Sorry if another discussion, cant seem to find one. Tried all over counter stuff and docs gave me champix but no good as had side effects ( very grumpy and snappy) I lack willpower clearly. Anybody got any top tips. Soo hard. Thanks
I think stopping smoking is a mental issue as much as a physical one. When I gave up I was sick of cigarettes so it was easy to go from 20 a day to nothing without any withdrawal pangs but the key was being happy to stop rather than feeling I was being forced to. Try to bribe/reward yourself to give up, read an Alan Carr book or even look into hypnosis (that worked for my dad). Best of luck.
Thanks. I have already ordered the alan carr book so will give a go. I change jobs about 4 weeks ago and used to work with alot of smokers so was hard to get away from it but now im a working with non smokers, im the only one so surely will help me too. Cheers
It's all mental. I always wanted to quit but one day something just snapped that made me.
Most smokers have tried all methods, so you're not alone there, in the end it just comes down to you. You need to ignore the cravings and remember they will pass and it will get easier. I used lozenges for the first few days to take the edge off and reduced the usage as I became more comfortable in dealing with situations that would usually cause me to smoke. In the first few days these can be very mundane triggers but over time, it's only bigger events.
Now I still get the odd urge, usually after a beer, but I'm able to brush it off fairly easily. Ultimately when you get an urge remember to ask yourself "is it worth it?". We all know it's killing us when we do it. I just hope I quit before causing lasting damage.
As pubs are closed and you have to go out of your way to buy fags, now is probably a good time to quit. Good luck!
Hypnotherapy. I was 40 to 60 a day depending on how long my work day was or how long I had spent in the pub. I had a dream shortly before my 40th birthday where a little old man was in a oxygen tent, coughing his guts up and I realised it was me. So I decided if I smoked past my 40th birthday I would be a lifer so I had to stop but past attempts at giving up were woeful, if I got past the first newsagents before caving in I considered that a success!
Anyway, I heard about a hypnotherapist and she reckoned she could do the biz. When I came round she told me that every time I wanted a ciggy, I would drink water instead. Well, it bloody worked! I had to go everywhere with a bottle of water and at one point I was on about 10 litres a day even all the fans that sat around me in the east stand at the Valley called me the waterboy! As time went on the water urges reduced until I never thought of water or the ciggies again and that was over 18 years ago.
You’ll then find all the difficulty was basically psychological and not physical
Seems like a glib comment and it’s not meant to be but you won’t give up smoking until you are ready. Just wanting to is just lying to yourself. When it’s time for you to stop you will.
Seriously, find an emotive reason to give up and use that as your crutch through the process.
Find a replacement for when your key trigger points are in the first half of the day, when you are most likely to give in. For example, my big one was I’d go for a fag about 10.30 in work to break the working morning. When I stopped it felt such a long time from 7.30 to 12.30 without that break. So what I did was at the time I’d go for a fag I’d go and have a shower. Took out 10-15 mins and broke the morning up. Before I knew it I was at lunchtime and saw the rest of the day as downhill from there.
There is never a good time to stop smoking. As AFKA says, a health scare can give you a kick up the backside, but it is still so difficult to stop. I tried everything including champix - that worked for a while but the temptation was too much. Vaping worked for me, I’m still doing it 4 years after stoping the fags, but a hell of a lot less than I used too.
Happy to share a photo of my old mum, she died at 75 never having met 5 of her then 8 grandchildren because she was to weak to see them. Spent 5 years housebound the last 3 bedridden and weighed 5 st at her death. I used to smoke with her on my visits to her home in my late20s early 30s and quit around then. Look around at those you love and ask which do you want to give up the most and good luck.
I stoped for a few weeks last summer but family thought much longer. I was a secret smoker going for a bike ride just to light one up for example. I will stop i know i will but need to stop finding excuses like stress and work problems. I have a very nice life with a good job and no debt etc etc so no excuse. Thankyou for all advice.
