Any advice for quitting smoking?

I haven't smoked one since 8:00 yesterday evening. I am about to go nuts.
I spent most of the day scouting for deer trying to keep myself occupied. It seems to be working; and I also found a couple new spots to hang my stand this fall. One looks like a good place for coyote too.
Thanks for all the advice guys. Please keep the support coming, I'm going to need it.
 
Also, I went through alot of GUM. After a few days, my gums were swolen and me teeth hurt like hell from chewing so much gum. You quickly learn which gums stay soft longer and retain flavor the best.
 
Dentine ICE was my favorite . The sticks, not the squares in bubble packets. Also liked dentine spirmint.

Extra was some of the worst. got hard fast and falvor didnt last long.
 
...GC... in answer to your questions..

I, for one, started smoking for the first time at the age of 13, when I started the 7th grade, and we went from the Elementary School to the High School building, where the supervision was much more relaxed. We were allowed to go to town for lunch, and we used this time for smoking, etc. (This was in a very small town, population 562.)

I started because a lot of the boys in my class were smoking, too. Mine was not a habit, at that time, but gradually became one.

I tried to quit, several times, on my own, but was finally successful 18 years ago. I have been smoke-free for these 18 years, and plan to be for the rest of my (long) life!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif


GC, in your line of work have you noticed the following?:

When a kid becomes "independent" (i.e. moves out, gets driver's license, gets their own vehicle, or a job, etc) from Mom and Dad, it seems that one of the first things they do is start smoking. At least, that is the way it seems to me. I see a lot of young people in and out of my business, every day, and a lot of them are smokers. A good portion has just started, following a recent life-style change.

Is this a statement of "independence"?

Anyhow, just a minor observation, from a reformed smoker.
--------------------

On the subject of quitting smoking, one piece of advice:

You can't quit smoking, tomorrow. You have to do it, TODAY!!!


You can't wait until after you finish this pack, this carton, until next Wednesday, etc. You have to make up your mind to do it, NOW!!!
------------
Also, just as an alcoholic can never be a "social drinker", I feel that a former smoker can never be a "social smoker". One time, I had been off cigarettes for 7 years, and sitting in the break room at work, with a bunch of smokers, made me want a cigarette so badly that I could have eaten one. I thought that "just one cigarette" wouldn't hurt.

WRONG!!!!!!!!

It took me about 6 more years to get off of cigarettes, that time, after "just one"!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif


God Bless.
 
1) How old were you when you began smoking?

I started smoking regularly when I was 12 or 13. I'm 53 now.

2) Why did you begin?

I wanted to be "cool", just like the Big Kids. Most of our parents smoked back then too, so it was an "adult" thing to do, and what kid doesn't want to be an adult.

When I started junior high school we were no longer required to eat lunch in the cafeteria. I would go and "hang out" for lunch at a burger joint that was down the street and frequented by high schoolers too.

I'm not sure it would have made a difference ultimately, but cigarettes were very easy to get back then. There was a cigarette machine ($.35 a pack) right next to the jukebox.

I started smoking pot and drinking pretty soon afterwards (California in the '60s) and for pretty much the same reasons.

I experimented with other stuff too, but fortunately, I have never liked needles (still don't) so I never tried anything really destructive.

I thank my lucky stars there was no "crack" back then, I might have been in real trouble.

By the way, I was a straight "A" student, on the football and rifle teams, a member of the marching band, involved with school and community theater, a patrol leader and "Order of the Arrow" member in Boy Scouts working on Eagle Scout (never finished my community service project), and a YMCA and Church camp counselor.

I was definitely NOT considered a "bad seed". I was one of the "good eggs", and all the "good eggs" I hung out with were doing the same things (smoking/drinking/drugs).

3) How many times have you tried to quit?

I just kind of "grew up" and got out of the pot/drugs thing by the time I was in my mid twenties, not really a conscious effort to "quit drugs", it just kind of drifted away.

I quit drinking when I got custody of and became a single parent to my daughter when she was three, cause I figured it was irresponsible (I tended to get drunk when I drank). She's an adult now but I don't have any desire to "alter my state of consciousness" so I still don't drink other than an occasional half glass of really expensive wine at my sister's house (she's in the wine business and looks for a non wine drinkers opinion sometimes).

Cigarettes? Oh Wow is that a different story!!! I have tried to quit more times than I can count.

At one point I found myself with a patch on my arm, nicotine gum in my mouth, and a cigarette in my hand, REALLY STUPID.

I kick myself now because I had the perfect opportunity to quit many times and didn't even try. I was a saturation (deep sea) diver for many years and would spend four to six weeks in a chamber where I couldn't smoke. When my time was up and I decompressed and "hit the surface", the first thing I would do is light up a cigarette.

I spend very long hours driving a truck now, and find myself smoking three packs of cigarettes a day sometimes. They are a way to stay alert and awake.

I HAVE TO QUIT!!! I'm working on getting off the road in the very near future and changing professions so I can help raise my grandson. My plan is to quit at that time, no matter what it takes.

