I've never smoked, so I'm not going to be able to give much advice here. But, I noticed that we had some people here who do.

For those of you who have stopped, are there any tips or tricks you can offer someone who also wants to quit?

I love Sue's solution:

"I have decided to 'delay' having the next cigarette, not give up smoking. Less likely to crave one if I know that I can light one whenever I want without feeling guilty, so far I have delayed since Monday of last week, it is now early Wednesday morning so about eight days or so. No problems so far, the room smells of hyacinths instead of stale tobacco."

(And, actually, this is great advice for anyone who's trying to stop doing something that they feel might be harmful. For instance, if your doctor tells you that your health would improve if you didn't eat jellybeans anymore, you could use Sue's tip for that, too!)

So, what have the rest of you discovered?

Maybe those of you who want to quit (or delay having a cigarette for a while) can encourage each other here. Use this topic to express your frustrations or triumphs with the rest of us.

Sue, I love your suggestion! Great job, girl!!

Right another tip which works for some. Not sure if it will be effective in the US, depends on the price of cigarettes - not sure of the exact conversion rate but at a guess I would say that in the UK 20 cigarettes would cost in the region of $5.

Some people get a large jar and put the amount of money that they would have spent on cigarettes into the jar each day. This money (once it has grown) can be used for some very special treat, a holiday (vacation) perhaps. It needs to be visible, the more money in the jar, the more one is encouraged not to smoke - just to say that you have saved $5 today isn't enough. $5 a day, $35 a week, $150 in a calendar month, $1800 in a year.

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From over the pond....

To all those chain smokers tha I work with stop smoking.

I spoke to someone today that told me she spend $30 a week on cigarettes. If you ranked the top 5 selling products in a stor, Then Alcohol and cigarettes would beat milk and bread.

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If we dont change the world... then who will save it???

Amlet, this thread is for people to list their triumphs and frustrations with stopping smoking. It is for giving helpful tips for those (like Sue) who need to stop for one reason or another.

Do you have a helpful hint for how to stop?

My mum used to chew liquorice(and I doubt that's spelt right) root everytime she's tried to stop.

My father had to stop smoking cold turkey after we thought he had a heart attack. (There's a wake up call for you!) One of the things he found helpful was to either have some hard tack candy or gum around so he mouth would be occupied with something other than a smoke.

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Why rely on ancient thoughts to make our point? Can't we all just be original?

I was told that cream of tartar was good to put on your tongue when you were craving a cigarette..It has worked for some,however it did not work for me. Also cinnamon stick are good to chew on too when craving. Nothing has worked for me at this point...not even the patch. I guess it is in all due time. I have heard of people just putting them down one day after years of smoking...I am looking forward to that day.

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Sandalwood's Cosmic Creations: Working with the magic of love....

Thirty-three years of puffing, eleven days not puffing.

At the moment I only really miss that one which I used to have as soon as I got home from work - the first one of the day in fact.

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From over the pond....

Hmmmm...what a perfect time to replace that urge with a few posts here at FunTrivia! We'll help keep your mind occupied with other things, Sue!

I was a completely degenerate smoker for 30 years. I tried to quit several times but I couldn't bear the continual craving and not being able to think about anything but cigarettes. Anyone who knew me knew to keep all sharp objects away from me after about the second day for both of our safty.
About three months ago I talked to my doctor and he suggested that I try a drug called Zyban which works directly on the brain and reduces the mindless craving that you feel for cigarettes. You take the drug, allow it to build up in your system, but continue to smoke; however, you set yourself a cutoff date from 7 to 14 days at which time you resolve to quit.

Knowing myself as I do I did not believe that it would work, but after three days of not smoking I was not climbing walls and it was perfectly safe for me to handle sharp objects. Out of habit I still reach for my cigarettes and I still crave cigarettes but if I just resist for a moment or two or the feeling goes away; smoking is not constantly on my mind. It's been three months of not smoking now, and I think that this time I can make it.

The drug costs about half of what I usually spend on smokes every month. I can take it for up to 6 months or I can quit taking it earlier if I'm confident that I don't need it anymore. It does not work for everyone but for those that it does work on I hear repeated the same story as mine: even after three months without a cigarette I still don't feel as if I have actually quit because from past experience I know that to quit smoking you have to suffer and I haven't suffered so I can't really have quit, can I?

If you feel that you lack the willpower to quit cold turkey, or if the thought of going through the agony of constant craving is stopping you from trying to quit, I recommend that you see your doctor and ask him about Zyban, it may work for you. Goodluck in your attempt!
Mike

Michaeln...I had great luck with the Zyban used along with the patch. It was the longest I had ever gone without a smoke and without getting down-right depressed. Know why?

