Those who quit smoking?

[Deadtrees]

I've been a smoker for 12 years usually smoking 1 pack per day.
I once quite smoking for 2 month when I was apporaching 2rd year of smoking and it was not a big deal.

Just two days ago, I stopped smoking due to being broke and it just felt terrible; my body felt very strange like I was having a minor seizure and I just couldn't function. All I could do was thinking that I need/want cigaretts. It reminded of the time when I was at the boot camp. The food they provided didn't contain any form of suger and the sugar craving that I didn't even know of was killing me and the others as well. It was the crazy hot summer time and my fellow soldiers and I were saying that we'd sell the sould for a can of cold coke. Well, smoking after that was like heaven on earth, far better than getting laid for the first time.

For those of you who quit smoking or any form of addictions, can you tell me how long you'd been doing it and how it was when you quit it?

 

[theprodigalrebel]

It sucked balls so I started again.

 

[cudzich09]

I somoked for 1.5 years, I quit because of the same problem that you have I was broke, and also because I moved to US. And I was only 12 years old. I felt normal, maybe because I was only a kid.

 

[Nitemare]

smoked for 12 years and quit 10 years ago, yeah it was horrible since all my friends & co-workers smoked and most of my family did as well.

There was no such thing as a smoke free bar/pool hall either.

But when I smoked I could get a carton of name brand smokes for less than 10 bucks.

 

[SuperjetMatt]

I smoked for the better part of eight years and quit cold turkey five years ago.
I still miss it sometimes.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Go see your doctor. They have a medication that will get you off them in 6 weeks or 12 weeks....(depending on which one you choose).

2 people I work with went through the program and have quit. One smoked for 25 years and she hasn't had a cigarette in 8 months.... Best part is that we walk together in the mornings sometimes and I can tell she's able to breathe a lot better now from when we first started. Quit for your health. Good luck.

 

[ThePresence]

I did a pack a day for 10 years and stopped cold turkey.
Haven't had a smoke in 3+ years.
IMHO stopping because you are broke is not going to last. The minute you have the money you'll be smoking again.
You have to really want to quit. You need a strong resolve.
One thing that helped me stop was telling all my smoking friends that I quit. I'd feel like an idiot smoking with them after that.
Also, many people say to avoid the places and situations where you'd normally have smoked.
I did the opposite. The first thing i did when I quit is go to the bar and to the area and friends I smoked with at work.
I knew that if I did it without having a smoke it would only get easier.

 

[nervegrind3r]

I smoked on and off for like 10 years, and its sucks when you cant run around for 5 minutes without gasping for breath. I just quit cold turkey about a bit more than a year ago. You just have to REALLY WANT want to quit. The first 2 or 3 weeks are tough, then it gets easier. The longer you go without a drag, the easier it is. My biggest piece of advice is to not hang around others when they are smoking for a while. Yes, it may be hard especially if friends and family smoke, but you are asking for trouble by sticking around. I personally loved to smoke, and I still love the smell of it when others around me smoke, but I am not tempted anymore. I am too focussed on being healthy and changing my lifestyle, and knowing that having one cigarette will be a major set back to my goals. In any case, I can guarantee you will 10x better when after you stop for only a few weeks, and can run a mile or two without passing out. It also may help to do something different when you normally feel like you want to smoke, like start chewing some gum. Just be strong, and focused.

 

[lokiju]

I smoked for 8 years. I was always a lite smoker though, 2 packs a week on average. 1 pack would last me through the week and then I'd usually go through one pack on the weekends while out drinking and partying.


I tried a number of times to quit but never really had the drive to follow through with it and since it was kind of a soical habit as well, whenever I'd be out on the weekends and drinking, sure enough I'd have some and then it was all over from there again.

Finally, back in 2003, I was really sick and whenever I was sick I'd usually not smoke in hopes it'd help me get over a sore throat sooner or whatever, well I decided to take that opportunity to just not start back up and actually stuck with it that time. Really the number one reason I was able to stick with it that time was because I also gave up drinking until I felt it had been long enough to not tempt me while drinking to smoke.

