I really want to quit smoking, but just can't seem to get over the mental cravings. It is starting to affect my relationship with my girlfriend, because I told her I would quit. Any advice on what to do?
Think about how hard it is to break up with someone you have been dating a long time -- sure, there are negative things about this person you would be better off without, but what if, in some way, you could find a way to live with these negatives and only think about the positives? This is why it's so hard to quit smoking: it's like breaking up with someone who you love despite being bad for you. You know you have to, but do you REALLY have to?
If you are addicted (not everyone becomes addicted), quitting is incredibly difficult, possibly one of the most difficult challenges you will ever face. You will likely never be "ready" for it -- there will always be stressors, there will always be excuses, you will always participate in activities you associate with smoking -- so rather than waiting for that day, you simply have to make the decision.
Expect a struggle -- the cravings will still exist after you've smoked the last one, and some will be stronger than others. But again, you have made the decision to quit, so you find a way to get through the cravings.
I'm in week 8 of my third attempt at quitting. I don't beat myself up for the past unsuccessful attempts because that doesn't help me in any way to get through this one, and very few smokers can do it on the first try. Cold turkey is almost a guarantee that you will quit quitting. For this quit, I participated in a smoking cessation class, used the patch, tried the zyban (it worked for a while but then I had a bad reaction to it... it's a very helpful medication if it's right for you), and used a nictone inhaler. Again, I will not misrepresent my experience by saying it's been easy. But I'm still doing it, because I made the decision.
Lastly, to think about the harmful effects of smoking doesn't necessarily help a person to quit -- smokers know about the dangers and still do it -- we are addicts. But one concrete way to look at the benefits is to do the math and calculate how much money we're not spending on cigarettes -- it's a hefty chunk of change.
Hmm, where to start. I unserstand the quitting thing, because I myself am a smoker and have been since I was thirteen and I am seventeen now. However, I have tried quitting several times before, but now that I am enlisted in the Navy and will be leaving for bootcamp it is making quitting easier..My advice is that not only do you need something to get you're mind off it, but also some sort of motivation ot quit other then just the desire to quit. It took me enlisting to motivate me to quit. Also when you crave it you need to find something to do. For example, I jog, write, listen to music, or skate... So when you begin to crave just do something to get your mind off it. I know the body is physically addicted, but when you take your mind off it, you will pretty much forget about it. However, don't be discouraged if at first it doesn't work because it takes a while to find the right distraction for you...
We all know smoking is hard on our health, and because we are addicted we continue to damage ourselves. The only real way to quit is to seek help in quitting. Harlan said it all and gave fantastic advise of which I will start following today, right here right now I am quitting the cigarettes that have been a part of my life ever since I was 14 and I am now 47. I have many reasons to quit, my breathing will improve, my clothes and hair and breath won't stink any more, my grandchildren will have a grandma they can play with when they visit not one that is stuck in a chair due to poor health. My focus is now on improving my health and I truly wish I had done this many many years ago.
Quiting is a hard thing to do and if your girlfriend wants you to quit let her help you. I know when I finally take that step to quit mine will be right there staring me in face helping that going to help because I don't smoke around her. the only advise i can give is to find something to do where you cant smoke or can go awhile without a cigs
Can someone give me some advice?? My Boyfriend has been smoking for a long time and it sucks seeing him that way. Waking up in the morning , caughing and feeling like crap. I want him to stop and he had previoiusly agreed to slow down but i understand its hard for him but that makes me seem like all i do is nag at him all the time to stop because i see no improvement even though he said he would stop. Now he realises its hard and doesn't want my help anymore and we argue all the time because of this issue. what do i do just leave him be?? i definitely don't want to be that nagging girlfriend of his, i just love him sooo much and don't want to lose him. i just want an active lifestyle. Another thing is that its such a wastes of money. Rent is hard to obtain since cigarettes are taking over all the money. should i just keep track of the empty packs and show him after a week how much money we could of saved but then won't that make me seem like im nagging still?? oh what to do ???
Quitting smoking is a decision. You can't "try" to quit smoking, you have to do it. It also doesn't have to be an immediate, cold turkey thing. In fact, if you quit altogether in one day, you're much more likely to withdraw more anxiously and end up chain smoking. You've probably been smoking for a while, and it's hard to break a habit that is so physically and psychologically addictive.
The first logical step is to go talk to your family physician. There are several drugs on the market today that, along with a "stop smoking" regimen, have helped many people quit. Ask your employers about insurance coverage, because many employers (especially healthcare professions) will pay for their employees smoking cessation treatment. In the meantime, start slowly tapering down your cigerette intake. If you smoke a pack and a half per day now, try to cut it down to a pack and a quarter for a week. Progress at a rate you're comfortable with.
If you start experiencing extreme mood changes (not just the usual crankiness), keep at the same level for a little while longer, don't take it down anymore. I would highly recommend researching the prescription drug Chantix. In many cases, it makes cigarettes taste unpleasant, and is really effective and helpful in helping you quit. I hope this helps someone.