Switched to vaping 5 years ago now I don't use anything and haven't done so for around 2 years. My wife and I have both quit through vaping by using good quality equipment and came down through the nicotine strengths until we got to zero. Once we got to zero, we just naturally reached for the vape less and less until eventually it just wasn't worth using anymore. I know vaping isn't for everyone, but it worked a charm for us, both confirmed smokers for over 20 years (with a couple of breaks - stopped whilst wife was pregnant with kids) and multiple failures at stopping.
You have to want to give it up or you will never do it. I used to smoke heavily when I was younger and then it just became a weekend thing when I was having a beer.
I hated it and wanted to give it up so decided to quit on a Monday. I think a Monday is a psychological thing as it's a new beginning.
I gave up, didn't allow any smoking at home, got rid of all the ashtrays and smoking stuff and haven't smoked since. 26 years and counting.
No matter what you want to give up in life, you can do it if you really want to.
I gave up and went to a vape. Worked for me, gradually cut down over 6 months.
Still vape when I drink but no reliance anymore. It was definitely more mental for me, I’d had enough of paying the money and found it much easier than I thought.
I still smoke am going to pack It up in August ( my 30th birthday ) 3 of my pals gave up with allen carrs book and swear by it but you have to follow it religiously!.
the biggest crave they all got was when drinking I’m the same smoke a lot more when drinking.
I gave up at New Year. Some of this has already been said but you have to want to do it. If you don't really want to then you're not likely to succeed.
I switched to a vape, initially using it as much as I smoked. Then after a week I started cutting down and just using it when the cravings were bad. I stopped after three weeks. I just didn't want to do it anymore.
I have tried stopping before but this time feels different as I was fed up with smoking so really wanted to quit.
I have put on a ton of weight though so be warned!
The one message that I remember above all is when he says something like "Some people claim that they enjoy smoking - that's the same as someone saying they deliberately buy shoes two sizes too small for the relief they get when they take them off!"
Can you still vape while using those Alan Carr books or do they suggest no replacement aid?
No substitutes, although he suggests that you don't need to give up after reading the first page - just by the time you finish the book.
That works for 99% of people I recommended it to. For me personally I used patches and exercise but the book was entirely responsible for helping me overcome the psychology of it and has kept me nicotine free for years now when I used to literally bawl my eyes out at failed attempt after failed attempt.
Gone from being a very heavy smoker to now not believing I ever smoked in the first place which I would never have thought I would be able to say years ago.
As is covered in the book scare stories and the facts about the vile harm cigs do to your health isn't alone any use in quitting for most as that's the nature of addiction.
The mental freedom I feel now after literally years of feeling like a prisoner to it is fantastic.
Can't recommend the book enough and read it a few times before it sunk in but such a great investment.
I've never smoked seriously, just dabbled as a kid but grew to absolutely despise it when my Dad died of cancer. So the following isn't based on personal experience of giving up, but I have read a lot about psychology:
Really want to do it and write down exactly what you want to achieve and why.
Tell other people. We are far more likely to keep commitments that we've made public, plus you'll want make sure that your family and friends are aware so that they don't do anything to tempt you.
Think about the situations where your temptation to smoke the greatest. Either avoid those situations altogether (so now might be an ideal time) or organise displacement activities (without getting hooked on something else).
Reward yourself. Save the money you would have spent on smoking and buy yourself something really nice.
Remember, it's forty years or more since the cool kids smoked. By becoming a non-smoker you'll be joining the trendy and interesting people.
It's all mental. I always wanted to quit but one day something just snapped that made me.
Most smokers have tried all methods, so you're not alone there, in the end it just comes down to you. You need to ignore the cravings and remember they will pass and it will get easier. I used lozenges for the first few days to take the edge off and reduced the usage as I became more comfortable in dealing with situations that would usually cause me to smoke. In the first few days these can be very mundane triggers but over time, it's only bigger events.
Now I still get the odd urge, usually after a beer, but I'm able to brush it off fairly easily. Ultimately when you get an urge remember to ask yourself "is it worth it?". We all know it's killing us when we do it. I just hope I quit before causing lasting damage.
As pubs are closed and you have to go out of your way to buy fags, now is probably a good time to quit. Good luck!
