Give Up Smoking or Die Trying
Discussion
Colonial said:
DoubleTime said:
I'd recommend the book by Alan Car to anyone who is in doubt that a book can change your outlook to smoking.
I was one of the worst types of smokers. Some times wake up at night and go for one etc.
After reading that book I stopped almost immediately. Granted, I did relapse but I was now convinced that I could do it and that it was largely a spell that we convince our self that we are under which ultimately compounds the nicotine addiction to the point where we can feel hopeless.
Managed a few half hearted attempts thereafter that were then followed by one properly focused final one a couple years down the line after reading the book where I replaced my cravings with taking deep breaths and a small walk outside. It worked like a charm.
Hope this helps out at least 1 person.
Seconded. I was one of the worst types of smokers. Some times wake up at night and go for one etc.
After reading that book I stopped almost immediately. Granted, I did relapse but I was now convinced that I could do it and that it was largely a spell that we convince our self that we are under which ultimately compounds the nicotine addiction to the point where we can feel hopeless.
Managed a few half hearted attempts thereafter that were then followed by one properly focused final one a couple years down the line after reading the book where I replaced my cravings with taking deep breaths and a small walk outside. It worked like a charm.
Hope this helps out at least 1 person.
I was amazed at how well it worked.
Cigarette smoking is one of the most bizarre 'habits' out there and bloody expensive too.
I tried everything to give up for many years but - in hindsight - I don't think I was psychologically ready to stop. Last Christmas was a turning point for me - I was starting a new exercise regime and the cigs were a major barrier and I realised that I wanted to stop rather than just feeling that I ought to stop. I was on 30 Marlboro a day at that point.
I had previously read the Alan Carr book (stopped for a few months but went back to smoking), did one of his clinics (did not work as I had heard it all in the book), tried Zyban, cold turkey, patches etc.
So I thought I would try hypnotherapy. I was very skeptical but I work within walking distance of Harley Street and there was a stop smoking hypnotherapist there who could do an afterwork appointment at a day's notice, so I booked. 90 minutes later I left his practice, not feeling massively different but fairly relaxed about not smoking that evening. So I thought, let's take it a day at a time.
I then did not touch a ciggie for 7 months and, interestingly, did not have any physical cravings and really did not struggle at all to stay off them.
I had a vape occasionally - but not for the first 6 months. The only time I lapsed was on holiday in Dubai - vaping is illegal out there so I smoked. Back to the UK and the cigs went in the bin and I have not been tempted to buy any more.
For me, I was very surprised that the hypnosis worked but - in hindsight - it demonstrated that (for me) smoking is entirely psychological. The horrendous cravings that you hear about are not real - it is just your mind exaggerating what is, in reality, a pretty mild withdrawal from nicotine.
I can safely say that I will never be a smoker again and that is a great feeling. Not having that panic about running out of cigarettes, a long plane journey, long meetings at work where you cannot take a break, is so refreshing.
Good luck to all of you who are quitting. There really is no downside and it can be easier than you think.
I had previously read the Alan Carr book (stopped for a few months but went back to smoking), did one of his clinics (did not work as I had heard it all in the book), tried Zyban, cold turkey, patches etc.
So I thought I would try hypnotherapy. I was very skeptical but I work within walking distance of Harley Street and there was a stop smoking hypnotherapist there who could do an afterwork appointment at a day's notice, so I booked. 90 minutes later I left his practice, not feeling massively different but fairly relaxed about not smoking that evening. So I thought, let's take it a day at a time.
I then did not touch a ciggie for 7 months and, interestingly, did not have any physical cravings and really did not struggle at all to stay off them.
I had a vape occasionally - but not for the first 6 months. The only time I lapsed was on holiday in Dubai - vaping is illegal out there so I smoked. Back to the UK and the cigs went in the bin and I have not been tempted to buy any more.
For me, I was very surprised that the hypnosis worked but - in hindsight - it demonstrated that (for me) smoking is entirely psychological. The horrendous cravings that you hear about are not real - it is just your mind exaggerating what is, in reality, a pretty mild withdrawal from nicotine.
I can safely say that I will never be a smoker again and that is a great feeling. Not having that panic about running out of cigarettes, a long plane journey, long meetings at work where you cannot take a break, is so refreshing.
Good luck to all of you who are quitting. There really is no downside and it can be easier than you think.
Day 13 as a non-smoker for me and day 10 for my wife.
Last week I took my kids (5 & 8) to Tenerife on my own as my wife had to work and no summer camps run in Berkshire. The Friday night before we were due to leave on the Saturday, I saw a superb Hypnotherapist in Woodley. Whilst it certainly isn't a magic bullet, it has been the least painful way to quit so far. My wife and I have been "hiding" from our kids since we started again in the hope they wouldn't see us smoking (absurd) - this week away was the perfect time to knock it on the head once and for all.
Absolutely committed to staying a non-smoker this time. The 2 times I have sustained cessation (3 years and 2 years), it was deaths in my immediate family that brought me right back to the weed. Whilst I'm bloody hopeful another death doesn't occur any time soon, I feel better prepared and significantly more committed this time.
