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Not like I've been quit for long (about 4 months), but these are things that helped during the first few weeks:
1. Tea tree oil-dipped toothpicks - I don't know how many of these I ground into pulp, but they helped a little bit.
2. In times of extreme stress and craving, I smoked a Honeyrose herbal cigarette. They taste like shit, they make you cough, and there's no nicotine reward, but it's something.
3. Extreme cardio - I joined a gym with the money I would've spent on smokes (the gym was actually cheaper!). Some adrenaline-pumping, testosterone-ridden music and an elliptical machine can help vent the frustration, increase endorphins (much needed during cranky withdrawls), and burn off the extra calories put on from nervous snacking. I used to visualize myself doing mean things to smug non-smokers whilst exercising, it was very satisfying.
For what it's worth, breathing is the best fucking feeling in the world after you clear all of the shit out of your lungs.
1. Tea tree oil-dipped toothpicks - I don't know how many of these I ground into pulp, but they helped a little bit.
2. In times of extreme stress and craving, I smoked a Honeyrose herbal cigarette. They taste like shit, they make you cough, and there's no nicotine reward, but it's something.
3. Extreme cardio - I joined a gym with the money I would've spent on smokes (the gym was actually cheaper!). Some adrenaline-pumping, testosterone-ridden music and an elliptical machine can help vent the frustration, increase endorphins (much needed during cranky withdrawls), and burn off the extra calories put on from nervous snacking. I used to visualize myself doing mean things to smug non-smokers whilst exercising, it was very satisfying.
For what it's worth, breathing is the best fucking feeling in the world after you clear all of the shit out of your lungs.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Things that helped me
Mon, September 26, 2005 - 5:12 PM>>For what it's worth, breathing is the best fucking feeling in the world after you clear all of the shit out of your lungs. <<
Damn, I can't wait. Between getting over bronchitis and having my body toss back all the crap in my lungs from smoking for 18 years I'm a goopy coughing mess.
Molly, you rock- very good advice. 4 months- congratulations! I have a friend who used tea tree oil toothpicks. He developed a new habit of sucking on them, but it's better than sucking on cigarettes. I'm saving the money I would otherwise be spending on cigs to take a trip.
Other suggestions:
1- do the math about how much it actually costs in a year and think of the things you want that you think you can't afford.
2- make a list of reasons not to smoke (including the cost)
3- make a list of the folks who really really want me to stop
4- when the big cravings hit, tell yourself you'll have one in 5 minutes, you're strong enough for that, and when you make it to 5 minutes, tell yourself 2 minutes more, and so on until the craving goes away- and chances are it will go away during the first 5 minutes.
Remember that you can have a cigarette anytime you want- you just don't want to. No, you really don't. -
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Unsu...
Re: Things that helped me
Mon, September 26, 2005 - 6:49 PMA lot of those techniques are discussed in the book I was refered to called "Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking" ( www.allencarrseasyway.com ) by an ex co-worker. She read it and quit. I picked up a copy of the book from Barnes & Noble's web site and read it. After finishing the last page, I stopped smoking....
It's been almost 2 years. I would say I lapsed back, but only on 3 occasions... Twice on my 35th birthday back in April - I was blasted out of my skull and decided to celebrate this monumental achievement, alone at the bar (friends all blew me off), with 2 smokes. BLAH! One a few weeks after that with an old friend, I wasn't as wasted. And one about 2 weeks ago during a very very very bad day at work.
I normally do not crave cigarettes, but there are times when I would kill for one. Although after the last time I had a smoke 2 weeks ago, I realized how nasty they really are and got a huge head rush and felt sick from the cigarette. -
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Re: Things that helped me
Mon, September 26, 2005 - 7:20 PMDamn, that head rush is what started me...
But when I get it now- which I did on days I waited a long time before my first cig- I hated it.
Congrats on almost reaching the 2 year mark Jeff...I don't think the minor relapses count. You didn't start smoking again, just had a smoke, big difference...no?
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Unsu...
Re: Things that helped me
Tue, September 27, 2005 - 3:40 AMYeah, just a single (or 2) cigarette.. I didn't start up again... -
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Re: Things that helped me
Tue, September 27, 2005 - 6:25 AMso ive always hesitated to begin the quitting process for fear of failure or that i would relapse and really disapoint not only myself but those closest to me who hate seeing me smoke... and then i read somewhere that "it didn't take smoking just one cigarette to make you a smoker in the first place... and if you dont let it, it wont make you a smoker again."
i think this somehow makes me feel better... that if i were to slip then its ok because it wont lead to another and another if i dont let it. so jeff -- smoking one or 2 doesnt make u a smoker again.
cheers. -
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Re: Things that helped me
Tue, September 27, 2005 - 8:27 AM"it didn't take smoking just one cigarette to make you a smoker in the first place... and if you dont let it, it wont make you a smoker again."
So true, thank you! I think one of the other quit smoking tribes ascribes to a philosophy that jives pretty closely with this. Can't remember what it's called, but I think I mentioned it in one of my earlier posts. It said something like when the cravings get too bad to let yourself have one and then continue your quitting process. Not my bag, but I understood the point. Having one and beating yourself up and resigning to failure is just a recipe to keep being a smoker. Having one and then saying "oops, I fucked up, won't do that again" and being ok with it is a much better idea.
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Unsu...
Re: Things that helped me
Tue, September 27, 2005 - 5:30 PM<<Having one and then saying "oops, I fucked up, won't do that again" and being ok with it is a much better idea.>>
I tend to agree with that... But I also told myself that even just having 1 is a failure. And the idea of not failing was one thing that kept me going at first. Now I just try not to even think about that anymore.
I think for me it's just harder - there have been several stressful things going on in my life and I haven't had anyone to really help me out, shoulder to cry on, a good buddy for moral support, etc... -
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Re: Things that helped me
Wed, September 28, 2005 - 8:19 AMIt's not harder for anyone...it's all subjective. Don't play the compare game. You'll be ok. Find someone and ask for help. Ask directly for what you need- don't be shy. I know it's hard to do, but it's worth it- I just did it for the first time in my life. And I had to drive 3 hours to get it, but now I'm holed up somewhere getting better and stronger thanks to someone I barely knew who was willing to take me on. Taking risks is how we improve ourselves and our lives.
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