Here I am 5 years later and never even had so much as a drag since thing and can now safely drink without the urge to have a smoke.

I even hate the smell of it so much now.

 

[Blieb]

You have to be ready to quit. That's #1 most important. I don't remember my exact stats ...

I smoked for maybe 6 or 7 years ... hovered around a pack a day ...

Quit cold turkey. It was tough. My life revolved around the smoke. First in the morning, lunch, drive home ... after dinner ... before bed ... etc ... it really ran by the clock.

Anyways ... I quit about 6 years ago. The BIGGEST thing is that you CANNOT SMOKE ANYTHING. I've done a cigar or two here and there, but always regret it. Your mind will revert and beg for more smokes.

I also had a 3 month relapse ... hangin' out with some chick, drinking a ton ... whammo ... that was after like 3 years of being smoke free. Really sucked. Had to fight even harder.

Try and find something health to replace the time with ...

Also I downloaded this cheesy counter program from SilkQuit.org ...

good luck ...

 

[miri]

I quit smoking over a year ago when I quit waiting tables. It was actually quite easy to do and getting chest pains was a strong encouragement to do so. I have actually smoked a few times since then, about once every 2 or 3 months but pretty much quit that as well since I now get nauseas and puke when I smoke a cigarette now.

I smoked for about 10+ years and about 1/3 - 1/4 of a pack a day. Due to getting nauseas when having a cigarette and the fact that they taste awful now, I have no desire to smoke again.

 

[miri]

Oh yeah, I quit smoking a few months after moving from Richmond, Virginia (home of Phillip Morris) to California where smoking is pretty much not allowed indoors. Since you see less people smoking here, you think about it less I think.

Also it is nice to go out and not smell smoke everywhere. When I visited Richmond last year we went to a club and it was so smoky it was almost unreal.

 

[DawsonsDada]

I quit smoking and drinking the same day 17 years ago on August 4th, 1991.

I was a 3 ~ 5 pack a day smoker for quite a while and when I quit it was horrible for the first couple of weeks.

It gets easier as time goes on, I found other things to do and tried to stay away from the places and things that made me want to smoke again.

Sometimes still WANT one, but it is easier to ignore the craving by doing something else. For me anyway.

 

[necine]

I'm 6 weeks in, cold turkey... it gets easier.

 

[tigersty1e]

I smoked for 6 years. Half a pack a day and quit cold turkey 1 day. Have been smoke free for 5 years.

After the first week, it becomes a psychological thing. Especially after drinking and watching everybody else smoke. Everytime I stepped out of my car, I would light up.

But cigs do massive damage on you.... not just death, lung cancer, or heart disease.

But it is linked to basically every disease out there. Every cell in your body ages much faster.

 

[Tim]

I smoked for 9 years, about a half-pack a day... or an entire pack when drinking. I quit (with the help of the patch at first) on christmas day 06. I only used 1 pack of the patch, and then quit using that all together. I didn't feel any different from smoking, to patch, to non-smoking. I tried a cigarette about a month ago... it tasted HORRIBLE. I'm glad I had a seemingly easy go at it, and that when I tried it again it just didn't work for me.

I hope things work out for you as well OP.

 

[moshquerade]

if cold turkey proves to be too much for you there is help. have you tried the patch or gum to help you quit? some states have programs where you can get these quitting helpers for free.
Chantix is a medicine your doc can prescribe to help you quit too.

i am going to a course to get certified as a smoking cessation specialist tomorrow actually. hit me up with a PM anytime you have questions or concerns or just need someone to vent to, and i'd be glad to help.

good luck! you can do it!

 

[Stifko]

I have to quit soon. We are having a baby and I don't wanna be smoking when baby comes. I will probably try to do it cold turkey.

As Mark Twain used to say, " quitting smoking is easy, I do it all the time."