(OT) Quitting Smoking Support Thread!

[Czarina]

The time has come for me to quit smoking. I want to become healthier and save money. For the last 16 years ive smoked a pack and a half per day. Unfortunatly im not recieving the support i need from my real life family. So im asking here for any support i can get. I will update this as often as possible. I know my UO family will be the best support i will recieve thru this.

If you too are quitting smoking, I hope you can use this thread as well for additional support.

Cigarettes may not be a drug but they are highly addictive. The withdrawel symptoms from what i hear are unbareable. Right now i am using the nicarette gum to help with cravings. As of writing this i have just officialy gone 24 hours without smoking!!

Thank you all in advance.

 

[TheDrAJ]

Convince yourself that you are not really quitting - just stopping till you reach 60. By that time you will not want to start again!

 

[kelmo]

I endorse this thread. It will remain open as long as Czarina and any others that wish to quit smoking wish.

I am 4 months tobacco free. I used lozenges to begin with and the support of my friends on Stratics Staff.

Yes... There was some whining and crying involved. I did smoke 2 packs a day.

 

[kelmo]

Use that gum girl. I know I leaned on those lozenges for weeks. Then one day I decided I could do with out.

Just know I will be here for you every day. Every day you do not light up is a win.

 

[kelmo]

Try not to slip up... and if you do. I will still be here for you. Just know every slip is starting from day one. The minute you give in make all the struggle pointless. Trust me... just go though it once.

 

[kelmo]

i will hush now and just listen...

 

[Athelas]

Great thread! I quit smoking years ago and I used the gum as well. The gum fit me best I believe because It was something I could physically do as opposed to taking a pill or wearing a patch.

But honestly the biggest thing is actually wanting to quit. If you truly want to quit for yourself than you will, that is really the biggest part. You'll have some weird dreams and sure you'll have some cravings, but with the right tools and support you'll come out just fine.

One thing I found that helped was finding a hobby. Smoking is counterproductive to any healthy lifestyle, but its even more of a negative if you are physically active. In my case, I took up kayaking. Paddling is great exercise, a lot of fun and it allows you a close up look at local wild life. Its one of those hobbies where when paddling in 4ft swells against the current, (not required, I just prefer paddling in choppy seas) getting winded is not an option.

Best of luck to you Czarina. Its not easy quitting, but the pro's far outweigh the cons!

 

[kelmo]

just make it this one day... see what happens tomorrow. night girl.

 

[Czarina]

Thank you all! Im about to head to bed and so far im not doing the pacing around the house and going insane thing yet. perhaps this could be a good sign! Ive been just using a piece of the gum when i get the strong cravings and after a meal. The instructions say to use up to 24 pieces a day but ive only used 7 today. Guess thats a good thing.

 

[Kas Althume]

It is not "that" hard to quit smoking. I smoked my last cig on 30.04.2005 23:55h. I havn't touched a single cig since then. I had been smoking for 12 years. What i did was looking for a new hobby to keep me distracted and staying away for a while from any place where you could smoke in public. Back in 2005 it was still allowed to smoke anywhere in germany. Hard labor helped alot. I dug a big pond in my garden to keep me distracted. It worked fine.

 

[Kael]

I used the patch myself. Smoked cigarettes like normal until like 8 pm...tossed on the patch. By the time I went to bed and woke up I had a good day under my belt and felt like I won a major victory. The patch made it surprisingly easy for me!

 

[Critical Gaming]

I love smoking too much hahahaha. The nicotine isn't my addiction, its the motion and physical act of smoking. I love it.

I smoked heavy menthols for years and they gave me the worst respiratory problems. Coughing **** up constantly, the consistent feeling of phlegm in your chest (and trying all day, every day to cough it up). I had bronchitis 3 times.

Since then, I switched to L&M Lights (non-menthol) and I feel loads better haha.


Seriously though, quitting smoking is a huge life change. Plow through it and its gonna be nothing but positives. After awhile you'll probably think smoking is gross.

Good luck!

 

[Freelsy]

(I've never smoked)

However, every time you get an urge to smoke, do some pushups! get your blood flowing and get a workout in!!


:gun:

 

[Troop]

You can do it! I used lozenges each time I quit. They worked well. I relapsed several times but have been free of the habbit for over a year now. It's tough, but if you have your mind set on it you can make the change. For me, it seemed like the first 3 or 4 days were the worst.


Oh, and I will gladly give you some nice purple shoes to help you on your way to success. I will leave them in your mail box.

You can do it!!!

 

[Tazar]

I tried to count up the cost of something going up in smoke vs. putting that money into something tangible... but it just didn't work for me and I kept wasting the money.

I finally decided that if I was going to spend the money and smoke, I'd better enjoy every nasty bit of it. So... I switched from Marlboro light 100's to Marlboro Red's and tore off the filter before smoking it. It was either choke to death or quit at that point. I quit cold turkey and never looked back.

Best of luck to you CZ.

 

[Czarina]

Day 2 and still smoke free!! I hate customers at my work, employees at my work, and i have the worst road rage in the world! Yay quitting smoking is bringing out the best in me! lol

 

[kelmo]

You made it. One more day.

There will be a lot of "hate". Just know it is withdrawal.

I did hate life and everything. I got over it and beat the addiction.

That is your battle. Are you and yer team stronger than the addiction?