To be honest, the thought is more than a little scary. I know it's going to be very unpleasant because I've tried it before. But THIS TIME I'M GOING TO SEE IT THROUGH!!

GC, tell those kids you teach that smoking is the WORST thing they can do. There are many casual drinkers and even casual drug users. THERE ARE NO CASUAL SMOKERS. You are either a non-smoker or YOU'RE AN ADDICT!!
 
I used to smoke 2 packs a day for 18 years, i had tried just about everything to Quit, Acue-Punture,filters,shots,chew-gum(cold-Turkey)That almost got me fired from work........then they came out with Nicotine-Patches........

I was smoke free in 6 weeks, did the 23 mg
for 2 weeks the 12mg for 2 weeks and the 7mg for 2 weeks and was able to smell and taste food differntly than I could remember in the past..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My friends repainted the inside of my house for me becuase the smell of Nicotne made me sick to walk in the door, thru out all replacable items rugs, mini-blinds and so forth.......had stanly steamer come in with smoke remover for Carpet and cleaned it and Havent smelled like smoke sence..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Now i get ill, getting around anyone who smokes, camels are the worst stench of all............. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif

I have also put on some weight, after i quit, aproxx 40 lbs over 3 years......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Good luck.........RickH2
 
Slayer,

I'll pray for you! I was a One to Two can a day Copenhagen "dipper" more like just a DIP for more than 20 years. I "quit" about 7 or 8 times before it finally stuck. Whatever you do - DON'T beat yourself up if you relapse - just plan to start quitting again right away and be determined and it will happen.

According to my Dr. - Copenhagen had as much niccotine in one can as 6 - 7 packs of cigarettes. So I was REALLY hooked.

Best of luck and stay with it whatever you do!

Jay
 
Like everyone else I quit several times. At breaktime or in a drinking envirement a cig looked like filet mignon. The last time several years ago I had a wisdom tooth removed and had preplanned quitting. The doc gave me some pills and when able I chewed gum or small candies. Extra gum, dark blue pack was the best for me. Still don't know where the money goes that was saved? Good Luck
 
RedFrog, your tounge in cheek comment about quiting a dozen times made me think of another co-worker that was at the break table the day I asked my friend about his continuing to smoke after seeing his father die from it. This guy boldly stated that "I can quit easily...I have done it a dozen times". After a pregnant pause, I looked at him and said "don't you see the irony in what you just said". He never would admit that he never really quit.
 
It seems to me that there is enough of us smokers who don't want to be smokers anymore, we should pin a Smokers becoming ex-smokers support thread at the top. All of us quit together.
 
GS it's somewhat like dieters stating "I lost 100 lbs". 10 lbs the first time, 10 lbs the second time etc. Or like gamblers, "I won $3000, I won $800, my wife won $1600". you never hear about the loss since nobody ever loses at gambling.
 
I did the Welbutrin and patches program. Army paid for it all. At least I had one positive experience during my deployment.

You have to be ready to quit. I did it for my daughter. It's been a year now since I quit. I smoked a pack a day for 15 years, moving up to 2 packs a day while I was in country.

You also need to have the proper timing to quit. If you have any planned events that you know will be major stressors, wait until they pass. I tried quitting before I got deployed. Once I got activated I started again. Tried quitting while at our mobilization point. Started again when I got in country. After I had been there 9 months and came back from R&R I was finally ready to quit.

Part of smoking is the oral fixation of hand-to-mouth repitition. Keeping some coffee stir stick straws handy helped. I could inhale on one of those like I would a cigarette and that action would satisfy that need.

Once you no longer smoke you will quickly come to realize just how offensive the odor of cigarettes is on clothing, your breath, etc.

My wife still smokes, much to my chagrin. She tried the gum but couldn't stand it and he skin welted up in reaction to the adhesive in the patches. She tried the "laser therapy" which passes itself off as some kind of accupunture, but to me is nothing more than power of suggestion. She stopped smoking for a couple weeks after the program but quickly started back up again.

More than anything take it one day at a time. The first couple of weeks are the hardest while your body weans off the nicotine. Having a good habbit to replace smoking with will help, in addition to putting yourself into situations and places where you can't smoke.
 
Booger & Leon,
Thanks for your candid answers. Very, very, typical from what I understand. Peer pressure to be cool, circle of friends, adult like, independance, be tough, older girlfriend/boyfriend, enviroment at home, ect...

It's so hard to get young people to think of long term risk. They live for the moment, and, think they're bulletproof. It's also hard to get them to grasp the ideal that cigarette addiction is as hard/worse to kick than addiction to what they consider "hard" drugs, such as meth, cocaine, ect... They don't understand the pathway that cigarettes can sometimes lead a young person toward. Another problem are the country boys and their dip/chew. "Oh, I don't smoke those nasty cigarettes!" You try to explain the health risk and addiction that chew can have, and they just don't seem to put the two together. It's tougher job than one might imagine. I'm not a preacher. I don't judge them, however, nor do I condone illegal or bad behavior. I just want them to make an educated decision and be aware of the risk and how important responsible decisions they make today can be for them in the future.
 
