What method of quitting was most successful for you?

[ICU]

Hi everyone. I don't usually come to this particular forum in SR, but I want to quit smoking again, so, here I am!

I am trying to determine the best method to quit for me. I have tried cutting back (weaning down to smoking less and less per day over a period of time), cold turkey, and years ago, the patch. And, I'm still smoking.

Just curious as to what has worked best for all of you.

1. Cutting back (weaning off method)

2. Lozenges

3. Patch

4. Use of other prescription meds

5. Cold turkey

6. Other (please explain)

Thanks for your input!

[Jwife22]

I had to quit cold turkey. Once I made it through the first week, I did alright. The first week is the hardest IMO. The cravings become less and less in the passing days and if I do get the urge, I make myself busy for a little while.

I am currently 13 weeks, 4 days, 9 hours, 22 minutes, 57 seconds quit. I haven't smoked 1,430 cigarettes and I have saved $286 dollars.

[ICU]

Thanks Laura. And congratulations on a job well done.

Health benefits, both physical and emotional, are the primary reasons I want to quit. But yeah, the $$$ saved is an extra incentive too.

[historyteach]

I used multiple products; the patch, the gum and zyban.
But, what made it work; what still, to this day makes it work after over two years, is the behavior modification.
It's all in doing something different. Every time. No matter when I get a craving, I do something other than smoke.
That's what still is working for me.
That's why I'm still not smoking after 36 years of smoking.
Behavior modification.

That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.

Shalom!

[ICU]

Historyteach,

While I was using the cutting back (weaning method) I too used behavior modification, to a degree. One of the things I found useful was to drink a glass of crystal light, or, eat something that had an abundance of flavor, i.e. pineapple, raspberries, extra sharp cheddar cheese, etc. I tried to stay away from candy, cookies, and such for obvious weight gain concerns.

My biggest craving is the during the first cup of coffee in the morning, and, if I eat a huge meal. So I broke down my 3 big meals a day into 6 smaller meals. That seemed to work. I also cut down on my caffeinated coffee consumption during the day. But I still had my first cup in the AM. That will be the most difficult to give up...the first cup of coffee, and that smoke.

Acutally with the weaning back, I was able to average 7 smokes a day. Sometimes only 6, and once in a while only 5.

But then I hit an emotional bump in the road of life (anxiety) and back I went to almost a full pack. The emotional things that happen in life will be as difficult for me as the first cup of AM coffee and smoke!

I'm just anxious to hear what has worked for everyone else. If you want to win, then who better to ask then the winners!

Congrats to you on your success! And thanks for your input too!

[Rowan]

I quit smoking when I went into rehab four years ago for alcoholism and popping pills. I had heard that the facility had no smoking on the grounds so I quit a couple days before, and just chewed Nicorette. When I got there, they took my gum, but offered to dole it out when I needed it or to give me a patch. I declined on both counts, and when other patients snuck into the bushes outside for a smoke, I went for a brisk walk. Haven't looked back! I tried to quit many times previous, but always without success.

[ICU]

Thanks Rowan. Great job!!

Gosh, it seems so far that the majority of you have quit cold turkey! YIKES!!!

I honestly don't think I could do that! The weaning method that I tried, although good in theory, made it much too easy to resume my full smoking habits. So I won't try that method again. You know what they say about the definition of insanity....!

[Astro]

Can we include smokeless tobacco in this poll? I chewed for 27 years, the only method that worked for me was cold turkey, reading the horror stories at www.whyquit.com , and eating lots of sunflower seeds. I've been 3 years free from that nasty crap and feel awesome!

[ICU]

That's great Astro! Congrats to you!

[nodrinkingzone]

I bought the Allen Carr book, itr is fantastic. After you read it you will never want another cigarette again.

If you do, you should just go back and read it again - it basically makes cold turkey fun and enjoyable.

Death to the little monster! hahaha

[ICU]

Why is it whenever I decide I want to quit smoking, a crisis comes along?

I took my cat to the vet today...third visit re: the same issue...a huge tumor on his leg. Cancer tests are inconclusive/suggstive, but no definitive. To take a surgerical biopsy to substantiate conclusively would be risky in closure, and, the spread of, if it 'is' cancer. AND, considering he is FIV positive, and his age (14 years) prognosis for surgery is not good. I'm leaning towards allowing him to live his life out without medical intervention, endless surgeries, with complications and no guarantees or even the slightest positive hope. Yeah, just when I'm thinking of trying to quit smoking.... REALLY BIG SIGH!!! Excuse, perhaps...a really tough reality to deal with when trying to quit smoking, yeah, definitely! Sorry, just feeling a little hopeless and my heart is breaking right now.

