need help from FORMER SMOKERS!

I went cold turkey about 16 months ago, after smoking for 25 years. My thought (and many disagree with me but so what?) is that if you're going to use an e-cigarette why bother quitting at all? But I digress...

When I quit, I totally went crazy. I couldn't sleep because my body was vibrating from all the energy I had. I cried for weeks. The only thing that saved me was working out hard. I didn't know where else to put that energy. Also "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking" by Allen Carr helped me and about ten of my friends. Amazing book, available online everywhere.

You can do this. If I can do it, so can you. Be prepared to take your first real down-to-the-bottom-of-your-lungs deep breath since you started. Smokers can't do that. It's a life change but it sounds like you're ready.

Smoked 14 years and I read The Easy Way and quit cold turkey almost 3 years ago. I was ready and to tell you the truth, I don't really miss it anymore... I get a twinge here and there, but as soon as I realized that quitting meant never smoking again... it made it easier to avoid. I can even go out w/ my friends that smoke and be fine...
It's a hard decision to make, but once it's REALLY made, it's easier.

Quitting was the hardest thing I've ever done (not made any easier by the fact my husband & mom continue to smoke.) It was totally worth it. I smoked a pack a day for 10+years and have been a non-smoker for 15 years. Every so often I have a blip of wanting a smoke, but my safety net is "no touching." I won't even move my husbands cigarettes from the car to the counter. One drag and I would be hooked again. If I don't touch, I don't smoke.

*Pray and ask friends to pray for you
*Tell everyone you are quitting smoking, especially anyone you've hidden it from
*Change ALL your patterns- who you eat lunch with at work, where you park, the corner you light up at..... any pattern you've had that was a trigger to smoke must be changed
*Plan ahead for temptation- what will you do? Be specific. (IE: 20 deep breaths, repeat a scripture, call a friend,drink a glass of water, write in a journal & vent, list positive's you'll gain after you are free of it)
*Look into things that will physically calm and help you at the health food store like Kava tea or others or talk with your Dr.

I remember feeling like I didn't know who I was without a cigarette in my hand. It was part of my identity. I began to realize that I was the exact same person I've always been right after every cig I smoked and put out. Until I had a new pattern of living I frequently imagined that I just smoked, put it out and now was going to do what I normally would have. Make sense?

Finally, I don't want to be harsh here, but as an ex-smoker living with a heavy smoker who has unsuccessfully tried to quit a few times, please don't abuse your friends and family while you are going through this process. Yes, quitting can be a big challenge, and it may have to be for you so you'll never go back, but you cannot give in to emotional fits and expect others to deal with it. It's not right. You made the choice to start smoking and I'm sure you knew the possible consequences at the time. This does not give you license unleash on those around you and behave without self control.

Maybe instead of asking for their patience and support as you quit regarding your emotions you could ask their understanding for you excusing yourself until you get your composure back and return. If they are telling you to have a cig because they are frustrated with your behavior, you need to understand that you are not treating them properly.


You can do it. You will be fine. This is only for a short time. You've accomplished other hard things and this is no different. You'll be ok!!

Cold Turkey ....... first three days are hell, first three weeks are tough.

9 months as a non smoker and now trying to lose the 18llbs that I gained - struggling with trying to kick start metabolism nothing seems to be working !!

Sorry to hear of your sister- what a horrible thing. She may have saved your life.

I smoked for over 10 years - quit February 2010. Welbutrin helped with the cravings, but I think it was mostly that I just really was at a place in my life that I wanted to quit! We were trying to start a family and I knew the cigarettes weren't helping. I have to admit that I still had one here or there until I got pregnant with my son, but none since. - and that's been nearly 3 years ago!

You seriously have to get past the psychological addiction. The physical addiction is hard enough, but the patterns you set in place are the biggest triggers to get past. Like smoking after meals or as soon as you get in the car. I got to the point I could not stand the way it made me smell, I was finding it nauseating so this made it easier for me to quit after 28years of smoking. I quit 8 years ago and haven't looked back. You will have to accept that there is no magic pill, or system to make you stop. It is all you. Once you remember you are in control of yourself, overcoming the drive to smoke again will be easier as time goes on.

Don't give in so easy, lower the amount of nicotine in your system over time. When a craving hits take 1-2 puffs, put it out and walk away. Don't smoke the whole thing save the rest for the next cry fit. Give it several hours between puffs though. By the end of the cigarette it will begin to taste horrible and smell as nice. As i was smoking the one or two puffs i envisioned myself having to put my finger over the trachyotomy hole to tell my 2 children to stop fighting. This was added motivation to quit since they were both young and I didn't want to expose them to second hand smoke any more than I already had.

like most people on here....i did it cold turkey....been smoke free for 4 months now....after smoking for almost 18 years. and yes...i did put on weight after that.....almost 20lb.

So I am trying to quit smoking, I have cut down drastically from over a pack a day to about 6 or 7. I have tried numerous times, Ive done the patch, chantix, gum etc. I recently tried the ecig and that left me with the worst chest pains so I just went back to smoking. I want to quit, I hate smoking, I want to be able to work out HARD!
I go crazy when I dont smoke, everything makes me cry. Things get broken. I turn into such a B****, the people who are in my corner, who want me to quit, actually TELL me to go smoke.
Those who have actually quit, how did you do it!?!?

Do cocaine! lol

God, I would have loved to have used Chantix. I was about to get it until I was "reminded" that if I took Chantix once, the FAA would yank my pilot's license. Cold turkey it was... Three of the most difficult days of my life, but hopefully, those three days saved it, too.

I smoked for a long time and when I quit I bought a bag of Dum Dums. I was a habit smoker and smoked at the same time every day so when I would want a cig. I would instead have a sucker. Maybe wasn't the best way to quit but it was better than smoking.