(OT - but cool!) I Am A Quitter!

[Wormwood]

1. IME, the real hard core craving (where you GOTTA have a smoke) went away after about 3 months.

2. The *temptation* to smoke (when among smokers, when catching a whiff from a passing car, etc) took about a year to subside. Now I can hold a lit Marlboro for 5 minutes without taking a puff (which I did last week, in fact).

3. Don't cheat, not even once. Strength and discipline.

4. Do not use take ANY nicotine. No gum, no patches. It'll only prolong your addiction.

5. Good luck.

 

[maddman75]

Have to agree on the 'don't cheat, ever'

I quit once, for about six months. The first week was hell, paticularly the third and fourth day. After that it wasn't too bad.

But, I was young and stupid. I had a stressful time (over a girl, naturally. Like I said, young and stupid) I picked some up just to help me relax. It was like I never quit.

Still smoking, and though I try to keep it down its never really gone. Its largely social with me. Normally, I might go through half a pack a day. If I'm drinking or hanging with my friends, a pack.

On one of our marathon game sessions, two. At least.

You're a stronger man than I - best of luck. And once you get that crap out of your system don't pick them up again no matter HOW bad it gets.

Remember kids - its easier to quit crack than it is cigarettes.....

 

[drnuncheon]

My wife (well, gf at the time) quit when we were first going out. (In fact, I talked her into quitting on her birthday.) My mom quit recently too.

I wish my father had quit, because the best thing I can say about the way he died was that it was only a few months of hell. Only a few months of suffocating slowly to death, being on oxygen, with the doctors feeding your family a line of B.S. about how well you're doing and pumping you full of drugs and radiation and then saying "we think that he should have another six to eight months" like it was some kind of great medical victory. (It wasn't, and it was two weeks - and six months more of living like that would have been no kindness in any case.)

It's not the physical cravings that are so bad - at least after the first few days, and you've gotten through that. It's the habit. There are going to be times when you find yourself reaching for a smoke, because you've trained yourself to do it for 18 years. Goblinoid and barsoomcore have got it: turn that habit into something else, a better habit.

Good luck, be strong, and please, keep it up, for everyone you love.

J

 

[Ace]

Re: I Am A Quitter!

i just finished my 72nd hour without a cigarette. it is killing me. i may gnaw off parts of my own anatomy.


if you are young and reading this (or old and stupid and reading this) never start.

i am 33, have an 18 year habit and let me tell you, any habit is tough to break, an 18 year addiction is TOUGH!

*sigh* i feel somewhat better now, thanks for listening.

Good luck. I have no doubt you will make it and just think without the pack a day you were smoking you will save enough for a D&D book every week--

Drop one addiction feed another

 

[Moe Ronalds]

dangit, if people keep scaring me straight like this I'm never gonna get to ruin my life. My parents have already scared me away from joining religious cults, and now THIS. I swear if it keeps up I'm gonna grow up to be some sort of role-model or something.

 

[Storminator]

Just don't use this as an excuse when you lose in fantasy football!



PS

 

[Oubliette]

Remember kids - its easier to quit crack than it is cigarettes.....

That's why I just smoke crack...

 

[the Jester]

Hey, good luck!

I only have one suggestion: have your tonsils out. One of my good friends, who smoked about 2/3 pack a day, had them out about a week and a half ago, she can't smoke for another 2-1/2 weeks. So she might as well quit- and she'll be a month ahead of the game already. (crosses fingers) I think she'll make it.

 

[Orco42]

I have not had a cig in about 2.5 weeks.

While I don't get cravings nearly as often as when I first quite they are still very strong.

I tried to quit before with no help and failed. No I am using the patch and either it is working or it has a nice placebo effect.

You may have some triggers that will make you have a craving, for me it is driving. If possible try to avoid those things.

Also hard candy seems to help.

If I can quit I am sure anyone can. Good luck alsih2o.

 

[alsih2o]

Just don't use this as an excuse when you lose in fantasy football!

PS

like ANYTHING could excuse my performance in the league!!!

thanks for all the support everyone. i already know about the "don't even sneak just one" tip, i was quit for 8 months once, then had "just one" while shooting pool. what an idiot.