Quitting after 26 years of smoking

originally posted by: wantsome
I've been a smoker for 26 years. I started when I was 14. I smoke between 2-3 packs a day. I quit cold turkey 8 days ago. It's taking every ounce of willpower I have not to go back. Every 15-30 minutes I get a craving attack. I can't sleep I wake up in cold sweats. I can't stop eating.

I've watched a lot of people die from smoking. I know if I don't quit it won't be long till my number is next. I'm 41 I honestly don't think I'll see 50 if I don't quit.

I just need to vent. It's 2:30 am and I don't have anyone to talk to or anything to keep my mind off of it.

Best to quit cold cut, really and in the back of your mind you got to tell yourself i you want to live quit now. Nothing else is so powerful.

a reply to: wantsome

I quit 15 years ago, and i've never had a craving since. I decided one day i didnt want to anymore. I'm not the religious type and never will be, but i reached out and something spoke to me and i to it. And that was the end of it. I woke up without so much as a craving. I've smoked maybe 2 per year, but the craving has never returned.

Keep on going towards your goal, and own it. Always remember, it doesn't own you and never will.

Ah yes.....that old habit...Im around a packer a day. Would love to quit...but its the only thing keeping me from choking the crap out of people. I'd quit off and on over the last 20 years for a couple years at a time, but something would always bring me back. I feel your pain OP I really do......don't give up.....you have come this far.

Try breath mints, chewing gum, toothpicks, candy, sex (preferably with 2 people), chuck e cheese...what ever you have to do to pass the crave.

You'll get through it.

Smoking...a love/hate relationship.....I love to hate it.

a reply to: wantsome

You may want to consider acupuncture, not just for completely quitting, but for the cravings too.

A family member quit smoking after 30 plus years, in what seemed like cold-turkey, however upon further digging he had an licensed acupuncturist place a few needle, at the top of his head, and he was done for good.

Not saying this will work for everyone, but he was a chain smoker too.

a reply to: wantsome


Cough drops and a little nicotine gum not much though. That worked for me. I also had some people I quit with. They are back smoking. I quit about 17 years ago. Smoked about 3 packs a day. Also kept asking myself who was in charge me or the ciggys. Addiction is a bitch. I wish you luck.

a reply to: wantsome

Go cold turkey for sure.
I smoked for 20+ years and when I quit I found that the addiction was twofold, physical and mental.
Your body is accustomed to the constant intake of nicotine, and the other garbage that is pumped into those damn little death sticks.
Your mind is accustomed to being a "smoker" and certain things will trigger you to think "Oh, I should have one" simply because it is a habit and that action has been ingrained into your subconscious as something you do often.
Breaking from the physical aspect is a matter of toughing it out until your body equalizes itself.
Breaking from the mental aspect is a choice, identifying that you trained yourself to be a smoker and that now you are going to train yourself to not be ... mind over matter, control your mind and that crap won't matter.

a reply to: Sapphire

I did the same thing years ago. In my early 20s, I woke up one morning and thought, "God these things are killing me" I worked in the coal mines and between coal dust and cigarettes, [ young and dumb, thought dust masks were for wusses...started wearing one soon after I quit smoking ] my lungs were killing me, so I just put them down and didn't pick them back up for several years. Didn't miss them, no cravings, no nothin'.
Stress drove me back.

Since 2012. Patches will Greatly help. About $50-60 for a three week treatment. Kills the crave, WILD dreams.... I suggest it to anybody wanting to really quit. Both My Daughter and I had success with them. I feel great all these years later. When I walk past a smoker, I do it a bit more rapid, gaaa they gag me now.

a reply to: wantsome

Best wishes to you, and congrats!

Hang in there, keep busy, and keep your mind occupied.

The cravings might never stop, but you have already beat the physical addiction. You are past the hardest part of quitting.

a reply to: wantsome

If you've made it cold turkey for 8 days after 3-4 packs a day (WOW) you've started off well and made it through the first, and hardest, hurdle. Don't give in and start smoking again.

I quit 8 years ago after smoking for 12. It was difficult, but I made it, and never regret it.

Hang in there.

Get a e-cig. they come from high nicotine to zero, a perfect, near cheating way to quit. It'll also allow you to do something besides eat during the hand idle times.

Good luck man. That's the hardest. I've quit a lot in my time but the butts I haven't beaten. If you can get off them now your lungs will completely recover.

a reply to: UncleSoze

Agreed.

