Giving Up Smoking

I know I know, this is probably not the best place to share, but I have been a smoker for the last 4 years, since I was 16, and I gave up five days a go! Not on purpose, actually just because I had a bad cough and wanted to get rid of it. But I ended up not smoking at all and now don't see why I should go back to it and ruin my health!

I would only have to get off them again as I know it's bad for me. Only thing is, I am trying to find something to do as I really have an urge right now and DON'T want to smoke another cigarette!!

Thanks in advance for any support.

My dad has talked about the nicotine pen things. They look like cigarettes and contain nicotine, but have none of the nasty stuff in them. He says that they're an 'inbetween step'.

I can't give you any personal experience, since I don't smoke, but good luck!

Thanks! I can't go out and get one of those right now though as it's 10.20pm here and there wont really be many shops open. =o) I think I might get one of those tomorrow though.

That's a good idea, they helped my dad quit smoking. My mom on the other hand had to use the patches, which helped her quit for 7 months. She went back to smoking but she's about to try again, I don't think she was quite ready. My aunt and uncle also used the patches and they've been free from smoking for 5 years now.

You have to be ready and willing to quit, though.

You can do it, just have willpower...It will be worth it, seriously, don't destroy your body or health.

My dad used to smoke..
Then we came to Bahrain, and not many people smoke here, so he just sort of suddenly quit, plus we were short on money so it just didn't fit.
Go to environments where there are no smokers or a little bit, ask friends and family members not to smoke in front of you if they do, and find somewhere else to spend your money.

My parents both smoke. Outside the house, they go into the garden but it doesn't help. Just the click of the door makes me want to get up and race out and do it too. :)

Both of my parents stopped smoking when they found out my mother was pregnant with my sister. My dad went back to smoking, and smoking more than just cigarettes, but whenever my mom has a sudden craving she eats twizzlers and they take the craving away. Find a favorite snack that you could devour instead of a cigarette? Just a suggestion.. hope it doesn't sound stupid. I've never been addicted to smoking.

Lmao, i'm with Bob. I won't quit til i find a better stress reliever, plus i enjoy it too damn much.

But if your truely ready to quit. I recommend making an appointment to see your GP and asking for the nicorette stick. You have catridges you can refill it with and to be honest it's the hand motion most people miss so this helps in that way too.

All else fails, have a lollipop whenever you get a craving, you have something in your mouth and you keep the hand motion, haha. Good luck!

I have to say.....Now that you are off, stay off. My husband and I both smoked years ago, I decided to quit and he didn't. Now he has problems breathing and though he refuses to see a doctor I can tell he is seriously ill because of smoking. Things he would love to do, he can no longer do. I think it is sad to let something so unimportant take away precious years of life, that is so valuable. Every time you go to light up, think of one less thing you will be able to do someday, One less sunset you will see , one less time you will see your child's smile. Or just maybe you will be one of the ones that it misses, but is it worth the risk!

I thought about quiting before. But I've never actually WANTED to quit. I like smoking too much.

And if I were going to try to quit, I would be afraid of gaining all that weight from trying to forget about the cravings.

Props for anyone who wants to and can though! Good Luck!

Get a hobby, any hobby!

Exercise...
Knitting helps keep your hands busy, eating also, playing cards, chess, video-games, anything that keeps you busy and hopefully enjoying yourself.
Getting involved in heavy sports could help, something that keeps you occupied and really tires you out.

There are special gums, patches, pens, and a lot of other "crutches" that can get you through the worst, but you have to know that it is an "all or nothing" situation." A few years ago I stopped eating sugar for a long time due to health problems. It was the same... the cravings, the social problem of always turning down snacks and desserts and drinks, but the thing was, it was what I wanted, I knew how bad sugar was, and actually someone would have had to hog-tie me to get me to mouth a single grain of sugar!
Oh, and the problem was that as soon as I decided to give myself the freedom of "occasional sugar" I got hooked all over again, and now I'm plotting whether I have what it takes to get off sugar again.
But, giving up smoking is much more socially accepted, and in fact a lot of people will support you, it's even "cool" in quite a few ways. I actually find that turning down cake at every birthday party, not even eating valentine's day chocolate, not being able to go for a late-night run to mcdonalds with your best friend, and even then just getting diet coke.. yeah, it gets in the way, and there are a lot of people that would get very frustrated with me and tell me off.

I wish you, honestly, the best of luck.
The only piece of advice that I can really give you is... go crazy, make this a priority, a goal, and spare no effort towards getting off this drug.

^^ Much like what they said, the best thing I can think of is to find something mentally consuming and interesting to you and focus on that, like an instrument, video games, or basketball. Ya know, that whole deal.

Personally, I never felt cravings with cigarettes. I smoked here and there some, but never experienced the craving, so I can't really say what will work best for you.

I would suggest looking into the pen or patches though, maybe even nicorette gum.

Ugh, this has probably been the most prominent roadblock in my life recently. I am broke as all hell yet I still find 6$ to buy a pack of cigarettes. and every time i argue with myself for hours about wether I should buy another pack or not, I end up buying just to ease my mind. ah, addiction. If you have already quit, don't pick it back up. I've heard that the first day is the worst, then it is smooth sailing after that. I suppose it depends on the severity of the addiction and the person who has it. I know I can quit, at least I say I can, I just don't have the willpower. and like many people have already said, that is definitley the key to quitting anything. Having something to motivate you definitley helps.