Think about how hard it is to break up with someone you have been dating a long time -- sure, there are negative things about this person you would be better off without, but what if, in some way, you could find a way to live with these negatives and only think about the positives? This is why it's so hard to quit smoking: it's like breaking up with someone who you love despite being bad for you. You know you have to, but do you REALLY have to?
ReplyDeleteIf you are addicted (not everyone becomes addicted), quitting is incredibly difficult, possibly one of the most difficult challenges you will ever face. You will likely never be "ready" for it -- there will always be stressors, there will always be excuses, you will always participate in activities you associate with smoking -- so rather than waiting for that day, you simply have to make the decision.
Expect a struggle -- the cravings will still exist after you've smoked the last one, and some will be stronger than others. But again, you have made the decision to quit, so you find a way to get through the cravings.
I'm in week 8 of my third attempt at quitting. I don't beat myself up for the past unsuccessful attempts because that doesn't help me in any way to get through this one, and very few smokers can do it on the first try. Cold turkey is almost a guarantee that you will quit quitting. For this quit, I participated in a smoking cessation class, used the patch, tried the zyban (it worked for a while but then I had a bad reaction to it... it's a very helpful medication if it's right for you), and used a nictone inhaler. Again, I will not misrepresent my experience by saying it's been easy. But I'm still doing it, because I made the decision.
Lastly, to think about the harmful effects of smoking doesn't necessarily help a person to quit -- smokers know about the dangers and still do it -- we are addicts. But one concrete way to look at the benefits is to do the math and calculate how much money we're not spending on cigarettes -- it's a hefty chunk of change.
Best of luck to you!
Hmm, where to start. I unserstand the quitting thing, because I myself am a smoker and have been since I was thirteen and I am seventeen now. However, I have tried quitting several times before, but now that I am enlisted in the Navy and will be leaving for bootcamp it is making quitting easier..My advice is that not only do you need something to get you're mind off it, but also some sort of motivation ot quit other then just the desire to quit. It took me enlisting to motivate me to quit. Also when you crave it you need to find something to do. For example, I jog, write, listen to music, or skate... So when you begin to crave just do something to get your mind off it. I know the body is physically addicted, but when you take your mind off it, you will pretty much forget about it. However, don't be discouraged if at first it doesn't work because it takes a while to find the right distraction for you...
ReplyDeleteWe all know smoking is hard on our health, and because we are addicted we continue to damage ourselves. The only real way to quit is to seek help in quitting. Harlan said it all and gave fantastic advise of which I will start following today, right here right now I am quitting the cigarettes that have been a part of my life ever since I was 14 and I am now 47. I have many reasons to quit, my breathing will improve, my clothes and hair and breath won't stink any more, my grandchildren will have a grandma they can play with when they visit not one that is stuck in a chair due to poor health. My focus is now on improving my health and I truly wish I had done this many many years ago.
ReplyDeleteQuiting is a hard thing to do and if your girlfriend wants you to quit let her help you. I know when I finally take that step to quit mine will be right there staring me in face helping that going to help because I don't smoke around her. the only advise i can give is to find something to do where you cant smoke or can go awhile without a cigs
ReplyDeleteCan someone give me some advice?? My Boyfriend has been smoking for a long time and it sucks seeing him that way. Waking up in the morning , caughing and feeling like crap. I want him to stop and he had previoiusly agreed to slow down but i understand its hard for him but that makes me seem like all i do is nag at him all the time to stop because i see no improvement even though he said he would stop. Now he realises its hard and doesn't want my help anymore and we argue all the time because of this issue. what do i do just leave him be?? i definitely don't want to be that nagging girlfriend of his, i just love him sooo much and don't want to lose him. i just want an active lifestyle. Another thing is that its such a wastes of money. Rent is hard to obtain since cigarettes are taking over all the money. should i just keep track of the empty packs and show him after a week how much money we could of saved but then won't that make me seem like im nagging still?? oh what to do ???
ReplyDeleteQuitting smoking is a decision. You can't "try" to quit smoking, you have to do it. It also doesn't have to be an immediate, cold turkey thing. In fact, if you quit altogether in one day, you're much more likely to withdraw more anxiously and end up chain smoking. You've probably been smoking for a while, and it's hard to break a habit that is so physically and psychologically addictive.
ReplyDeleteThe first logical step is to go talk to your family physician. There are several drugs on the market today that, along with a "stop smoking" regimen, have helped many people quit. Ask your employers about insurance coverage, because many employers (especially healthcare professions) will pay for their employees smoking cessation treatment. In the meantime, start slowly tapering down your cigerette intake. If you smoke a pack and a half per day now, try to cut it down to a pack and a quarter for a week. Progress at a rate you're comfortable with.
If you start experiencing extreme mood changes (not just the usual crankiness), keep at the same level for a little while longer, don't take it down anymore. I would highly recommend researching the prescription drug Chantix. In many cases, it makes cigarettes taste unpleasant, and is really effective and helpful in helping you quit. I hope this helps someone.