You can quit! It's not very hard. Sure tobacco is addictive, not to mention the obvious dangers to your health, but it's only addictive as you ALLOW it to be. Please read my post & replies from this morning. If you are as serious about quitting as you say, these posts/replies can be very supportive & encouraging.

Hello Blue Wytch,

First of all Welcome to the forum!! Many of us here, have smoked for over 25 yrs. or longer. (myself included) There are also those of us who have relapsed and came back, I am one of them. I feel strong in my quit this time around, because this time? I really planned my quit. There are many successful smoke free folks here as members! You are in good company! :) I see youve only gotten one post with suggestions already. great ones! Im sure youll get more as the weekend goes on.

You are just at the beginning stage of getting ready to quit right? I promise you! It does get easier!! it really does!! I KNOW Im no expert, (Ive got a bit over 7 mo. today smoke free). But I will share what Ive learned this time around....and whats helped me so far. One of the 1st things I did was get rid of all smoking reminders, like ashtrays, put away lighters, when you throw out your remaining ciggs? Break them up or even better drench them in water! So the addict in you doesnt get tempted in yr. early days

As for when a crave hits? I try to NOT think of it. I do self talk, take deep breaths & and/or get busy!!! There is a wealth of posts here on Daily Strength (smoking addiction) to read & also Something called GOOD POSTS here. There are ALSO 5 things to remember when a crave hits, deep breaths, delay, distract (& DO come to DS and vent here if need be or read posts) and drink water.

Something recommended also: was Allan Carrs book, on smoking and how to stay quit( I found it rather enlightening myself). Its in some of the suggestions here on the board. (I downloaded/got mine for free from the internet in adobe pdf format) and coming here to do your daily roll call & daily pledge here to make yourself accountable and have daily support from us here on DS.

Just a FEW other things!? Is that you really- really have to WANT this quit and be ready for it. One tool? I used writing in my online journal here on DS (1st month-on a daily basis I think) and my at home journal as well to vent re: not smoking and my physical reactions, craves & emotions on the roller coaster of various feelings & thoughts of my quit! I wont lie, the 1st week or so was NOT easy. But it does pass.....

I also wrote a list with 2 sides: one for continuing smoking and one for quitting smoking and then also wrote a list of coping tools for when the craves hit.......I have quit in the past but this time feels different to me, a day at a time of course! But I feel I will stay smoke free for good now! & I believe you can do it too!!! :)

I dont think I was fully prepared the other times I attempted to quit. & I think now? The more prepared you are and truly ready to quit? The better chance of success! & Please dont forget, you are not alone in this venture! We All know how you feel! I know you can do this!! A day at a time or a few minutes sometimes! whatever it takes! Deep breaths!!

Oh, I quit cold turkey, but I realize its not for everyone! I just wanted the nicotine out of my system asap is all... But several others swear by Chantix (or also called champix, depending on where you live) and the nicotine patch or gum, talk to your Dr. & yes there may be new methods your Dr. or others here will obviously know about that I don't!!

Best of luck to you! Blessings, Jess

hi blue witch..

there are a lot of ways to quit and what works for some will not work for someone else. you have to find what will work for you whether it be cold turkey, nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gums but before you do that, you need to do the research. You have to find the reasons that you want to quit. if you go to groups in the upper right hand corner, click on it and go to good posts, there is a load of information there. Allen carr's book is also an excellent source.

i smoked for over 20 years and am at day 906 and i quit with the patch and the right attitude. You have to believe in yourself and believe that you can do it. It will happen as long as you maintain a positive attitude. you may slip a few times and it's ok. it's all part of the process of quitting.

do roll call and pledge with us every morning. Good luck.

Welcom BlueWytch ~

I am on day 22 and so far, so good. I did set a quit date, I also met with my doctor who prescribed Wellbutrin for me.

Jess offered really good guidance and most importantly...we are ALL here to help you in ANY way we can.

You can do it!!

Bee

Hi and welcome, good decision to quit, it's a day by day process, one that can be achieve with planning, positive attitude and a healthy diet if possible, some folks over do on the snacks. As was said above join in on the Roll Call and the Pledge.

Welcome to the 'family' Blue Wytch. You have already gotten such excellent advise. As our wonderful Ocean(Jess) and others have said, planning is the key to a successful quit. Deciding ahead of the game how you will handle dificutl situations and stress without reaching for that addicting cigarete. In the search box, type in 25 Helpful ways to Quit. It will give you an idea as to how to go about the planning stage.

Come here daily for Roll Call and when you do quit, join us for our daily pledge. It really help to be accountable to yourself. Get to know us,vent here, learn how others have done it and choose a way that works for you.

YOU don't need a cigarette, your ADDICTION does.

Hi and welcome. I used the nic patches to help me quit and they were great. Do some reading on whyquit,com and choose the right quit method for you. This is a deadly addiction and it isnt easy to quit but its doable and plenty of people in this group have quit and have stayed quit. You can do this too
When you quit call in each day for the pledge and rollcall that will help you stay motivated and accountable
You have made a life saving decision to quit Well Done
Hugs deb

This was 1980 when I quit. At that time, talk about the dangers of tobacco use were not really pushed strongly as they are today. Like, I'm sure many of you out there, I made several attempts to quit, but "fell off the wagon". My impetus to quit came with of all things, the FLUE. I was so sick for almost a week, that I just couldn't "light up", for love or money. Well, it worked. I never picked up a cigarette again. I don't really recall if there were any withdrawal symptoms. Six months after I had my last one, I threw an unopened pack away. I soon reached a point when the smell or sight of a dirty ashtray, or the smell of tobacco smoke physically sickened me. This just magnified my hatred for the vile habit 1000-fold. The rest is history! 33 years as a former smoker is proof of the pudding. Quitting takes willpower & dedication, but i can assure you, it's very possible to turn your lives & health around, as I have. Good luck and good health to all.

Yesterday, we happened to be passing a Quik-Stop and noticed a sign advertising branded cigarettes (eg: Marlboro). The price was $14.00 a pack! Anyone care to venture a guess about how much money I've saved by quitting, factoring in the cost of inflation? At the time I quit, a pack (I preferred Newport) would last about 2 to 2-1/2 days on average. The figure must be mind boggling. Those who seriously want to quit should start thinking in those terms.

Rissa,

Where do you live (if i can ask?) Just curious! costing $14.00 per pack?

I used to smoke natural organic ciggs and they were high I thought at $7.50 per pack! I live in No. Calif.

Blessings,
Jess

Oops, my bad. Just took a quick ride and got the dope straight from the farmer. It's $13.99 for TWO packs. $67 a carton for Marlboro. Wish it really was $14 a pack (sobs)! BTW, I live just east of New England's Great Lake, about 100 miles due south of Montreal.

Riss

Good luck, you'll get there. I quit a couple of times, once for four years, and like you stress and one sickerette ruined it all. But we learn from our previous attempts, like me this/next time you'll know it doesn't help when we're stressed. And hang tight the right time to quit is near, jump aboard and hang tight and you'll make it. Hugs,

Nicole

Ps. A pack of sickerettes here in Ontario, Canada is around $12.00