After I got over the cravings, I found that the habit aspect/association was hard to kick. Wake up, cig. Have coffee, have a cig. Get in car light a cig. After dinner, having a drink, the "I'm not smoking a cig right now so I guess it's time to light one," etc.

It's that damned association.

What finally worked for me was Rationing and the Nanny Alarms (setting alarms on my phone first at 1 hour intervals then every monday adding 5 mins to the hour, for the ones that passed over bed time I dropped them off.)

Best of wishes on getting that monkey off your back.

originally posted by: wantsome
I've been a smoker for 26 years. I started when I was 14. I smoke between 2-3 packs a day. I quit cold turkey 8 days ago. It's taking every ounce of willpower I have not to go back. Every 15-30 minutes I get a craving attack. I can't sleep I wake up in cold sweats. I can't stop eating.

I've watched a lot of people die from smoking. I know if I don't quit it won't be long till my number is next. I'm 41 I honestly don't think I'll see 50 if I don't quit.

I just need to vent. It's 2:30 am and I don't have anyone to talk to or anything to keep my mind off of it.

Quitter here... the hardest thing you will ever do. Only thing harder is staying quit.

Quickly, go out tomorrow and buy some Nicoderm CQ patches and slap one on. They work wonders to stop the damn craving for nicotine. Not a cure, a crutch.

Expensive as a pack of cigarettes a day habit. So what?

The only thing that helped me get over the initial hump of quitting withdrawals.

The 'program ' is in stages, one thru three. A step down process, each phase is two weeks long ending in six weeks. Double that Do four weeks per step, and marvel at how your craving for nicotine subsides and evaporates.

Far easier than white knuckling every waking minute. I know I've been there, speaking from direct experience.

Good for you man, you made the choice and started down the correct path. Trust me, it takes a while, you may relapse, quitting is a process, you get right back up and try again. Because you know where the alternative road leads, you've seen that.

I've tried several brands, Nicoderm is the best. Others weren't as consistent, fell off during the day or while showering, weren't as effective in controlling urges. Its a time release thing, equalling about a pack a day habit.

Now go out and get the Patch... Target, Walmart, Pharmacies, etc.

Nicoderm 21 mg. two week supply, step one

(this isn't an ad, its a life ring)

I wish you the best of luck! I also started smoking at a very young age and hardly remember life before it. The only thing that's worked for me to quit was vaping. It's getting close to two years now smoke free and can even go to the bars without a craving. If you decide to give it a try def buy online, it'll save you lots of $. I'd also happily give you advice if want. Stay strong, you can do it!

a reply to: wantsome

try to replace eating with exercise or something else. I quit about 18 years ago and still haven't lost the chubby belly. But I'm still a non smoker. Remembering how incredibly bad it sucked to quit was my motivation to NEVER EVER go through that again. As you know, it's hell, but it keeps getting better from here. Food tastes different, better. Breathing is easier. You realize how horrible you smelled before, when you get close to a smoker.

You can make it, and it won't be easy, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you didn't let those little bastards beat you.

The problem with smoking is that it gets you both ways. The substance is addictive and the delivery system is habit forming. But here is the brilliant news, nicotine is metabolised very quickly which is why your cravings begin around thirty minuets after your last smoke. That also means that after seven days not smoking all nicotine has left your system and you are no longer physically addicted.

The habit exists in your mind and just remember that when you feel the psychological need to smoke that nothing terrible is happening to you. Something amazing is happening and you are going to feel steadily better with every passing second. Stay away from Nicotine replacement therapy and vaping, and get out there and start enjoying the wonder of not being a smoker. Fresh air, more money, better health, more free time, exercise, fresh breath and clothing. Start your life again and love every second of it. In a very short time you will be a healthier and happier person.

Try Alan Carr's EasyWay if you haven't already, it really works. There are no scare tactics and you feel great about quitting right from the beginning.

originally posted by: CulturalResilience
Stay away from Nicotine replacement therapy and vaping.

Most people who quit smoking cold turkey fail. The Nic replacement treatment, and especially vaping have had outstanding success rates.

Why would you recommend a person avoid the things proven to work far better than nothing?

a reply to: SaturnFX
Because it's the nicotine that is physically addictive, so it is better to do it without it, if you can. If you can't and you instead use NRT and manage to quit you did it in spite of and not because of. There are much higher instances of those who initially quit using NRT returning to the habit. Cold Turkey is not so hard if you have the right approach, as I can attest to from personal experience.