anon says:
Wed, 5th Nov 20087:20 am 

Try putting aside the same amount of money that you would have been spending on cigarettes. So, if you smoked a pack a day, take that money out and put it in a jar. By the time Christmas comes (provided you don't spend that money on cigarettes) you'd be surprised how much you just saved yourself. I think that's got to be a strong reason to quit, beyond the health risks. It's a really expensive habit.

Even if you don't physically move the money around, you could add it up. Write down how much you spend and figure out how much you could save over the next two months.

Cat says:
Wed, 5th Nov 20088:23 am 

Perhaps you should try not smoking as much as well? And perhaps those patches things?

I don't smoke myself but I understand it's hard. I really hope you can do this.

Kelly M. says:
Wed, 5th Nov 200810:27 am 

Thanks everyone for the support! Keep reading and commenting!

Kelly M. says:
Wed, 5th Nov 20083:27 pm 

Thanks! I know, it’s easier said that done…I do try…so far today, Wed at 3pm I have had NO cigarettes! go me!!!

Aimee says:
Wed, 5th Nov 20089:37 pm 

I've tried to quit before, but never really committed, so it's never stuck. But whenever I do try, i can go days without a smoke (i don't have the nicotine addiction, just the oral fixation) but then as soon as I'm out having a drink, the habit of lighting up with a beer is so hard to kick, especially after a few drinks.

I had a friend who controlled her drinking smoking by bringing only a certain number, 4 or so, with her when she went out and not letting herself bum, that way she'd ration them thro the night and avoid smoking a full pack without having to go the whole evening without them

J says:
Thu, 6th Nov 20085:12 am 

I dont know, this might sound like a stupid idea to most people- but I had an addiction once… and smoking weed honestly helped me kick the habit. (okay, it was coke)

But weed's not physically addictive- and so every time I'd have a craving- I'd smoke a little green, and it would calm me down.

After about 3 weeks I didn't even crave the other anymore and I could quit smoking the weed bc its only psychologically habit-forming, and I didnt feel the need to continue.

I'm not sure how well this would work with nicotine, and maybe the risk of getting caught with dope would scare some people off, but it helped me kick a worse habit, and I think that's pretty damn super. lol

Heather says:
Thu, 6th Nov 20087:59 pm 

marijuana is beneficial for lots of things, and really its a lot safer than alcohol. hard to understand why its illegal, espeically medically… we give people morphine in the hospitals, but dont you dare give them a non-addictive substance that can cure pain as well!

Phoenix says:
Wed, 12th Nov 200812:29 pm 

I’m trying to quit smoking right now, too. I’m on hour 49 of withdrawal and it kills. This might be my 5th time quitting. I’ve quit several times for a variety of reasons and for different lengths. My longest time on the wagon, over a year and my shortest time, 3 months.

Based on my experience alone, I would say (as hard as it is) to just go cold turkey, cause even one cigarette can put you right back where you started. And nicotine replacers don’t do any good. I was chewing the nicorette when I quit the last time (the 3 month hiatus) and it was my worst attempt yet. And drinking while trying to quit is the absolute worst thing you could do, ’cause it brings out the temptation. I wouldn’t touch a alcoholic beverage until you’ve had two whole weeks without one cigarette. It will be easier then not to weaken and smoke.

I know cold turkey seems hard (and I’ve done it several times and I’m back here yet again), but you’ve got to treat smoking like it’s any other addiction. Heroine addicts can’t wean themselves off heroine. They’ve got to stop, go through withdrawal and get the poison out of their system, making a conscious choice never to pick it up again. And so must we as smokers do the same. Every time you smoke another cigarette you’re putting the monkey back on your back and you have to start all over with withdrawal. And I’m not trying to sanctimonious or a know-it-all(considering my position, I can’t really be), but it’s fact. You can’t ease yourself off a poison. You just have to take that leap and hope for the best. And if you do slide back a little, continue to make that commitment to put those little cancer sticks back down again.

I’m only on hour 49 and, headaches, shakes and inner turmoil aside, I can breathe so much better and I’m no longer huffing and puffing as I go about my life. Maybe the 5th time’s the charm (!)?

If you need something to take the edge off, might I suggest dark chocolate? Dark chocolate contains some caffeine and also stimulates endorphin secretions in the system giving you a slight high. When I’m trying to kick the habit, I find biting off a small bit of dark chocolate (and it must be dark, since milk chocolate has less cacao in it and it’s the cacao that contains the caffeine and stimulates the endorphins) at the moments when I would usually smoke helps a lot.

Also, chewing on plastic straws, toothpicks or dum-dum suckers helps with the oral fixation end of it and keeps you from stuffing random food into your mouth and gaining weight, which was a big problem for me on attempt to quit #3.

Good luck, and know that we are all suffering with you!