Looking for FReeper Idea on Quitting Smoking

2/26/03 | myself

[realpatriot71]

As part of a small group project on "behavior changes", I've been asigned how to help a patient who wants to quit smoking, quit.

What I'm looking for here are ideas that you've used to quit smoking or people you know have used to quit smoking. Anything from cold-turkey, to patches/gum, and also any spiritual aspects like prayer/fasting. How well did it work, and dwere you or friends able to keep from not smoking in the future. How many attaempts were made. What would you have liked a treating physician to do, say, or listen to.

[realpatriot71]

Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[McGavin999]

When I quit smoking I just went cold turkey. Drank lots of water, took a lot of deep breaths and in no time it was done. I quit for 5 years.

After the 5 years I found that I didn't feel better, food didn't taste better, and although I didn't alter my eating patterns or exercise patterns I had gained 30 lbs. So I started again, the 30 lbs melted off and I still run 2 miles a day.

[stanz]

The most important factor is the desire on the part of the smoker to definitely want to quit.
My method was "cold turkey." Since I always needed to replace that cigarette with something, I kept a supply of plastic swizzle sticks from the local pub on hand. I would keep one in my mouth and usually chew the hell out of it. It was better than putting food or candy in my mouth and it helped me get over the oral fixation part of it.

[big bad easter bunny]

I switched to cigars, you don't inhale for one so your lungs start to heal. You could also move to N.Y. I think a pack is $6.50 now.

[WriteOn]

start running. cold turkey comes easier after that. the constant reminder that you can't breathe and why, seems to help.

[N. Theknow]

NO one can stop until they are totally ready to stop. Like any other habit from biting fingernails to lurking. Quitting anything leaves a void and the best way to stop is to fill the void with something else.

[WriteOn]

also quit drinking alcohol or going to bars. makes a huge difference.

[katnip]

I haven't had a cigarette in almost 4 weeks now.

I smoked for over 30 years.

I did it with Zyban (and prayers).

[Keith]

watch Hitlery on the filibuster...you can't smoke when you are barfing.

[knak]

Zyban worked for you? I tried it and got so irritable I couldn't stand to be around myself so I quit taking it.

[prairiebreeze]

I quit smoking in 1982--cold turkey, without medical intervention and before patches etc. It was very very hard. But I did it mostly because I was ready to and had made my mind up to quit.

I remember how much better food tasted after about 4 days. Amazing! I also remember needing to find something to do with my hands to replace the tactile aspect of smoking like tapping cigarettes, lighting up, holding a cig etc. Even silly activities like pasting those little round page reinforcements to a piece of paper in patterns sometimes,...anything to take the edge off.

Lastly, I can say without any hesitation that I'm so glad I quit. And even if a person tries and fails, they should KEEP TRYING!

Prairie

[Blue Screen of Death]

I went cold turkey. After a while I learned that the craving would come, but then go away. The periods between cravings got longer and longer and after a month or so, the cravings were days apart. It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Just remember, when you have a craving spell, it will not last forever.

[robjna]

I smoked for 25 years. always said I would quit before i was 35 yrs old. Finally quit at forty. I read a book called quit and stay quit by terry redlin M.D. Book stayed in my bathroom for around 4 months before i started to read it.
It made me realize that i condsidered cigarettes my best friend. I didn't do anything in my life without them and based decisions on whether i could have my friend with me. No not that restaurant because no smoking, or no not that trip because i will be limited in smoking, or i hope this is over soon so i can have my friend. The book made you do exercises and write things out to get true meaning of your habit. It also explains that smoking is a drug. It makes you realize that cigarettes are not your friend.
I reduced over a period of three weeks until I was down to two a day. One day i had to go buy a pack and i just didn't .
Cigarette free for 3 1/2 years and would never allow another cigarette to touch my lips. I fianlly booted out my friend the free loader.

[thinktwice]

I thought I had throat cancer.

I didn't, it was just a smoking agravated sore throat; but that throat examination forever terminated my smoking habit.

[katnip]

Zyban worked for you? I tried it and got so irritable I couldn't stand to be around myself so I quit taking it.

The first 2 weeks on Zyban were hellish. I was depressed and weepy. I gave it another week and I started feeling great! Give it a try again for at least 3 weeks.

[Capitalist Eric]

well.... a subject that is near and dear to my heart (and lungs...).

I could make it a long rant, but the bottom line is that the patches, pills and other stuff were simply changing from one type of crutch to another... they didn't help, and I was quickly back to 1.5 packs/day. :(

Eventually, I quit cold-turkey. As a smoker, when you get nervous, you feel like you're having a "nick-fit," nicotine withdrawals. However, the body is completely over the physical addiction within three days.

After that...? Well, it's the mind trying to trick you, grasping at straws when you get nervous...

I was off 'em for two years... But like a fool, I started sneaking a smoke now and again, during my divorce (and losing my house, and finishing a degree and a job...).

The crutch was back. At least, in another 23 days, I finish the degree, get back to a normal life... And I won't have to rely on such ugly things as a stimulant, to keep me functioning on three hours of sleep per night...

Sometimes- especially as a stimulant to keep you running when you should long ago have stopped from exhaustion- they can be useful... Especially when combined with coffee. But beyond this...? They're useless.

BTW, a critical thing to keep in mind (assuming you've never been hooked by these damned things), is that the "craving" for a cigarette feels exactly the same as when you feel hungry. I sometimes can't tell if I'm hungry, until my stomach starts growling at me. Of course, that is why most smokers gain weight when they quit... They can't separate (usually) hunger for food... from hunger for a dose of nicotine.

Hope this helps...

CE

[AppyPappy]

I quit picking them up after 10 years. I never smoked another one. Cold Turkey and I never looked back. I decided that I would rather be an ex-smoker than a p*ssy who couldn't stop smoking. Sorry for the language but that was literally what went through my head.

[G Larry]

Cold Turkey!
Make up your mind what's important.

The correlation w nosebleeds made the impact of smoking more immediate.

[alisasny]

I still smoke however I know a couple who quit by wearing a rubberband around their wrist and snapping it whenever they got the urge. 10+ years later still not smoking but still snapping.

[amused]

Well. I have quit and started agaion several times.

I have gone cold turkey, chewing straws instead. That lasted the longest. I have tried the patch which made me hyper and if worn overnite nightmares(it warns of vivid dreams...no kidding). I would advise avoiding alcohol as well.

The biggest thing is making the commitment. Good luck!