I think that's the case with most things you want to do but lack the willpower for. I spent years as an unhealthy fat bastard on the beer, eating poorly and doing no exercise. Started weight loss more than a few times but always had a convenient excuse (knee pain, back problems etc) until one day something just clicked for me. 90% of it was mental. Once I got through the first three weeks it got easier and easier (annoyingly).
I'm a firm believer that no matter what method you choose to stop doing something destructive, almost all of it is entirely down to you mentally to break that habit - you have to WANT to do it. Sadly it's not easy to quantify whatever it is that snaps inside you to permit that.
Fags and beer have to be the two hardest (outside of actual narcotics) because so much of peoples' social lives are built around the pub. Oddly, I've never smoked - not even tried it once as a kid - but not having a pint when I was being disciplined about getting the weight off was murder when all my mates were on the piss - in the end, I ended up not going out with them at all in the evenings for months. If any time is a good time to give it a whack though its now!
I've never smoked seriously, just dabbled as a kid but grew to absolutely despise it when my Dad died of cancer. So the following isn't based on personal experience of giving up, but I have read a lot about psychology:
Really want to do it and write down exactly what you want to achieve and why.
Tell other people. We are far more likely to keep commitments that we've made public, plus you'll want make sure that your family and friends are aware so that they don't do anything to tempt you.
Think about the situations where your temptation to smoke the greatest. Either avoid those situations altogether (so now might be an ideal time) or organise displacement activities (without getting hooked on something else).
Reward yourself. Save the money you would have spent on smoking and buy yourself something really nice.
Remember, it's forty years or more since the cool kids smoked. By becoming a non-smoker you'll be joining the trendy and interesting people.
Good luck!
Very good advice - from a non-smoker! Some of those are in the Alan Carr book.
Few other powerful messages from the Carr book:
- never think you can be a part-time smoker - 'I only smoke when I have a drink'. You are still addicted to the poison.
- never take a ciggie from a mate 'Oh just one'. You quit and when you quit you were lucky that you did that before it gave you lung cancer. That one cigarette could be the 'one'.
- linked to the above 'Oh just one' - you will be hooked again and say you are 50 with another 25 years to live (if you're very lucky). You get hooked again and you go back to smoking 20 a day. At £10 a packet and assuming no price increases, that 'just one' will cost you about £90,000
Thanks @Gasman for starting this thread. I read the book about 10 years ago and I almost made it. I've just downloaded it on to my Kindle, and I WILL make it this time.
I have had Allen Carr’s book at home for 4 years and haven’t read it. I really should do as I’ve heard nothing but good things about it and I fucking hate the fact that I smoke.
it’s psychology. I don’t smoke for 3 weeks when away at work, it’s a non smoking facility, and I don’t miss it at all. Hardly give it a thought, but as soon as I’m home, literally when I land back from work, the urge to smoke consumes me and I light up. I hat the fact I do. I read the Alan Carr book, loved it but lit up a few days later. I’ve tried hypnosis, twice. I beat myself up about smoking all the time, but do it anyway. I think smoking for me is a deep rooted psychological factor, And I have to find the trigger as why I do it. I’m going to try again this month, and read the book again when I’m at work so that I can control the urges when I get home.
Comments
Most smokers have tried all methods, so you're not alone there, in the end it just comes down to you. You need to ignore the cravings and remember they will pass and it will get easier. I used lozenges for the first few days to take the edge off and reduced the usage as I became more comfortable in dealing with situations that would usually cause me to smoke. In the first few days these can be very mundane triggers but over time, it's only bigger events.
Now I still get the odd urge, usually after a beer, but I'm able to brush it off fairly easily. Ultimately when you get an urge remember to ask yourself "is it worth it?". We all know it's killing us when we do it. I just hope I quit before causing lasting damage.
As pubs are closed and you have to go out of your way to buy fags, now is probably a good time to quit. Good luck!
