Quitter

I'm tempted to put this in "Grievances", but I suppose, deep down, that I'm supposed to be happy about this...

So. I quit smoking. It sucks! I've wanted to crawl out of my own skin for about 59 minutes of every hour of the past five days. But I haven't given in, and I'm really proud of myself (I was about to come up on my 10th anniversary of smoking, which has been my end-of-the-line quit date for the past several years. I really can't smoke anymore).

I really need some support... this is so hard. Have any of you quit and survived to tell the tale? I would really love to hear any words of encouragement, from anyone, smoker or no.

Also, if anyone else wants to quit, I'm happy to be a miserable quitter with ya!

Yep. I quit on May 17, 1997 after a lifetime of smoking (seriously; when I was a wee slip of a thing, I used to sneak a drag on my mother's cigarette when her head was turned). I was HELLA addicted, but I kicked it on my first and only try.

It was horrible. Quitting, I mean. And I dropped fifty IQ points and put on several metric buttloads of weight.

Oh. Hang on. Is this supposed to be a pep talk?

My husband quit 1 week after moving to the US, 2 days after starting his new job, and while in the midst of writing up the corrections for his PhD. It was HELL but he did it and is now about 5-6 months smoke free - even he's lost the exact count without looking at a calendar!

I am SOOO proud of him. As the non-smoking spouse (never did smoke), it was hard to watch because there was nothing I could do but be supportive. It was a long hard road for him, but he is now at the point where the cravings come a lot less.

Best of luck to you! You *can* do it!

Well I was a "social smoker" off and on for a few years.  I smoked "regularly" for a few months, then I would just smoke when I was drinking, then I'd stop all together, then I'd start again.  It was kinda random because I've never really been addicted to anything in my life...so for me to "quit" was no problem...I just decided that since I wasn't addicted anyway, and it's a nasty habit, and it's bad for your body...I wasn't gonna do it anymore.

Having said that (which I know doesn't help you at all), I can't really offer any advice or tips...but I can just say to keep your eye on the prize and wish you lots of luck!!

Haha Tarnlover... you're so mean. I had a friend who could do the same thing, just quit at the drop of a hat. I've never been like that (and wouldn't be here complaining if I was!).

Thanks, everybody. Stoatula, you've made it over 12 years! That's amazing. I keep reminding myself that time will go on, day by day, regardless of whether I'm smoking or not. Meaning that it'll be ten years down the road, and I'll have either spent them smoking or spent them living a healthier life that I can actually agree with.

Stoat, tell me you don't think about smoking anymore... that you're never tempted, ever. That the idea of smoking a cigarette makes you wrinkle your nose and/or want to barf.

As for the intelligence thing... yeah. Can't really put together a sentence at the moment, but I'm hoping that much at least will come back to me. It's like riding a bike, I hear.

As a heavy smoker for over 25 years, I tried many times to quit and was unsuccessful until I went on the patch.  I quit one night after calling my mother and telling her I was having my last cigarette with her.  That was in May of 2000.  It was difficult for the first few weeks.  But it was waaaaaaay easier on the patch than any other time.  After a short while cigarettes really started to stink.  I hate the smell of any smoke now.  It's funny, but even though I never really craved a cigarette, my body sometimes missed the habit.  You know, we all have trigger points that make us want a cigarette.  One of mine was when the phone rang.  Several years after I quit, I found myself for a moment or so, looking for a cigarette when it rang.  Not that I wanted one, I was just acting out the habit.  I would never go back to smoking again.  Even if I wanted too, I just couldn't see taking up something so costly now.  There are too many other things I want and need in life.  Good luck.  It will get better and you'll soon be on the other side looking back thankful that you went through it.  You can make it.

Stoat, tell me you don't think about smoking anymore... that you're never tempted, ever. That the idea of smoking a cigarette makes you wrinkle your nose and/or want to barf.

I...oh, dear. I wish I could say that. My husband (who quit six months before me, and hence is the reason I even thought about quitting) feels exactly the way you describe. But I struggled much harder than he did and I get twinges even now. Sometimes I sneak up next to smokers and snag a little of that sweet, sweet secondhand smoke.

But I have never cheated outright. I told myself I had ONE shot at quitting and if I blew it, I'd never try again. I know that's not the standard advice, but if I hadn't told myself that, I'd've cheated for sure.

I'm going to give you the wrongest, most morally reprehensible piece of advice EVER: quite the opposite of what I expected, I find alcohol turns off the cigarette cravings. But if you end up a non-smoking alcoholic, I'll go to hell for sure. So have a care.

I smoked for about ten years, starting out as a casual once-in-a-while puffer and then escalating to a pack+ a day towards the end. I'd always wanted to quit but one day my dhrink put me on Welbutrin for my depression. Took that for a year, and then woke up one morning, had my first ciffie and threw up. Never wanted to light up since and it's bean a bit under 5 years.
i truly nearlized until later that Welbytrin was Zyban. I feel really lucky to have found something that wokted for me.

I'm going to give you the wrongest, most morally reprehensible piece of advice EVER: quite the opposite of what I expected, I find alcohol turns off the cigarette cravings.

YES! I find that in the evening, when my cravings are strongest and I have time to actually think about smoking, having a beer or a glass of wine really helps the cravings. I thought I wouldn't be able to drink while I'm quitting since I so strongly associate the two, but it's great. I think, as a smoker, I'm so used to having the option to quickly alter my mindset with a dose of nicotine to the brain... alcohol is a ready substitute!

So if I end up an alcoholic, rest easy knowing it's not your fault.

Mort, Wellbutrin is fantastic for quitting smoking. I took it once as an anti-depressant and once to quit smoking (though I quit both times). The problem with Wellbutrin for me is the awful side effects: I could never sleep, couldn't calm down, got hideous anxiety. And I started smoking again as soon as I quit... but then, looking back on all the times I've "quit" before, I haven't exactly been a model of willpower. This quit is easier in that sense, because dammit, I'm not giving in this time.

I've never smoked so can't really begin to understand what you're going through ... but I just wanted to congratulate you!! Keep it up!!

Well, I quit earlier this year, but was unsuccessful.   I do plan to try again once I get through my driving test. I think I will need all the help I can get to keep me sane during that! But, I was disappointed that I went back, and I was back and forth for a while. I've quit loads of times, longest I've gone without a smoke is 9 months. I've been a smoker for about 18 years. It's really taken it's toll on my complexion, so I can only imagine what my lungs must look like.   Anyway, it's a hard road, but you know there are so many more reasons to quit than there are to smoke (I mean, what good reason is there to smoke, really?) and just think of all the money you will save. You will sleep better, you will have more energy, you will feel better when you wake up in the mornings. I wish you luck, and hopefully you can set a good example for me when I quit once again!