quit smoking cold turkey or cut down till zero?

[JorgeHTQH]

Hello folks,

Quick question on self discipline and quitting smoking.

I read the articles here on self discipline and wanted to ask you all if you think I would have a better chance using self discipline to quit smoking over a 7 day period by cutting down till I get to no cigarettes or should I keep trying cold turkey?

After reading the articles I made my own quit smoking plan and failed, but on my 1st attempt did manage to make it to day 4 and only smoked 5 cigarettes that day instead of a whole pack but then messed up so quit trying.

I tried it 2 more times and failed on day 3, then quit trying for a while. Then I tried to quit cold turkey and only lasted one day. Tried again cold turkey and only lasted 8 hours. Tried again and only lasted 4 hours.

My question is, should I keep trying my 7 day cutting down method or cold turkey?

thanks for your help.
sincerely, Jorge Fernandez

[JimOfferman]

I don't think it really matters which way you go...

What matters is whether or not you choose (!) to succeed at this.

Your body has no lasting dependency on cigarettes, it's all in your head. Your mind is the only factor here. If you really, really, really want to quit you can!

[JorgeHTQH]

Thanks Jim, what you said is so true. My mind is my enemy. The problem is, when I run out of cigs I say to myself, relax, so what, your not going to die, or I try to think about something else, but then after several hours my mind, my enemy, starts quickly showing me how to get quick money for cigs or any other plan to get a cig... I purposely stayed without money so that I wouldnt buy a pack and it worked, only for a few hours... then it's amazing how my mind starts planning to get the cigs. Today I walk about 1/2 mile to the atm to get money to buy cigs... when I got home I said to myself, I cant belive I went thru all of that just for cigs.... and believe me, I really, really, really really not only want to quit but I must for many reasons.... Thanks for the reminder that it is in my head..

[abcZen]

I actually think going cold turkey is the best, there is no other way about it or you will keep putting it off. You can replace your early cravings with a lollipop which helps, as the early ones are the hardest.

One more tip I want to share is don't count how long you've quit for. I.e. don't say, oh yes I've quit for one week now. If you've quit you've quit.

I know you can do it, congratulations for making the positive change.

[Jim11]

I smoked for a few years several years ago and cold turkey was the only way to go for me.

I spent most of my mental energy just telling myself that I was now non-smoker instead of taking a lot of time considering several different methods to quit. "I am now a non-smoker, it is what it is, and I don't need to think about that anymore".

[Ceros]

Most drug addicts I know kicked the habit cold turkey, so that is the way I would go if I were you.

I think quitting by reducing the dosage would end up requiring more willpower and self control than doing it cold turkey.

[Remiel]

Coming from a different form of addiction, video games, I find cold turkey to be far far easier than slowly dropping it. The first several days are rough yet after that it gets easier. Just make it a 30 day trial. Once the 30 days are over you then it'll be way easier to continue it. And by making it a 30 day trial you remove some of the hindrances.

Good luck. You have a most worthy goal.

[Calimero]

Originally Posted by Jim11

I"I am now a non-smoker, it is what it is, and I don't need to think about that anymore".

I am happy that this worked for you.
But the sentence you used is not the most positive one.
I see negative words as non-smoker and don't need to think anymore.


So I am asking to everyone in order to help JorgeHTQH
What could be sentence that sounds more positive?
The above one contains smoker...that is negative even when we put a negative word in front of it non-smoker. It reminds one that he was once a smoker. Would it be more effective if the word was not used and how could we formulate that?
I am thinking myself about that one.

[JorgeHTQH]

Positive Affirmations... interesting... Man, if I can come up with just a few positive affirmations every time the temptation comes to smoke a cig, that might help...

I can write them down, or better yet print them out in big letters and hang them all thru my apartment... Believe me, I'll try anything, that's how desperate I am to stop smoking..

Quitting cold turkey is not easy.... at least not me... Some people have more will power and self discipline than others. But I'm working on both.

Thank you all for your help... I really appreciate it... I'll keep checking and reading and re-reading these posts all day until I quit smoking once and for all...

[Calimero]

Originally Posted by JorgeHTQH

Positive Affirmations... interesting... Man, if I can come up with just a few positive affirmations every time the temptation comes to smoke a cig, that might help...

.

It is not an easy one.
But maybe it should be more affirmations like...

Lighters and matches....I only use them to
Light a candle
Light the bbq
Light the oven to cook some dinner
Light a stove or fireplace to warm the house.

I use my mouth only to eat, drink, breath, and speak

Come on, where are all these progressed smart developed people.