[nodrinkingzone]

I'm really sorry to hear about your cat...

The Allen Carr book goes into great detail about how non-smokers are far better at dealing with stress, so maybe you'd cope better if you just quit anyway?

[reducedtozero]

quick response: the only way Ive ever quit anything- cold turkey

[grrlacher]

Cold Turkey for me.

[historyteach]

I'm sorry about your cat, ICU...
It's so hard; they are part of your family...

Just know that, when I quit, I was out of work on a stress leave. I figured it didn't matter; nothing could make things any worse than they were. And it worked for me. I just learned how to deal with all the stress without cigarettes as a crutch. Cuz, let's face it, the ciggies don't help you deal; they only give you a few minutes of "down time" to think. So, take the down time, without the smoke!
You can do this...

Shalom!

[ICU]

Thanks to everyone that participated in the poll, and for responding here.

The majority of you quit via cold turkey as the poll has indicated. I'm so happy for each of you no matter what method you used.

Years ago, I quit via the patch for about 6 months. Recently I've tried the cutting back method, but, it just made it too easy to go right back up again.

I know in addition to the patch, I'll have to modify my behaviors for sure. I'm not going to start until well into January though. Probably by the 3rd week. That's the plan for now anyway.

I want to do this for health and financial reasons. I really wish I didn't enjoy it as much as I do! I'll probably see you all on day one as I bang my head against the computer! Of the two, it's the computer that has more to loose, LOL!!

[swmnkdinthervr]

Cold turkey was the only way I could ever get past the excuses like "I'm gonna cut back a little at a time"

[Oogie]

Nicorette inhaler worked very well for me. I smoked 20-25 cigarettes a day. I quit 20 months ago. For anyone trying to quit, I recommend it. Do yourself a big favour.

[WantsOut]

When you hear different people's quit smoking stories, you realize how much variation there is in how they do it. It's a matter of finding the right approach for you.

I have quit for nearly a year after 15 years of smoking. I did it by putting a patch on my nightable and as soon as I woke up I'd open it and put it on like a ritual to replace the lighting up ritual.

Through the day when I wanted to smoke I would physically rub the patch and say aloud, "I'm getting nicotine. I'm getting nicotine." Sometimes I'd make a fist a breathe through it (if that makes sense) to get that "taking a draw" feeling.

Sometimes I visit The COPD Forum. It helps to read about the plight of people who actually got sick from smoking. To be fair, some people get COPD cause of unlucky genes, but most got it cause they smoked. Reading about how much someone's nose hurts from oxygen cannulas makes you realize what's at stake here.

After about two weeks of not smoking I started using the lowest nictoine patch. When that package was done I stopped using them all together. Been quit ever since.

Just as an aside, sleeping with the nicotine patch gave me horrible nightmares! Apparently this happens to some people. They even mention it on the box.

[ICU]

Originally Posted by WantsOut

Through the day when I wanted to smoke I would physically rub the patch and say aloud, "I'm getting nicotine. I'm getting nicotine."

LOL, when I was on the patch years ago, I did the same exact thing. It's like I was grinding it into my system by rubbing the patch. I had forgotten about that.

Originally Posted by WantsOut

Sometimes I'd make a fist a breathe through it (if that makes sense) to get that "taking a draw" feeling.

I did that too with both the patch and the cutting back method. It seemed as though my lungs were missing that deep inhale, whether there was a chemical involved or not.

Originally Posted by WantsOut

Just as an aside, sleeping with the nicotine patch gave me horrible nightmares!

Yeah, I had that happen too, but only with the highest dose!

Thanks WO!

[black_orchid]

I had wisdom teeth taken out and was told I would get some horrible thing called dry socket if I smoked. I couldnt smoke for 3 days and after the 3 days I kept telling myself i would be really pathetic if I started again. I also read Allen Carrs easyway which sorted the head bit out. It was absolutely easy!

you need more willpower to smoke than you need to give up......

The tooth thing is probably a bit extreme for most though heh