Quit Smoking

[HolisticWellness.com]

I quit smoking over two years ago after many failed quits and am interested in hearing from other "quitters". How did you finally do it? I did it by swearing to never touch a cigarette again--at any cost. A simple, but non-negotiable commitment.

Comments?

Kristin
Holistic Wellness - Your Virtual Wellness Center

[fontduroy]

I was able to quit after my wife (then girlfriend) told me that she'd leave me if I kept smoking. That was quite a motivator. I quit cold turkey and haven't had a drag on one since.

I should explain this by saying that my wife has a reaction to cigarette smoke: her eyes burn and swell, and her throat gets irritated. So her leaving me would have been because she couldn't physically stand being around it.

It's been four and a half smoke-free years now.

I can't stand the smell of cigarettes anymore and, honestly, look down on people that still smoke (let the flame war start, but that's the way I feel). It took quitting for me to objectively see just how senseless and stupid it is. Still, if someone wants to smoke, that's their choice. Just as long as I don't have to inhale it.

[Dating Specialist]

Kudos to you guys!

Long live smoke-free air! haha

But of course, we still gotta respect smokers too

[HolisticWellness.com]

That's it! When you absolutely commit--for whatever reason--that's it!
Oh, and I can't stand the smell either now.
:-)
Kristin

[Sheeo]

I'm still a smoker here... Trying to quit somehow, but I can't find the motivation...

A non-negotiable commitment like the one you noticed seems like the best way though, HolisticWellness.com.

[LillyoftheValley]

A friend told me: ''If you're gonna go through this (quitting cigars), then forget you ever smoked one. Cigar? What is that? ''

I held that thought like a naive child, and for two years now I haven't seen one. It's actually quite a fun!

[JohnnyJimJams]

I wrote down the top reasons that I wanted to quit, and the things that were likely to happen if I didn't.

I rated them from most important to me to least important.

My health was the top reason for me, so I researched stories about people that were dying from or had died from smoking related illnesses.

I read one particular story about a lovely lady that was the matriarch of her family, the one that organised all of the family gatherings of her children and grandchildren. She explained in great detail of the daily pain, (physical, emotional, financial, etc). The thing that really stayed with me, was the what she had to say about her self loathing. She was horrified at herself for not quitting. For not being strong enough. For not trying hard enough. She died of small cell lung cancer, and left her loving family behind. And for what?

Very sad story.

I haven't had a ciggie since. Nearly 11 months.

[dorothy hanna]

I've made smoking a non-issue in my life. I don't think about smoking, for me or anyone else. I don't look up to those who've quit, and I don't look down on those who have not.

If someone expresses the desire to quit, then I encourage their desire, and praise their effort. If they don't manage to, I just acknowledge that everyone has a desire to get to a different place, within themselves over many things. I let them know that they don't have to be hard on themselves at all, and can try again whenever they like.

If they wanted to quit, and they succeeded, I acknowledge their success, because they achieved something they desired.

Why be judgemental about it. Life is so full of many things that people want to attain, or leave out of their life. Some struggle more than others.

[stephencp]

A friend of mine said that while her and his sister's watched thier father die over a weekend of lung cancer during which it sounded like he was drowning in his own mucous, his sisters would head outside to the porch for a smoke. Clearly it's a strong addiction requiring a strong commitment to break.

Stephen
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[Dating Specialist]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJimJams

I wrote down the top reasons that I wanted to quit, and the things that were likely to happen if I didn't.

I rated them from most important to me to least important.

My health was the top reason for me, so I researched stories about people that were dying from or had died from smoking related illnesses.

I read one particular story about a lovely lady that was the matriarch of her family, the one that organised all of the family gatherings of her children and grandchildren. She explained in great detail of the daily pain, (physical, emotional, financial, etc). The thing that really stayed with me, was the what she had to say about her self loathing. She was horrified at herself for not quitting. For not being strong enough. For not trying hard enough. She died of small cell lung cancer, and left her loving family behind. And for what?

Very sad story.

I haven't had a ciggie since. Nearly 11 months.

Thanks for sharing this story JohnnyJimJams. Congrats on your success to quit. You go man!

[John Wesley]

It took me several tries to quit before it stuck. I think the key is actually wanting to quit. If you don't really want to, and really believe it is in your best interest, you will always find excuses to relapse. You need to really understand that the benefits of quitting far outweigh the costs. It is a completely intellectual battle.

[Cassie]

Congratulations on finally quitting, John. It's great you didn't give up on yourself and kept trying!

[child]

I wrote two letters; one to the smoking (yes, as if it is a person) and one to my body.
I wrote to smoking that I understand its lessons, and it really helped me in that many years but we have to go our own ways now. Since there is nothing more to understand and to experience between us. I thanked it and said goodbye.

In my second letter to my body, i said that i needed help to pass the withdrawal period and to make it easy as posibble.

Then i quit cold turkey. At the momment i was sure that i will never take another puff again. It was very easy except the first day, even it was not that bad.

[ÜberDan]

I quit when my daughter was born, that soon created a very strong sense or responsibility for myself and for her

I know several people that had a one hit hypnotherapy session and that was it, they stopped, job done. Also know poeple that it didn't work for, suppose it depends on whether you want to quit or someone else wants you to quit. Either way £50-£250 on a session if your serious is worth a try.

[LillyoftheValley]

A friend of my father's had a sick newborn, so he made a vow that he wouldn't touch a cigarette if the child gets better. The kid about 12 yrs old, I think, and the guy is like, 45 and training our town's handball team!

Very nice, but your common sense should point you in the direction of what Hanna wrote: don't make it an issue.Don't jugde, not yourself, not the smoke, nor others. (Cigarette? What's that?!)

Keep us posted of your progress!

[dalante]

The hardest part for me was to get rid of the mental addiction. I tried 4 times before being successful. The book that did it for me is Easyway to stop smoking, by Allen Carr.