Zyban is Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant! My pharmacist told me she could fill my prescription for Zyban as Wellbutrin so that my insurance company would pay for it. Some people don't want an anti-depressant on their medical records, so choose to stick with the Zyban. I chose the Wellbutrin @$10 vs the Zyban @$70. I don't think anti-depressants have the bad name today that they did years ago.

Unfortunately, and I don't know why, I went back to cigarettes about a month later

Good Luck To Others Trying To Quit...if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. I heard somewhere that the average person that finally quits will have made at least 7-10 attempts before they are successful.

Ok, you're going to think this is a strange comment when you read it, but I thought of this thread when I heard it.

My hairdresser and I were talking the other day about stress. She and I are both dealing with individuals right now in our lives that are causing great anxiety and creating a lot of pent up feelings.

She said that one of the things that she's found helpful is to just sing a silly song (in the privacy of her own home, of course!) at the top of her lungs. And, she's learned to take deep breaths at work where she is dealing with these difficult people.

She says the deep breaths are really helping her cope - giving her the ability to not bite these people's heads off. As an "out of the blue" statement, she also said, "And what's really strange is that I'm not smoking as much anymore because I'm breathing more deeply."

Now, I'm not saying that this is the cure-all or would even be helpful to anyone else, but I did think it was interesting that she found this to be a side effect of breathing more deeply.

I started smoking when I was 13 years old..now I'm 36 I just quit cold turkey in January after smoking 2 packs a day for many years. It wasn't easy but here are a few tips....try cutting straws in half and sucking on them, that worked for me. Carrot or celery sticks work wonders to.Ice water also works.

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What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.

I was forced to give up smoking after open heart surgery. After enjoying smoking for 30yrs. I did not want to hear that! However it had to be.It helped to work with my hands (knitting, sewing,doing crosswords etc.) The worst times was that one after a meal. For that I tried to get absorbed into a book or gardening (something that used all my concentration) I have been clear now for sixteen years.
For those who are counting my name is Methusulah !!!! Good Luck to you all..

what an interesting thread for a smoker who'd love to quit! longest without a cigarette over the last 25 years (am now 46) is Sat noon till Mon morning one weekend in the mid 90s, a day or two in the late 70s or was it the early 80s, plus the usual NYE and NYD bit; haven't smoked in the house or the car since our eldest was born 8 1/2 years ago .. two of the stories I've heard from those who've done it - keep the last pack with you just in case but never pull one out, take a toothbrush and toothpaste with you and use it when you get the urge. I love the one about screaming and signing!

a couple of questions if I may for you strong willed people who've done it! did the taste of food "improve", did it change? what did u do with your hands? is it true the "hardest" period is six to seven weeks out, or is it just the first few days? how long b4 your morning cough disappeared?

I was interested to see your concerns Gtho4. Make up your mind to do it. Just throuw away those cigarettes (no maybes). Yes food tastes better and the surprise in the difference of the air around you ! I can tell when I am in the company of a smoker by the smell of their clothes. It makes that much difference. One thing I did stipulate is that No one smoked in my house, and where possible I stayed away from smokers. Things to do with your hands?? Tried the computer? Or just use those hands to give your kid an extra hug ! I wish you well

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Ah funzie - using the computer is one of the times when I smoked most heavily, that and watching TV. I would have a cigarette lit almost continuously while using the computer, when one went out I lit another.

It is now over two weeks and until I read this thread again I hadn't thought about smoking at all today, still have no craving. They have now been moved from by the side of my chair to the kitchen cupboard, safe 'just in case'. The knowledge that I can have one if I want is sufficient at present to stop me having one.

I am waiting for my beef jerky - now that could be my smoking substitute I'll suck on that instead.

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From over the pond....

Sorry Sue. I didn't have the computer bridge to cross. However, it seems you are doing great...keep up the good work.
By the way,I am an export from 'over the pond' and they never heard of beef jerky that I know of then. My mum replaced her cigarettes with murray mints.
It seems there is no one solution. Do what works for you,but just do it.You'll be so much better.

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That jerky's on the way, Sue!

I discovered beef jerky in California then found that I couldn't get it anywhere at home. South Africans have something called biltong or something similar and I think it might be much the same from what my daughter tells me - we can't get that either!

Marmite and Turkish Delight are packed and will be posted tomorrow - now Linda, you must only use a tiny amount of Marmite, scrape it on and off as it is very strong. I also quite like it as a drink, a teaspoon full in a mug of boiling water.

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From over the pond....

Head over to the Graham Cracker thread. (I have a question for you, but I didn't want to ask it in this thread as it wouldn't apply to smoking.)