I was 40 to 60 a day depending on how long my work day was or how long I had spent in the pub. I had a dream shortly before my 40th birthday where a little old man was in a oxygen tent, coughing his guts up and I realised it was me. So I decided if I smoked past my 40th birthday I would be a lifer so I had to stop but past attempts at giving up were woeful, if I got past the first newsagents before caving in I considered that a success!
Anyway, I heard about a hypnotherapist and she reckoned she could do the biz. When I came round she told me that every time I wanted a ciggy, I would drink water instead. Well, it bloody worked! I had to go everywhere with a bottle of water and at one point I was on about 10 litres a day even all the fans that sat around me in the east stand at the Valley called me the waterboy! As time went on the water urges reduced until I never thought of water or the ciggies again and that was over 18 years ago.
You’ll then find all the difficulty was basically psychological and not physical
Find a replacement for when your key trigger points are in the first half of the day, when you are most likely to give in. For example, my big one was I’d go for a fag about 10.30 in work to break the working morning. When I stopped it felt such a long time from 7.30 to 12.30 without that break. So what I did was at the time I’d go for a fag I’d go and have a shower. Took out 10-15 mins and broke the morning up. Before I knew it I was at lunchtime and saw the rest of the day as downhill from there.
Good luck
There is never a good time to stop smoking. As AFKA says, a health scare can give you a kick up the backside, but it is still so difficult to stop. I tried everything including champix - that worked for a while but the temptation was too much. Vaping worked for me, I’m still doing it 4 years after stoping the fags, but a hell of a lot less than I used too.
3. Always remember you will not die from not smoking.
That and exercise helped me.
Thankyou for all advice.
I hated it and wanted to give it up so decided to quit on a Monday. I think a Monday is a psychological thing as it's a new beginning.
I gave up, didn't allow any smoking at home, got rid of all the ashtrays and smoking stuff and haven't smoked since. 26 years and counting.
No matter what you want to give up in life, you can do it if you really want to.
Doing it half heartedly won't work.
3 of my pals gave up with allen carrs book and swear by it but you have to follow it religiously!.
the biggest crave they all got was when drinking I’m the same smoke a lot more when drinking.
I switched to a vape, initially using it as much as I smoked. Then after a week I started cutting down and just using it when the cravings were bad. I stopped after three weeks. I just didn't want to do it anymore.
I have tried stopping before but this time feels different as I was fed up with smoking so really wanted to quit.
I have put on a ton of weight though so be warned!
No substitutes, although he suggests that you don't need to give up after reading the first page - just by the time you finish the book.
Gone from being a very heavy smoker to now not believing I ever smoked in the first place which I would never have thought I would be able to say years ago.
As is covered in the book scare stories and the facts about the vile harm cigs do to your health isn't alone any use in quitting for most as that's the nature of addiction.
The mental freedom I feel now after literally years of feeling like a prisoner to it is fantastic.
Can't recommend the book enough and read it a few times before it sunk in but such a great investment.
https://youtu.be/0TL2Vh7goJc
thanks for the advice
- Really want to do it and write down exactly what you want to achieve and why.
- Tell other people. We are far more likely to keep commitments that we've made public, plus you'll want make sure that your family and friends are aware so that they don't do anything to tempt you.
- Think about the situations where your temptation to smoke the greatest. Either avoid those situations altogether (so now might be an ideal time) or organise displacement activities (without getting hooked on something else).
- Reward yourself. Save the money you would have spent on smoking and buy yourself something really nice.
- Remember, it's forty years or more since the cool kids smoked. By becoming a non-smoker you'll be joining the trendy and interesting people.
Good luck!I'm a firm believer that no matter what method you choose to stop doing something destructive, almost all of it is entirely down to you mentally to break that habit - you have to WANT to do it. Sadly it's not easy to quantify whatever it is that snaps inside you to permit that.
Fags and beer have to be the two hardest (outside of actual narcotics) because so much of peoples' social lives are built around the pub. Oddly, I've never smoked - not even tried it once as a kid - but not having a pint when I was being disciplined about getting the weight off was murder when all my mates were on the piss - in the end, I ended up not going out with them at all in the evenings for months. If any time is a good time to give it a whack though its now!