I quit smoking in 1971. Except for a few cigars I haven’t smoked since and my last cigar was in 1977. Have you quit or are you trying to kick the habit? I quit cold turkey without a support group or any kind of medicine or other aid. Once I firmly decided to quit I had no trouble staying quit, but I did backslide several times on the way to successfully quitting. I never doubted I could kick the habit, though it was not easy to quit after years as a smoker.
Between my first serious attempt to quit smoking and my final successful attempt there was a span of six years and probably four or five tries to quit. It was not easy, and the hardest part was being around other people who smoked. In one of those tries I was smoke-free for nearly three years before I backslid into the habit. So I respect anyone who has tried–failed or succeeded–and I fully sympathize with those who have the habit and want to quit.
Great answers, everyone. Thanks for participating. If you’ve quit, congratulations. If you’ve tried and failed, I respect your efforts and wish you the best.
The cost is one factor that helps me stay quit. When I last smoked cigarettes cost about 40 cents a pack.
Hi warren..
congrats on that time its impressive.. i have been free for over 5 years now.. after smoking for more than 40 years.. the thing that worked for me was a support group..
the biggest challenge, was to become convinced, i couldent smoke just one..
Nicotine Anonymous is a Non-Profit 12 Step Fellowship of men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives. Nicotine Anonymous welcomes all those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction, including those using cessation programs and nicotine withdrawal aids. The primary purpose of Nicotine Anonymous is to help all those who would like to cease using tobacco and nicotine products in any form. The Fellowship offers group support and recovery using the 12 Steps as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve abstinence from nicotine.
Ive been smoking for 5 years, and i have tried to stop many times but its hard being in a social environment where there are smokers. And sometimes i enjoy a smoke whether i am bored, out for coffee, drinking…thats where i will find it hard….i know i shud stop cas i can feel the effects but it is VERY hard…i know that in a month or so they are putting cigarettes up to $20 a packet…that mite influence me not to! I kno its going to take a few goes before i really stick to it..
its seeing a cigar in a store and knowing Ive got my drivers license in my purse. But it helps not to take youre drivers license to the store so u cant buy em
I am indeed impressed. I salute you, congratulate you, and no one could possibly bestow enough accolades that you so richly deserve: I am dead serious – "scouts honor".
I’m only about 7 yrs. your senior, and I’ve given up totally trying to quit. My last attempt was about 2 mos. ago, when I tried Chantrix I think it was called: a medication program that is designed if I recall correctly, to take approximately 8 wks. or so to be effective – results were supposed to have been noticeable after the 2nd wk.
I had begun the 3rd wk., but I began to feel so strange and really rather ill, that I had to quit.
As an adolescent(child-?) around 11 yrs. old, my brother and I were persuaded by our farm friends, peers – lived in rural Arkansas – to try a cigarette. Become hooked good, shortly thereafter, and have smoked around 2 + pks. a day, ever since. Stopped once for 6 mos., and another time for maybe a week or two; but for never as long as you have.
And guess what? Even though I have COPD, I have no signs of lung cancer. So I’ve just forgotten about my smoking, and decided to try and live life at it’s fullest during the time I have left – and you know who, only knows how long that will be.
Cheers,
Alberich
Sex…we used to always enjoy a cigarette after sex.
So since we quit smoking…we don’t have as much sex.
But we eat a lot of ice cream…..
I began smoking at 17 and decided I needed to quit at 38. I did use the patch (21gms nicotine for 6 weeks, 14gms nicotine for 2 weeks and 7gms nicotine for 2 weeks). Got through the first 8 weeks with a plan and didn’t need the last 2 weeks of patches. The last cigarette I ever smoked I did it in front of my mirror. I made it as unpleasant as I could by taking frequent long drags (I wanted it to be the most unpleasant memory of smoking that I could create) and asked myself if this is what I wanted to be a slave to for the rest of my life or did I have the courage and will power to conquer it.
My plan: I decided in advance that I was going to tackle all of the things around my house that I thought about for years and never got around to them. First on the list was to refinish my kitchen cabinets. I chose the most difficult and time consuming thing first. By the time I finished that project I had pretty much kicked the habit. Keeping my hands busy and focusing on something that I had committed myself to really helped. I also chewed on straws, all day! Honestly, it was easier to overcome the addiction to nicotine than it was to overcome the habit of actually going through the motions of smoking.
Every once in awhile, even after all the years that have gone by, I still get a craving for a cigarette but it is only after a meal and the craving lasts for about 1/100 of a second.
I am very glad that I quit and I know I would never ever go back to smoking, if only because it is so darn expensive now. Besides, I can’t stand the smell of it.
Warren, I first quit about six months ago, after smoking for nearly fifty years. I did pretty good for a few months. But my daughter who lives at home, also smokes. So yes, I have backslid too. (Sorry Charli)
I have since quit again, sneaking a few drags here and there. But I know I cannot afford even this.
The one thing that keeps me firmly rooted to my final destination is my breathing. My breathing sounds so horrible (like a death rattle) it keeps me awake at night, and at times it gets difficult to breathe.
My last pack of cigarettes, I was rolling my own! They had gone over $5.00 a pack!
"Cold turkey" is the only way and without all the support.
The more attention drawn to it the harder it is…
I commend you, my friend! I am still in battle!~
The hardest parts are when im at work i have that little voice in the back of my head that says just have one, or share one with a friend. I haven’t gave into temptation, i find that if i say the phrase it will not kill me to not smoke out loud or in my head and then start branching off like my girlfriend likes it when i don’t smoke so it will not kill me to not smoke, This type of reinforcement helps me a lot of the time when i am having an urge. I think that is the toughest part about quitting is the conscious mind that wants you to smoke.
I Have tried and failed at it and i Applaud you .keep up ur excellent work
The hardest thing for me was getting to the event that finally forced me to quit. It was a sore that wouldn’t heal.