I need help

[linda_joyce]

I an a 15 a day smoker who is determined to give up the horrible habit. I smoked my last cigarette at about 10.00am Christmas Eve and I have now reached the point where I would be willing to walk the mile to my nearest shop to buy a packet and start smoking again. Only this time I'm not going to give in.

A little help would be appreciated though. Are there any ex smokers amongst my lj friends, or people who have known people going through this, are there any tips you can give me to get over the rough patches?

Unfortunately I am allergic to sticking plaster so can't use the patches and have false teeth which makes chewing the nicotine gum a bit of a problem so I am now going through withdrawal symptoms that have me climbing the walls.

Comments

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Might have dreamed it, but don't they do nicotine lolipops too?

Gina

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I know there are nicotine lozenges so there could well be lollipops, but my local chemist doesn't stock them. when I'm back at work I'll look in Boots if I still feel this way.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan.

Good luck!

Gina

[hominysnark.livejournal.com]

Linda, I'm going through the same thing right now. I've been smoking since I was 17--more than half my life--and it's a nightmare trying to quit.

However!

Knowing that I would not be able to just cut it off completely without feeling as if I'd cut off a limb, I started reducing the number, a few weeks back. Just by one or two a day, at first, then a couple more and a couple more. I'm now at the point where I'm smoking half of what I smoked before--and I don't miss it. I'm easing myself into the point where when I'm down to one or two a day, it will be a much less painful step to go down to none.

According to a friend who's in her last year of medical school, the physical effects of smoking are out of your system within 72 hours of your last cigarette, so what's left are the psychological cravings, which in my experience are even worse. She suggested I have a strategy for when the cravings hit--find a way to distract yourself somehow. Go for a walk, clean the house (something that's never-ending in my house), if you're at work, find something involving to work on, or if you're on break grab a really good book. The point is to replace the self-destructive behavior with something positive--to make a bad habit into a good one.

And I know, that's a lot easier said than done, but if I can cut my habit in half, and half again, I know I can cut it out completely.

I know you can, too. :)

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I started in my 20s so it's slightly more than half my life. I've tried the gradual reduction method and have never managed to get myself off the last few so this time, now I'm living in a very small village with the nearest shop a mile away and no car I thought I would try cold turkey.

So working it out I have another day and a half before the nicotine is out of my system and after that all I need to battle is the oral gratification need.

And doing something does help . As I was typing my plea I got a call from my cousins. They were going to TKMaxx, a local discount store, and if I wanted they would pick me up on route.

I went out and wandered with them for a couple of hours, I didn't even buy anything and now I feel much less like giving up giving up.

Back to my book and my crochet and hope they get me through.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Isn't there that small Nicorette inhalator thing that's shaped like a small cig or something? That might be useful.

I once weaned myself off terribly addictive sleeping pills with the help of chocolate. Not necessarily the healthiest alternative, but less dangerous, I suspect...

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

with the help of chocolate. Not necessarily the healthiest alternative, but less dangerous, I suspect...

The prevalence of chocies in my Christmas presents and 5 days off work were the the main reasons I chose this time of year to try again and give up the dreaded weed.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I have no suggestions since I've never smoked, but go you! Hang in there, that's a great and very healthy decision.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

All support is truly welcomed. I am spending a lot of time in bed at the moment. I have never smoked in bed and being there reduces the craving.

I have got this far I am going to succeed this time.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Keep posting so we can give you support when you need it! Though of course we're 12 hours or so apart so I mightn't react straight away, esp once I get another job.