difference. One day you will too. I have faith in you. :-)