I'm trying to quit smoking and I'm going out of my fing mind...

[Kerouactivist]

I'm a pack a day smoker, if I go out to the bar, I'll smoke two packs that day....

Anyway, I decided to quit. I'm in my mid-twenties and I want to start living a healthier lifestyle..

But, I'm going crazy..... I really didn't think it was going to be this bad. I smoked one pack over the last three days, having my last smoke this morning, and I'm going nuts right now.. About once every 15 minutes, an idle thought of, "Crap I better go to the gas station and get smokes, I'm out".

I almost get up and outta the chair, then I realize wtf am I doing.....

I feel really anxious, nervous, extremely moody, and totally restless...

It's really wierd, Nicotine is freaking crack man.

I hope I can make it....

I bought two quit smoking things today, (stop-it smoking and "wisdom of the ages" wise choice) I'm taking the "wise choice" now it doesn't seem to be doing any good....

I had know idea it was going to be this freaking bad.

 

[MX2]

I wish you well. Just remember, your life is worth more than giving in to this temporary anxiety. It'll pass and you will feel much better having beat it

 

[montanafan]

Some things that worked for people I know who quit.

Get some fireballs or red hots. They said that if they tried to smoke after having them in their mouth it was really unpleasant.

Try to break the pattern or location of things you'd do when you smoked the most.

Remember that even though the cravings come along quite often at first, they only last a very short time. Find something different to do when the cravings hit to lessen your focusing on them. Ex.- Pick up some dumbells and do reps or some other exercise.

Keep a chart. Every time you have a craving and don't smoke make a mark on it. Some said just seeing that grow made them feel good. Others would reward themselves some way for every so many marks.

When you have the cravings try to think of all the positives of not smoking - health, saving money, clothes and breath not stinking, etc.

Don't go out and buy a pack so that you can have just one when the cravings get really bad. It makes it way to easy to start again.

One guy kept a jar with some old butts in it and when it had a craving he would put some water in the jar and take a whiff. He said the stink stopped the craving in its tracks.

Good Luck!

Edit: A couple of other things.

Start thinking of yourself as a non-smoker, not a smoker who isn't smoking right now. Sounds silly, but some say it helps.

When you're looking for something to do instead of smoking when you get a craving, don't eat to stop it. It doesn't really help because most people want to smoke after eating and it's the main reason some people gain weight when they quit smoking. Do the exercise thing or something good for you instead.

Tell people that you've stopped smoking. The possibility of looking like a failure if you start again can be an incentive to keep you from picking them up again.

 

[bamacre]

Gotta do it cold turkey. And if you ever smoke another cigarette, you'll be right back where you started. You have to tell yourself, "zero cig's for the rest of my life."

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

It's worth the effort of not smoking, a year from now you'll be glad you didn't.

 

[redgtxdi]

Kudos to Montanafan..............that's an EXCELLENT post!!!

Fortunately, I never had the desire to smoke. I even tried back in the day by bummin' cigs of a buddy 2 weekends in a row. By the 3rd weekend, I just couldn't. I just couldn't put 'em in my mouth.

Glad I never picked up the habit. It's a bad one.

Oh, also lost an uncle (dad's brother) to lung cancer last year. He was 51 and fit as a fiddle, but the ciggy's got him!!! They even thought they had him cured of cancer & it came back with a vengeance after only 2 weeks in remissions & claimed his life 2 weeks later. NO MERCY!

Scary sheott, for sure!

 

[Kelvrick]

I've been hearing things about some kind of laser/light hypnosis thingy. Have you thought of that?

Anyone else know anything about it?

 

[aplefka]

Well, like the others have said, use a chart and do it cold turkey. This is a very effective way to quit any kind of habit. Marking progress helps you see where you're at. Also, for every craving you have put a quarter into a jar. Get a large jar (or several) and keep doing this until you reach a point where you no longer get cravings, then take all the quarters to a coinstar and reward yourself with something. Chances are with the money you save in just 6 months you could probably afford a sweet new vid card or have a lot of extra gas money (which at this rate you'll need) or whatever.

Just be happy that rather than investing those quarters into a faster death you've used them for something positive.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

get a life and it will help you quit...either that or masturbate furiously

 

[datalink7]

Get a big glass jar.

Every time you would normally go buy smokes, throw the same amount of cash in the jar instead.

Watch it fill up as motivation. When it is full go buy something nice (or take a nice vacation).

 

[Koenigsegg]

Start neffing like crazy.

 

[Xylitol]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Get a big glass jar.

Every time you would normally go buy smokes, throw the same amount of cash in the jar instead.

Watch it fill up as motivation. When it is full go buy something nice (or take a nice vacation).

Make it REALLY big
Good luck though

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
get a life and it will help you quit...either that or masturbate furiously

omfg this post FTW!