[Jcs]

Positive affirmations wouldn't do anything for me personally. My desire to quit was greater then to smoke. That was the key really. I posted a thread, here on the forums, around mid-february. A 30-day quit smoking trial (cold turkey). And it was hard! Even after 90 days when something stressful came it was still hard. But I'm really glad how far I've come .

[Dannyboy1]

But prepare a basket of ways to distract yourself or use a substitution. Bottom line is, you have to say, "No. That's not me anymore." Don't even look at them. If you smell them, don't think, just walk away quickly.

[Jcs]

Oh, and get rid of your ashtray if you smoke at home. Helped me as well.

[JorgeHTQH]

Thanks man, I already got rid of 2 ash trays... I ended up using a cup now... However, today is another chance for me to try to quit cold turkey...i am almost out of cigs and again today, i purposely stayed without money so that i wont buy them... there's no way i'm going to walk that half mile again to the atm just to get money for cigs.... i would try to find your post of your 30 day cold turkey victory but there are soooooo many post here that i wouldnt even know where to start... but here we go again.. Thanks man...

[Jcs]

Here you go: 30 Day Trial - Quit Smoking

I see my last reaction was on 27th of may, that I was craving for one! Which was after ± 3,5 months. Luckily I didn't cave in . It helped to post reports regularly. Gives some feeling of accomplishment.

Six and half months for me now, never going back

[JorgeHTQH]

Great! Thanks! I'll start reading your 30 day trial now. Tomorrow is another day to start off fresh.

[maryelyn]

there is no right way or wrong way to do this.

i've quit smoking twice before. each time it was cold turkey, 'cuz that is what seems to work best for me. the first time i didn't smoke for a year, and the second time it was ten months. each time i started up again. why? can't tell you, really...it's an easy habit to fall back into.

i haven't smoked for just over a week now. however, i'm reluctant to say that i've quit. this is the first time that i have stopped smoking when i still had cigarettes left. the last time i smoked, i noticed that i was down to two cigarettes and one unopened pack. i still have those two cigarettes and the one unopened pack. i haven't defined myself as having quit...so i can smoke those cigarettes any time that i want. i haven't really wanted them that badly yet.

not that i haven't wanted them at all. there's been a few times when i was jonesing for a smoke and i knew i had cigarettes in my bag and all i had to do was reach for them...and it would be okay. but i didn't reach for them. and it didn't take long for the feeling to pass...

for me, it helps not to think of the whole 'forever' thing. the time thing. when i want a cig, i tell myself, 'well, i don't have to quit forever. just for now. just for now, i won't smoke. maybe in an hour, or tomorrow, or next week...but not just now.' the feeling passes and the next time it comes back...well, it's another 'now'!

it also helps for me to remember that the only lasting effect that i am going to get out of smoking - is the desire to smoke again! the pleasure that i get from smoking will be brief - but it will be enough to make me want to smoke again, and again, and again...until the only reason that i'm smoking is to make sure that i want to smoke again...it's craziness!

expensive craziness...in more ways than one...

[Trezker]

I suggest replacing the smoke with another habit that makes you breathe heavy. When you feel like smoking, do some exercise to get your pulse up. You'll get a rush and feel good about yourself.

[Matthew Shea]

Jorge, if nothing else works, and I don't mean to sound too negative, think of what the other end of your life will be like if you keep up this habit. Think about the lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and everything else that you really, REALLY don't want to have to deal with.

My FIL is dealing with lung cancer now and a friend of my family passed away years ago from lung cancer that spread to his liver and brain. I've also known people permanently hooked to oxygen tanks who couldn't breathe properly after years of lighting up. Trust me, you DON'T want to have to deal with any of that.

Please do yourself a favor and do whatever you need to do. The short-term misery will pay off bigtime in the long run.

[JorgeHTQH]

Thanks guys! Well, so far today since 6:00am I have smoked 4 cigs, one per hour, instead of 1 every 30 minutes which is what I normally smoke.

That last 4th cig was the last cig I had which was at 10:00am. The pack is done. I through away my 3rd ash tray and my lighter. I purposely have no cash on me and no cigs.

I invited my mom over for the day, who should be here any minute now. We'll go out and run some errands. Although she knows I'm trying to quit smoking, she has never seen me smoke and I would never let her see me smoke. So at least for today I'll be with her all day and I won't dare to smoke when my mom's around out of respect for her.

