Quit Smoking!!!

soberdrunk · MIP Old Timer

Quit Smoking!!!

ElectricTwist · Veteran Member

Wow - good for you!!!! Sometimes I feel like I should kind of "do it all at once" and be healthy, overall (rather than staying sober, yet smoking too....) but it's HARRRRD!!!! I admire your courage. From what I hear - drinking tons of iced water really helps, and keeping candy/lollipops/etc handy is a good idea as well.

Good luck - keep me posted with how things go for you. Awesome choice :)

Mike B. · MIP Old Timer

Justin,
Way to go man! Keep us posted on your progress with the 5th. and cigarettes.

mikef · MIP Old Timer

Way to go Justin! it is difficult but look what we have done already! When I got out of Navy in 1970 I was smoking(or at least they were burning) 3 packs a day.Cigarettes were $1.00 PER CARTON OUT TO SEA .Not much to do weeks at a time without seeing land so we smoked,gambled and some of us snuck drugs and alcohol..When I got sober in '84 I quit cigarettes,all mood altering,mind changing chemical substances,talk about one giant 'detox"Believe it or not cigarette smell really affects me today almost to nausea,but I'm sure during my days(started around 1959/60)I blew others out of the room.Good luck ,tolerence for smokers now is at an all time low.....plus in new york think cigs up to around$9.00 something a pack..yikes..... smile Free yourself man,let us know how it went....

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

I am on day 4 cold turkey from quitting cigarettes.

Aquaman · MIP Old Timer

Mark & Justin - more power to you! I'm still Phillip Morris' slave...you guys are an inspiration!

leeu · MIP Old Timer

I've had horribly hard withdrawals from nicotine, long periods smoke-free, and then eventual relapses back to nicotine...(currently 3 years in remission)....but the worst thing is how the cigs will eventually lead me back to the booze. I am grateful for the newer withdrawal assists, like Chantix, which is not a nicotine replacement...Dartmouth is showing some good results in their current studies with "real people" (not lab rats). There are no 12 step groups for nicotine addiction here, but the steps worked for me on that as well as on alcoholism. Hard one to kick and very hard to stay off, but the body sure appreciates any break it can get!! Sugarless gum, lottsa water, more excercise & online smoking cessation support groups also all helped me. And that well-known day-at-a-time vigilence & 11th step work!!!

SoberSteve · MIP Old Timer

GREAT JOB!!! Im gonna attempt at my year of sobriety.. I quit before for years doesnt seem that hard for me but I have been advised I probably dont wanna try to quit too many things at once.

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

you can do it. there's a fairly new book that many people are having great success with. if you're interested I'll go look for the title and author.

soberdrunk · MIP Old Timer

Thanks everyone. About that book..........I wouldn't read it. I've got the book Alchoholics Anonymous! I can just change the word alcohol to #@$%#$ cigarette!

LastOneLeft · Veteran Member

Im trying to quit smoking too.Day 3 is deffinatley the hardest.3 days is the longest Ive made it.Im going to keep trying . Good Luck!

murrill · Veteran Member

One book that many people have liked is The Easy Way to Quit Smoking by Allen Carr. I quit three years ago with the drug Chantix, and the freedom is incredible. While I think that understanding addictions and applying the 12 steps helped, quitting cigarettes is a little different from quitting drinking. I used an on-line smoking cessation support that was wonderful. It kept me occupied for hours on end. I knew that I had made a shift when my goal was becoming a non-smoker---not quitting smoking. There is a difference. I wouldn't rule out anything without trying it first.

ElectricTwist · Veteran Member

Jerry's right - day 3 is definitely the hardest and is supposed to be. Apparently, however, after that it's much easier.

I'm actually gonna follow in the footsteps of Mark and Justin as well :)

I'm on day 2 of sobriety, day 2 of no smoking. Feeling good, feeling inspired, and feeling healthier by the minute.

Thanks everyone <3

ElectricTwist · Veteran Member

ps - I've also heard that the Allan Carr book is incredible. I haven't read it but several co-workers/family members/friends of mine have read it and swear that they wouldnt' have been able to quit without the book....

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

I got started on this for a dumb reason too, but just one little thing tipped the scale and I quit...so far. Not nearly as dramatic as my getting sober from alcohol. I keep posting the status of it on facebook so that I can be accountable to my friends and family for it. I needed a good 3 days before I would even say I was doing it cuz any less than that is a false start. I'm trying not to bring it into meetings cuz I know how annoyed I used to get when people would turn AA meetings into cigarette meetings when I was not ready to quit yet. So to anyone just not there yet...still smoking....you'll know when it's time. They all told me the same thing.... Plus it is just one day at a time...no guarantee I wont be chain smoking in a few hours... Put's the program in perspective a little better cuz the cravings are so harsh...way worse than alcohol was for me.

Larry_H · MIP Old Timer

How's the non-smoking going??   I quit cold turkey from 4 packs a day when I was 2 years sober.

I like to think I didi it the AA way. The big Book says that working with others helps when all else fails.   So I volunteered for the American cancer Society and facilitated
stop smoking clinics.   I don't know if it helped anyone but it sure helped me, I have been smoke free since 1978 through the Grace of God.

You mentioned you were doing the 5th step. I would love to hear how it went and your reactions?

Keep on keeping on One Day at a Time.

Larry,

-----------------------------------------------------------
In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

Day 8 no smoking here.