 

[KillyKillall]

get some hard candy..werthers originals worked for me

 

[SketchMaster]

One thing I hear helps is to get some chewable vitamin C and every time you get a craving, just pop one in your mouth. They taste kinda like sweet tarts.

this will help replace somking with something else and the vitamins will detoxify you faster making it easier to quit. Don't worry about OD, the worst that can happen is you get the craps.

Good luck!

 

[ViRGE]

One other piece of advice: avoid bars for the next 6 months. For a smoker just quitting, they're the absolute worst place you could be, both because the air is filled with smoke, and because alcohol will reduce your resolve to keep from smoking. Many people have lost their fights because they went in to a bar just once even a couple of months after quitting.

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: bamacre
Gotta do it cold turkey. And if you ever smoke another cigarette, you'll be right back where you started. You have to tell yourself, "zero cig's for the rest of my life."

Yup.

 

[Kerouactivist]

Seriously, thanks for all the comments and tips. I'm going to try the other quit smoking pack today, the one with the lozenges (for the cravings) hopefully this will help.

Oh and I still haven't smoked and I feel pretty good this morning but, I am kinda hacking crap up outta mine lungs which is kind of irregular.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: bthorny
I'm a pack a day smoker, if I go out to the bar, I'll smoke two packs that day....

Anyway, I decided to quit. I'm in my mid-twenties and I want to start living a healthier lifestyle..

But, I'm going crazy..... I really didn't think it was going to be this bad. I smoked one pack over the last three days, having my last smoke this morning, and I'm going nuts right now.. About once every 15 minutes, an idle thought of, "Crap I better go to the gas station and get smokes, I'm out".

I almost get up and outta the chair, then I realize wtf am I doing.....

I feel really anxious, nervous, extremely moody, and totally restless...

It's really wierd, Nicotine is freaking crack man.

I hope I can make it....

I bought two quit smoking things today, (stop-it smoking and "wisdom of the ages" wise choice) I'm taking the "wise choice" now it doesn't seem to be doing any good....

I had now idea it was going to be this freaking bad.

do you know how many more hot chicks are going to want to fvck you now that you've quit?

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster
One thing I hear helps is to get some chewable vitamin C and every time you get a craving, just pop one in your mouth. They taste kinda like sweet tarts.

this will help replace somking with something else and the vitamins will detoxify you faster making it easier to quit. Don't worry about OD, the worst that can happen is you get the craps.

Good luck!

Did you happen to hear that from Tom Cruise?

 

[alien42]

its all in your mind. i had my last cigarette on may 25th of this year after smoking for almost 10 years. i quit cold turkey and it was actually quite easy because i put my mind to it. i wish you luck but remember only you can make it easy

 

[mattocs]

It is hard...but worth it. Never say 'Oh, what the hell, i'll have one more!' because that just keeps going. After a few days, it'll become better.


Good luck!

 

[AmerDoux]

Nicotine remains in your system for 3-5 days. Once you pass the 5 day mark, all of your cravings are habit. Psychologists say it takes 21 days to create a habit, either good or bad. Focus on breaking the bad habit of smoking and replacing it with a good habit. That could be drinking a glass of water, going for a walk, etc. Anything that you do not normally tie in with or is incompatible with smoking will work. Someone earlier mentioned staying away from bars. Excellent idea. You should also identify what other triggers you have to your smoking habit. Some typical triggers are waking in the morning, after meals, driving in the car, etc. If you are aware of what your triggers are, you can plan to insert your good, replacement habit at this time. Another idea that works is to make a list on a 3x5 card of the pro's and cons of smoking. Whenever you have a craving, take the card out and really review that list. Ask yourself if you are willing to give up any progress you have made towards achieving it. Lastly, if you have insurance, see if you can join a smoking cessation program. Studies show that you have a better chance of succeeding if you go thru one of these programs. If you are really having a terrible time of quitting, you might also consider asking your doctor for the pill (Wellbutrin) to help you. It removes the cravings going on in your brain and makes the taste of cigarettes physically unpleasant. This helps you get thru that first month while you are breaking that old, nasty habit and creating good, healthy ones.

Best of luck!

 

[ThePresence]

I was able to quit a 10 year pack a day habit cold-turkey, 7 months ago. It wasn't easy, the cravings were and still are strong, but each time I feel like I need a smoke I think to myself if I want to live past 50 and I fight the feelings off. I will never smoke again. :beer: for you, it's not easy, but it's possible.

 

[allisolm]

The best of luck to you!

The cravings do lessen and get farther apart. Deal with them one at a time. When one hits, do something to take your mind off it. Get up. Move around. Play a game. Do a chore. etc. There's only one cigarette you have to avoid - the next one. Thinking about them like that made it easier for me, anyway. Maybe it will help you. If you need help from lozenges, patches, gum, take it! Anything that makes it work is a good thing.

I quit after many, many years of pack a day smoking. Used the patch. It worked for me.