So my plan for the evening is to stay without money and keep myself busy working on my websites and listening to relaxing music. Hopefully, that last 4th cig will be my last cig... Thanks again everyone.. I'll keep checking re-reading all of the posts here throught the day. Have a great day everyone!

[Calimero]

Originally Posted by JorgeHTQH

Thanks guys! Well, so far today since 6:00am I have smoked 4 cigs, one per hour, instead of 1 every 30 minutes which is what I normally smoke.

That last 4th cig was the last cig I had which was at 10:00am. The pack is done. I through away my 3rd ash tray and my lighter. I purposely have no cash on me and no cigs.

I invited my mom over for the day, who should be here any minute now. We'll go out and run some errands. Although she knows I'm trying to quit smoking, she has never seen me smoke and I would never let her see me smoke. So at least for today I'll be with her all day and I won't dare to smoke when my mom's around out of respect for her.

So my plan for the evening is to stay without money and keep myself busy working on my websites and listening to relaxing music. Hopefully, that last 4th cig will be my last cig... Thanks again everyone.. I'll keep checking re-reading all of the posts here throught the day. Have a great day everyone!

Here I am again.
Just read Steve's last article. It might be interesting for you to take a look at it.
Here is the link of where the article is in discussion. And what did my eye see.
Yes you seem not the only one that wants to quit on these forums.
So maybe the one that is already making a plan could be your buddy....if you are fighting the same bad habit you could exchange ideas about the strategy.µµ

Habit Change Is Like Chess (Blog)

[JorgeHTQH]

Thanks Calimero! I appreciate it. I'm still strugling. Today, as strange as this sounds, I started talking to myself and telling myself no! no! no! And it did work for about 3 hours. I will read Steve's article and keep on trying. Thanks again to all of you guys.

[Matthew Shea]

Keep fighting, Jorge. We're with you!

[NightSpirit]

The people I know that have been successful at stopping all did it cold turkey but with a little pre-planning. They set a date ahead of time that would be their last day of smoking and then stopped at the end of that day.

There is a book by Allen Carr that has a reputation of helping a lot of people quit.

[Woohoo]

Originally Posted by NightSpirit

There is a book by Allen Carr that has a reputation of helping a lot of people quit.

Yup, Allen Carr wins the deal. I can't recommend it highly enough.
I even wrote a blog entry about it a few months ago. (Check it out if you are interested)

[JorgeHTQH]

Well, today is day 2! I didn't smoke a cigerette all day yesterday and so far no cigs today 12afternoon and that is the first time i have done that in ages. I did try to bum a cig from a neighbor last night who i hardly knew, hehe, but luckly for me she ran out of smokes... but I won't do that again. Today at midnoght will be Day 2 completed. Thanks guys for all your advice.

[stellasky]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Matthew Shea

Jorge, if nothing else works, and I don't mean to sound too negative, think of what the other end of your life will be like if you keep up this habit. Think about the lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and everything else that you really, REALLY don't want to have to deal with.

The Allan Carr Books on Quitting focus on a different perspective that just makes sense...you can find a free download online.

And, well, the author stresses that telling a "cig addict" about the dangers, only serves to shame them, they already hate themselves for smoking and know the dangers but are helpless to change.

The book really shifted my awareness while reading, however I didn't quit, but I know that's due to my mind which needs some working on. Alan Carr also says, not to feel as if you're giving up smoking, rather, that you're now smoke-free or a non-smoker..and to remind yourself of that everyday, as well as re-reading the book as you need it for support.

[wayneb]

Chantix is one of those FDA approved drugs which can be used to get over smoking habit. It works on body by giving you the same feel good effect like smoking and hence reduces the craving for nicotine. This medicine should only be used in accordance with the instructions of a physician as there are various side effects which may vary from person to person and it includes change of taste, sleeplessness and many more. I have smoked for more than 10 yrs, but now I am spending a smoke free life from last 2 months. Thanks to chantix. Along with having this medicine, you should also have will power and feeling that you want to get over this habit.

[Apollo]

Well I can recommend an electronic cigarette - got mine from ebay, I was never a big smoker but I did get up to about 5 a day at one point and that was too much for me, I got an e-cig because for me it was just the holding of the cig with maybe a drink or going for a little walk for one that made me enjoy it, you can still do that with the e-cig and even put nicotine in it if you want but without the actual smoke / tar + 4000 chemicals that want to kill you!

Definitely recommended, I haven't bought a cig for about 5 months since having it and I don't even use the e-cig much anymore.

[tintin]

Deepak Chopra - Stop Smoking Self Hypnosis - i found this to be quite good.
you can download the torrent