I quit drinking and smoking at the same time, talk about a double whammy to the system, damn near killed me and everyone around me. One day I decided I was going to do it, and I did. At my next Doctors appointment he almost fell out of his chair and was dumb founded, took all of my vital signs and instead of 8 prescriptions I got one. And that one is for back problems. Did that last year, now even my back feels better without all of the coughing I used to do. The secret, is you just have to want to quit, nothing else, from 3 packs and a 6 pack a day to nothing. And the money saved helps to pay for our trip to the mountains of New Mexico every summer for 2 months while it is hot here in Texas.
 
I don't have the time to respond to this in the detail that it deserves but I want to highlight a couple of quick things, sorry for not giving credit where it is due, but you know who you are!

1. Dipping is the all-time ball buster to quit. AS mentioned the intake of nicotine is much higher than fron cig.'s
2. This is one of the strongest addictions known to man.
3. When experiencing a strong urge after you quit occupy yourself any way possible. It will pass. That was one of the great things about the treatment that i mentioned earlier. I had those urges, but I was able to meet them head on, recognize them for what they were, and they would pass in minutes.
4. All of the vices a teen can get in to - it ain't just the bad eggs experimenting.

Have to run, for GC's usage I'd like to post a "good" bad example story, that'll have to wait. Long story short, I wanted to be a rock star and had the habits and the hair to prove it.
 
VS - Hang tough, it can be done. Others have done it, and, so can YOU!

JoeF,
Quote:
4. All of the vices a teen can get in to - it ain't just the bad eggs experimenting.



That's been mentioned a couple of times and I agree 100%. In fact, I've said this many times - "I firmly believe that of every 1,000 kids, 990 are either excellent kids, pretty darn good, or at least alright - struggling but have a good heart and good intentions. The shame is that the 10 remaining dictate the rules for all the others!"

When I first began working in the schools an old Principal told me, "Gary, you'll quickly begin to know the top 10% of your class. They are the bright, well dressed and mannered kids, sitting in the front of the class. They'll always have their hand up offering the right answer. They're fun and cheerful and you'll rely on them to lead your lesson where it needs to go. They have the right home enviroment and your lesson will be fun for them and a good reinforcement of what their parents teach them daily. You'll learn their names easily.

You'll also quickly learn about your bottom 10%. They aren't so well dressed, some are pretty unkept and not so well mannered. You'll learn their names very quickly too.
Your lessons will be counter to everything they see in their lives at home. Be patient and work hard for these kids.

Then, there are the 80% in the middle. These are good kids trying to get through the day. They are good stock, come to school every day, keep their work caught up, and basically try to do the right thing. They may not always sit right in the front of the class, be the best dressed, or be the best athelete. They may not always have exactly the right answer. Whatever you do, learn their names too! These kids can go either way in life. Have fun with them, be patient and work just as hard with them."

I've found that solid advise over the years. It irks me to see classroom teachers pick favorites. I know it's a natural thing to do. I don't in my classes. In for a penny, in for a pound, we're all the same and I treat all my kids the same way in and out of class. I sit at all the tables in the lunchroom and understand that all of them have their pressures applied the same in their own niche. I don't believe in good kids and bad kids. I do believe in kids! Some will talk so badly about what they consider "bad kids" and praise to high heaven another "good kid." I sit there and know that the "good kid" is doing everything the "bad kid" is. Or worse. Usually the "bad kid" is whole lot more honest about his behaviors than the "good kid." Somehow that seems to get ignored far too often and we allow people to make mistakes because of who they are or what part of the town or county they come from. Sorry for the rant, but that's a pet peeve of mine.
 
Great post GC. My oldest son had his foot almost in both the top and middle up until his junior year in High school and then something happened and he started moving to the bottom side of the middle. He is a good person that I hope will finally catch on to what makes life successful...not mediocre. He has the potential to accomplish anything in life he wants. I just hope he wants the right things out of life.

I thought I had trained him to be a good little robot when it came to knowing what the vices in life were and that he would avoid them because of my programming. Then along came a girlfriend who showed him smoking. Then came drinking. Later (once again against Dad's strong advice) he accepted a puff from something at a party he did not know what it was and got a buzz he liked (MJ) and that eventually led him into other drugs. He now still drinks heavily and will admit to me that he probably would not pass a drug test for the MJ habit.

I am hopeful that if he can kick the smoking habit that will give him the courage and confidence to stop the MJ and drinking for his sake and his families sake.

Moral of the story....The power of snatch over Mom and Dad's advice was too strong. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
 
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68 now, started smoking at 13, quit at 33. My cardiologist told me that was the BEST thing I ever did for my body and I believe him.

The people that you love..and that love you will really appreciate your quitting.

Hang tough!
 
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