When I started writing Help Me Quit Smoking more than two and a half years ago, I was focusing day to day on how to manage without cigarettes in my life and couldn’t really imagine how I would feel as a genuine non-smoker. Now the battle is won – I am an ex-smoker and most days don’t even consider life with the dreaded weed at all. Which is why I don’t post here as often as I used to: The fact is; it doesn’t even cross my mind. That is a good thing in my opinion as it proves that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Lately I have received quite a few comments and messages from people who are just starting out on their journey of giving up smoking, or are sometimes only several days down the line. The fantastic thing for me is that they find reading about my own experience of quitting helpful and often encouraging. Perhaps knowing that what they are experiencing is ‘normal’ for a quitter, or simply that they are not alone is all it takes to keep going for just another minute, hour or day.
So, do I have any tips for quitting? Well, read about how I conquered the addiction and remember, you only have to quit one cigarette at at time. Just don’t give in to the one you are craving right now and the rest of the battle will follow one cigarette at a time. Take your mind off it; go for a run, take a shower, eat an apple, chew some gum, whatever it takes to get past that craving feeling – it only takes a minute and you could probably even hold your breath for that long. So do you really need to spoil your efforts so far by giving in?
Finally, you could also start your own blog or if you want to keep it to yourself perhaps a personal diary. One thing I know is that writing things down in whatever form you choose really helps – it makes you more committed to the cause and gives you an outlet when things seem grim or impossibly difficult. And who knows? In another couple of years you could also be getting messages from people who find your thoughts helpful in their own journeys to become non-smokers.
Thanks for your comments and keep them coming. Life as a non-smoker really is healthier and happier. Good luck!
View full post on Help Me Quit Smoking
Originally posted 2010-03-04 16:19:25. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I just turned 43 and had been smoking for 25 years. At least a pack a day. I had tried a few times quitting (patch then gums) and almost made it but eventually failed. I used to love it. And I have to say I did smoke a few cigarettes since I quit when I was fooling myself trying to become a "social smoker" and I loved every single one of them.
There are different levels of smoking and different levels of smokers. People are more or less inclined to the physical and to the psychological addiction of smoking. My addiction was mainly, but overwhelmingly physical: no cigarette by noon meant cold sweat, blurred vision, shaking and extreme mood swings. I live in California and I have to say it helps when you're thinking about quitting because your friends and family don't smoke and will put a certain pressure on you to quit. I finally decided to quit for a main reason: I was sick and tired TO HAVE TO get up and go smoke outside in: the middle of a movie, immediately after eating, while drinking with friends. I wanted to be stronger than the urge, since on top of it I only really appreciated about 10% of my cigarettes.
I moved to Oakland, CA in June and my new neighbor happened to be an acupuncturist. I really thought acupuncture was for 50+ year old grey haired-Prius-driving bourgeois-hippie Berkeley women. Well, it also is. But it can make the craving tolerable and manageable for 2-3 days so you can….QUIT!
After lying down for an hour with about 20 needles in me from my head down to my toes, she had my go home, still with about 12 needles in my ears. I was amazed how these needles cut the edges of withdrawal, as I experienced all the stages of it, but each phase got manageable. As soon as she would take the needles out (at the end of the day), the craving was coming full blast again. I had HORRIBLE evenings. I could not fall asleep before 3-4 am, and would wake up at 7. This for a few nights. Of course I was craving for a cigarette, every heartbeat. With the needles in, the craving was strong, but breathing, or for example cleaning the house, would make it ok. Without the needles though, I was feeling an overwhelming craving, and almost had a nervous breakdown.
I quit September 9, 2009. I had a week of pure hell. Without acupuncture I would NEVER have been able to sustain the beating quitting smoking was.
3 weeks after I quit i woke up one morning and new something was wrong. My level hurt a whole lot, and while brushing my teeth I realized my tongue was covered with a layer of whitish stuff. craving came back suddenly like crazy. I ran to my acupuncturist next door and she told me she could smell the nicotine on my skin…
I took 72 hours for my body to get rid of some nicotine, which decreased the withdrawal a lot. It took another 2.5 weeks for my body to get rid of the nicotine I had deep inside my body, my digestive system mainly.
As I said earlier, I had a few cigs since I quit. I am a stubborn idiot, and really had to be proven wrong that I could not become a "social smoker". An addict cannot become a "social user". So no more cigarettes now. It is still hard sometimes but just a bit of will power and I'm ok.
I have more energy, I look younger, I run longer, I have higher self esteem, food taste better, beer and wine (in moderation!) taste better and…I don't have to get up in the middle of a: movie/conversation/dinner/taks at work/etc… to go smoke a cigarette I actually don't want to smoke.
Was a hell of week worth it? hell Yeah! Could I have done it without a good, motivated acupuncturist (Sibylle Dryer in Oakland)? No freaking way.
Good luck, I hope my post helps someone.
G
This is an interesting and worthwhile read, I'll check out some more of these blogs too. There seems to be a vast difference in how people react when they quit, some find it easy and others really struggle hard.
Thanks.
Finally, I did it too.
Hurray, I quit smoking
your blog is feel good……
I’m not a smoker, but there are four or five times when I do smoke. Never turn it into a habit though, I can stop it whenever I wanted it.
I really appreciate people who succeed to quit smoking since I know it’s surely a hard work. SO I try to write articles regarding smoking and why should people quit in my blog. SO let’s share ideas about it
http://www.kerjasampinganaja.blogsome.com
I quit smoking after several attempts, and came to the conclusion that you have to rely on your willpower to kick the habit.
While the stop smoking aids can be a great help, I don’t think they cure us of the psychological cravings for a cigarette.
Which is why many people return to smoking after they have quit for several months or even years.
I am reviewing the popular stop smoking remedies on my Ways To Quit Smoking blog. I’ll be looking for reader comments and experiences with various methods of quitting.
Good luck, everyone! Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do — but it’s one of the best things you can do for your health. Be proud of yourself for taking the first step and getting information. Mayo Clinic has a new Quit Smoking blog that’s worth checking out, too. I do some writing for Mayo Clinic and know they offer solid, researched information. Good luck!!