Smoking cessation motivation/ Please share your own experiences and story

Pattypurehart1111 · October 2015

I didn't know which category to put this in but see alcohol included here so I guess this is the place. I am a smoker. Please no judgement, no jokes, this is a serious request to all who have been there and have left this dirty life threatening addiction behind and are aiming for strength and power and good health.

I have COPD. I follow up with a pulmonologist about every 6 mos. since about a year ago. I have nodules on both lungs. No cancer diagnosis as yet. I simply want to hear from those who have given up smoking and your experiences from having done it.

My questions are, 1) How did you do it? 2) Tell me your thought processes that got you to that place of quitting and through it. And 3) Please share the process as closely as you can to reveal what you went through to come to becoming a non-smoker. (Long, detailed messages welcome!) I so often have thought, "it's easy... Just Do It!" Yet, I don't do it.

A little background about me... I have used the patch probably about 5 times (I'm not kidding). The patch works... I didn't. I would simply decide to smoke. I have taken Chantix twice and smoked through the whole thing, but became so depressed, decided to chuck that. I was on Wellbutrin and had symptoms that scared the hell out of me esp. while driving. I used the E-Cig and found no satisfaction from it... too bulky, heavy and awkward... just not the same as smoking. I've gone cold turkey (which I think is probably the way to go) 3-4 times and have made it through 4 days to 1 month on separate occasions over the years.

Bottom line is that I have had this addiction for 40+ years and I have done what I have done. There are things that have happened inside me (my lungs esp.) that I can't change because of that abuse. I am about 30 lbs. overweight... That's why MFP. I read on here about "binge eating". I have NO concept of that at all, but have to figure my smoking cigarettes is my "binge". I do not have any sort of eating disorder, but my smoking addiction gives me understanding of those who do...

Sorry this is incredibly lengthy... Looking for answers to the ?'s above and perhaps some encouragement that will motivate me and maybe let me know that I really can become that person I long to be... a non- smoking healthy as I can be, individual.

Thank you all in advance for any and all serious responses. I did this to myself... Have to ask "why?" Don't have the answer to that as yet, but am feeling I don't have a lot of time for any psycho-babble etc. as to why I have done this. Just longing for a way out.

Lourdesong · October 2015

I've quit smoking twice, the first time for 2 years, and the second time will be two years quit this coming January.

Both times I quit cold turkey. I have attempted to quit with Chantix before, but it frustrated me that I couldn't get anything off the cigarette, which then made me just not want to take Chantix so that I could get something off a cigarette.
My husband had the same experience as I did with Chantix, however he gave it another try about a year ago and quit successfully with it. That I was no longer a smoker probably made it easier for him to not go back to smoking once going off Chantix, I'm sure.

The first time I quit I was just tired of feeling dirty, I hated that my hair and clothes smelled like smoke. I could smell a wet ashtray kind of smell fill the air while shampooing my hair. My habit had gotten so bad that I became very self-conscious about odor and I started to feel like no matter how clean I try to get my clothes, body, hair, home and car, it's going to reek unless and until I quit smoking. Also the cost and constant visits to gas stations, it was annoying that I'd just bought 2 packs and the purchase wouldn't even last me through the next day.

I started again 2 years later because I thought I could handle being a social smoker. I was offered a cigarette, and I took it, then a few cigarettes a week of social smoking very soon became an 1-2pk a day habit that lasted about a decade. It was during this period that I attempted to quit with Chantix.

I quit cold turkey because that's what worked before, and the reasons were I started to feel bad healthwise (wheezy, coughing up phlegm all the time, grey complexion) and I just would rather use the money I was spending on cigarettes towards other things. And just like the first time, I was sick and tired of the smell. I have vowed to always say no thank you if offered a cigarette. I was 34 when I quit and I feel like I quit the habit in the nick of time, if I were to get sucked back in to the habit I may not be so lucky to get out of it in time.

FGTisme · October 2015

For me what worked was the e-cig. I don't know how long ago you tried them, but the newer models look much better. From my experience, it not being exactly the same as a real cig was why it made it easier to quit. After 3 months, I just didn't want it anymore.
Find a hobby that utilizes your hands ( I took up knitting) to keep you busy. Pick up that hobby instead of a smoke when the urge hits. Avoid your usual smoking spots or triggers for a couple of months if possible. If not, find a substitute stress reliever, like squeezing a stress ball or yoga stretches. Avoid alcohol at all costs if that is a trigger...I still struggle with that one 5 years smoke free.
It will be hard but it is doable. Good luck and don't give up. It is VERY worth the effort.

JeffBrown3 · October 2015

Just to clarify, there is a huge difference between an e-cig and a PV (Personal vaporizer). E-cigs are truly worthless. I quit using an istick 50w (PV) with a nautilus mini tank. I used it for a day without a cigarette, and the next day tried a cigarette and it tasted disgusting. I haven't looked back and started on 24mg nicotine and now down to 4mg. Next week I go down to zero nicotine. I had no withdrawals and never once wanted a cigarette.

MakePeasNotWar · October 2015

I quit a little over 2 years ago, after 24 years of smoking (age 14-38). I quit cold turkey and the thing that helped me the most was the website whyquit.com. It isn't the slickest or most modern looking site, but the content is great. It tends to be much more on the practical and technical side than others and I believe it included a quit smoking course.

I got a lot of great tips there for getting through the first few days and the physical withdrawal, and I found that what I really internalized this time is that I can never smoke another cigarette again. In the past I had convinced myself I could just have one once in a while, if I was stressed, or at a social event, etc., and it always led back to full time smoking. Disabusing myself of this notion made quitting so much easier, as I never had that "should I or shouldn't I" kind of temptation. Having a cigarette simply isn't an option, so I rarely even think about it now to be honest.

I had some modest weight gain in the first 6 months (I decided not to watch my weight and use all my willpower toward quitting), but I lost it pretty easily after my 6-month no-diet period ended. I also had a nasty cough at first, which lasted about 3 months. Other than that it was pretty painless and a lot easier than previous attempts had been.

I never would have thought I could go cold turkey, but it was much less difficult than I expected. I highly recommend checking out whyquit.com; I don't know if I would have succeeded without it.

mysticlizard · October 2015

My last cigarette was 18 March 2015 after 29 years. I decided to quit because I had lost 50 pounds and didn't want to quit when I finished losing weight. I was afraid I would gain weight and thought that would be to distressing if I was at my goal weight. I chewed nicotine gum for two days (I hate gum chewing). After that I was done smoking. I am the same weight that I was six months ago. The scale is finely moving in the right direction again. I don't miss the nicotine, I do miss the act of smoking. But I feel much better and breath much easier. I guess quitting smoking worked because I was ready. I didn't think it was going to be easy as it was. I think it had to do with my mind set. Be kind to yourself and good luck on your journey.

Pattypurehart1111 · October 2015

Thank you all for your responses here. I appreciate your candor in sharing and want to re-read each one as I feel like of course I can do this. Congratulations on your successes! Looking up whyquit.com today. Thanks all!

Smoking cessation motivation/ Please share your own experiences and story

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