 

[Mirt]

Czarina the first two weeks without the nicotine are the worst. Once you get past those its all mental and not physical. If you need any help it seems like there are a bunch of us around that have quit. Let me tell you the best thing is to keep busy and to take a look at how much more free spending money you will have. Also avoid things you associate with smoking (like drinking). Sadly each one of these will bring the hurdle back once you add them back into your life but in the long run its much nicer to quit.

 

[Czarina]

Day 3 all wrapped up! woot! i couldnt hardly play UO last nite cause im used to using it as my relaxation time while smoking lol. curse you tobacco! Still going strong tho!

 

[Tazar]

*hugs* Congrats. Each day gets a little easier.

 

[Troop]

Your doing great!!! Keep going!!!

 

[Barania]

Good luck to you - it's a very hard habit to quit. I'm 58, have stopped smoking about 3 times, but have always returned to it.

The last time I tried to quit was maybe 10-12 years ago in Florida - I hadn't smoked in over a year. Was on one of my 2x daily 3.5 mile beach walks - the early morning one and on the 1.75 mile walk back to the condo I started thinking cigarettes for some crazy reason. When I got home I got in the 300ZX and went and bought a pack.

Was dumb - the dentist was telling me that today. Be strong and again good luck. I should try again I think.

Jack Nickelson

 

[kelmo]

 

[Czarina]

Wow day 4 and OMG today was tough. I wanted to tackle every customer that walked by smoking and take thiers. I held back tho! I just kept myself busy and tried not to think about the cravings.

Bad part is now i have 4 days off to think about smoking lol.

 

[BluDjinn]

I started smoking when I was around 17 and I continued for the next 39 years or so.
I never really wanted to quit, so I never tried.

Now it has become more of a nuisance to find a place to smoke almost, impossible in some places. ( U.S. )
I am talking about bars and casinos, places that smoking was the norm and is now forbidden .

This is when I first noticed those " Boy! do I need a cigarette " urges.

I decided that I didn't like having that happen all the time.
So I decided to quit. I calmly smoked my last, one night while watching the stars, before bed.
And was done.

I have not smoked for 16 months, and never will again.

I had half a carton left over . I gave them away about a month ago to the guy who mows my lawn.
I kept them just to show my resolve.

When the urges start, Step back and study them.

I think like most people a lot of your smoking is just a mannerism habit.
( Start the car light-up, order a drink light-up, someone else flicks a bic and...etc )
This was the hard part for me to beat.
But I found that tooth picks, or straws worked well. I still go through a bunch of the coffee swizzles when I play in casinos .

As for the nicotine part. Just look at it for what it is: DRUGS.
Now it is no different from others, The thing to do is to make a game out of it. Be aware of the effects it can have, and be amused by them.
The effects when they hit are of short duration, laugh them off, or find something else to do.

ONE DAY IT WILL BE LIKE YOU HAD NEVER SMOKED AT ALL.
Best wishes,
Leprechaun

 

[kelmo]

Day four was about the time I started using Dum Dum suckers to give myself something to do.

 

[Mr.StinkyPants]

all u need is 3 weeks then the rest comes easy

 

[Rothen]

Good luck on your journey to being a non-smoker. Guess I've smoked for about 26 years now. Quit once in 97 for three months but my wife wasn't able to. Recently bought her one of those electronic cigarettes and she was getting used to and liking it. This one actually provides you with nicotine. It helped her cut way back on the normal smokes. Any how hopefully we'll find something that can help us both get thru this addiction. Great post Cz.

 

[Czarina]

Another smoke free day! Ive substituted the nico gum for dum dum pops yummy! Im starting to loose even the cravings already. Stress is a problem tho. People start irritating me and i want to slap them and smoke thier cigarettes. But i resist! I just go grab a dum dum lol

 

[Freelsy]

Another smoke free day! Ive substituted the nico gum for dum dum pops yummy! Im starting to loose even the cravings already. Stress is a problem tho. People start irritating me and i want to slap them and smoke thier cigarettes. But i resist! I just go grab a dum dum lol

I heard that if you eat a resist alacrity it will help cut down the cravings faster!!

 

[Kael]

Another smoke free day! Ive substituted the nico gum for dum dum pops yummy! Im starting to loose even the cravings already. Stress is a problem tho. People start irritating me and i want to slap them and smoke thier cigarettes. But i resist! I just go grab a dum dum lol

I found the cravings gone after a few days...was more the habit that needed to be changed. I mean wtf did non smokers do on breaks when at work??

 

[Kas Althume]

I found the cravings gone after a few days...was more the habit that needed to be changed. I mean wtf did non smokers do on breaks when at work??

The non smokers in my company are home 1 hour earlier than the smokers. Every working day ...

 

[Ludes]

My hat is off to all of you! Of all my many vices, smoking tobacco is the only one I wish I had never started and would love to quit.

 

[Czarina]

geez dont remind me about lunch breaks!! i get a hour lunch and it used to go like this smoke, eat, smoke, phone calls smoke more, clock back in. now its eat...............................45 minutes of sitting there going omg im so frickin bored! clock back in.

 

[wavace]

Just find another addiction. More online games, sex, a show with a huge plot (Lost,) etc. When I went cold turkey on the drinking I kept a large glass of water next to me all the time. Didnt miss da booze at all. Peed almost constantly though... Ah well. Congrats on quitting, best wishes and hopefully one of my many worshippers done get on here now and derail this thread for you. (You know who u are.)

 

[Czarina]

day 8 done!! weeeeeeeeeeee this is getting easier every day!! OMG i cant stop eating tho!!! Ive eaten everything in the house now im raiding the kids halloween candy! Im gunna blow up like a balloon!!