Thanks to the chap further up the thread who spoke about his experiences with Hypnotherapy.
Last week I took my kids (5 & 8) to Tenerife on my own as my wife had to work and no summer camps run in Berkshire. The Friday night before we were due to leave on the Saturday, I saw a superb Hypnotherapist in Woodley. Whilst it certainly isn't a magic bullet, it has been the least painful way to quit so far. My wife and I have been "hiding" from our kids since we started again in the hope they wouldn't see us smoking (absurd) - this week away was the perfect time to knock it on the head once and for all.
Absolutely committed to staying a non-smoker this time. The 2 times I have sustained cessation (3 years and 2 years), it was deaths in my immediate family that brought me right back to the weed. Whilst I'm bloody hopeful another death doesn't occur any time soon, I feel better prepared and significantly more committed this time.
Thanks to the chap further up the thread who spoke about his experiences with Hypnotherapy.
Gargamel said:
So its day two of "Stoptober" which has become a pretty big campaign these days.
Anyone else on day two ?
I haven't had a cigarette since the 16th of Stoptember so I have a bit of a head start. I went to the pub on Saturday for the first time since then and substituted the 10 or so cigarettes I’d normally smoke on a Saturday night at the pub with a vape. Anyone else on day two ?
I’ve been ‘social smoking’ for about 8 years, generally managing to avoid smoking altogether Sunday to Thursday but binging and smoking 10 or more when I go out on Friday or Saturday night.
I don’t seem to enjoy vaping as much as smoking but it did the job with only 3mg nicotine in the juice. I think my preferred direction from here would be to stop vaping rather than start smoking again so I suppose that’s ideal.
8 years for me now, and believe it or not it does get easier - it just depends how much you want it as to whether you get through the toughest first weeks/months.
I never got on with giving up for new year, it just never worked and was always the wrong time.
In the end it just dawned on me that I was slowly killing myself, and costing myself a fortune for that privilege. I used the patches to give up, and in fairness without them I'd still be smoking today. Spent a good couple of years on them full time, against the advice of the instructions and my GP. Fast forward 5 years and he's now in agreement that it was the best thing I could have done, as up to that point nothing had worked.
For me it was about breaking the actual habit of smoking, and keeping it that way for long enough that going outside and lighting up would now seem alien. You need change too, for me it was the birth of our son and a house move. Looking back I genuinely believe those 2 things had a massive impact, although at the time I wasn't realising it. The house move took away the familiarity of walking out and standing in that same place every hour, and our son provided me with the distraction and always gave me something to do.
I can honestly say I'm 100% sure I will never touch another one, ever.
I never got on with giving up for new year, it just never worked and was always the wrong time.
In the end it just dawned on me that I was slowly killing myself, and costing myself a fortune for that privilege. I used the patches to give up, and in fairness without them I'd still be smoking today. Spent a good couple of years on them full time, against the advice of the instructions and my GP. Fast forward 5 years and he's now in agreement that it was the best thing I could have done, as up to that point nothing had worked.
For me it was about breaking the actual habit of smoking, and keeping it that way for long enough that going outside and lighting up would now seem alien. You need change too, for me it was the birth of our son and a house move. Looking back I genuinely believe those 2 things had a massive impact, although at the time I wasn't realising it. The house move took away the familiarity of walking out and standing in that same place every hour, and our son provided me with the distraction and always gave me something to do.
I can honestly say I'm 100% sure I will never touch another one, ever.
22 said:
Needed to get a life cover quote for a business thing and was glad I'm a non-smoker these days.
Anyone struggling? I struggled for years, but got there in the end. This thread certainly played its part.
I quit for 7yrs then got back on them. Need to give up new year but finding it really hard again. All help and guidance gratefully received Anyone struggling? I struggled for years, but got there in the end. This thread certainly played its part.
FocusRS3 said:
I quit for 7yrs then got back on them. Need to give up new year but finding it really hard again. All help and guidance gratefully received
For me, it was part of a change of lifestyle, so I also started to exercise a bit. This had 2 benefits (a) you do not feel you are giving something up, more you are changing for the better and (b) the LAST thing you want after a run is a fag!Best of luck.
Piginapoke said:
For me, it was part of a change of lifestyle, so I also started to exercise a bit. This had 2 benefits (a) you do not feel you are giving something up, more you are changing for the better and (b) the LAST thing you want after a run is a fag!
Best of luck.
You have to actually enjoy exercise for this to work though. Anyone that struggles to enjoy it will just find it compounds the problem, your giving up something you enjoy and also starting something you dont, a double whammy.Best of luck.
However, if you do enjoy it you’ll quickly become hooked. Nothing makes quitting easier than seeing real benefits to the things you enjoy, and you quickly find the exercise gets easier, and you can run, swim, cycle faster and for longer.
That’s a massive motivating factor if you enjoy it in the first place, made even sweeter when the pounds start dropping off the waist and also accumulating in the pocket.
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