"I'm supposed to continue to smoke for seven days while taking the medicine before stopping, and I'm already having trouble just trying to smoke!
I think it's normal for the directions to tell you to continue. Years ago (about 25) when I attended a smoke-enders program, they told us the say thing - to continue smoking, preferably stronger and more distateful cigarettes.
"I'm very devoted to my wife and children, and I'm going to succeed!
That is another lesson I learned from the smoke-enders program. I understand exactly what you mean, but be careful about the psychology of it all. First and foremost you do it for yourself because you are the one smoking, and when you do stop the benefits will accrue to the rest of the family. It's not about being selfish, it's about you stopping.
Some suggestions I'd like to give:
1. anxiety and behavior modification play a big role in stopping.
2. Pick some places you usually smoke and decide, not to smoke in there - eg car, bathroom, going out on a short errant.
3. Drink lots of liquids, especially fruit juices.
4. if you do drink coffee, try to cut down.
5. if you feel you must have a smoke after the seven days period, do something drastic such as take a shower.
6. go out for long walks and take no cigs along with you.
7. swimming and jogging does wonders to your system.
8. hide all ashtrays except one. Keep this ashtray and the cigaretts in an hard-to-get place - eg, if you usually smoke in the kitchen, you must walk to the bedroom to get you cigs and ashtray.
9. with regard to anxiety. When the feeling comes to want to smoke, STOP! and listen to your inner self. What happened? Try to remember in its minute details the feeling that caused you to want to smoke. Repeat the process the next time, recognize the feeling and take control of yourself. Do not let what caused you to smoke take control.
This technique is hard to explain for me but works for me.
10. This I learned at the smoke-enders program. When you get up in the morning, delay your first cig for, say, 5 minutes. Increment this delay each morning by an additional 5 minutes. Same process before you go to bed - ie, delay your last cig by 5 minutes and increment to an additional 5 minutes each night.
11. keep the hand you usually use to hold yout cig busy. Example, something attached to your wrist that you can juggle with.
I wish you and your family all the best.
I haven't gone to the doctor for the Chantix prescription yet. I feel I must first work it out on my own for a month or so before I do that. I feel Chantix will be more effective and easier to progress to the cut-off day.
Erratum: "ie, delay your last cig by 5 minutes and increment to an additional 5 minutes each night."
Meant to say not to smoke 5 minutes before you go to bed. Increment by 5 minutes each successive night.
Even though you feel confident you can delay your first cigarette each morning by more than the specified time period for that morning/eve, I suggest you stick to your plans. You may want to try a larger interval, say, 10 minutes. But twelve days later that interval amounts to 120 minutes or 2 hours and it may be difficult. Take your time!
Good luck to all that are trying to quit.