Quitting Smoking

[Lightwaves]

Hello all. I want rid myself of my cigarette addiction. Is anybody else wanting to quit too that wants a quit smoking buddy? I'm open to PMs if so

This desire in my heart is just sprouting but it's there now, thankfully. It started today as I was outside having a smoke when I looked at a tree in a neighboring yard. Observing the leaves I turned my attention to the creator force and I said with my heart, "Well done." I then felt the need to close my eyes and go inward. A thought then came into my head saying, "You are my greatest creation. What are you doing to it?" I then opened my eyes and stared blankly. I kept smoking but it was then that my desire to quit started to sprout in my heart. So here I am. Asking if anybody would like to quit with me or be a cheerleader for me as I undertake this journey to a toxin-free body.

[Dragonsong]

I have never been a smoker, but I will be cheering for you, my parents smoked and gave it up, this back in the late 1950 or 60 they tried hypnosis, it worked for my dad, but not for my mother she went cold turkey, I had a friend who also gave it up, they did it gradually, tried to cut down on the amount of cigarettes they smoked each day. Today there are a lot of products like nicotine patches etc to help you so good luck and if you don't succeed this time just try again, the health benefits alone are worth the struggle not to mention the money you will save.

[Dragonsong]

on a more lighter note, it was said that when a maid saw Sir Walter Raleigh, smoking back in the late 1500's or early 1600's, she threw a bucket of water over him to put out the fire. This story may not be true but funny

[linen53]

I wrote this back in January 2012.

There are so many people who are trying to quit smoking this time of the year and my heart goes out to every one. Most of the people who are giving advice are delusional, saying it takes a couple of days or weeks to quit. That's bull!! If that were the case many more would have quit successfully rather than having a list of failures.

You may wonder how the topic of smoking has anything to do with my spiritual path. Becoming more healthy and less dependent on substances that are addictive helps focus the mind on more important matters. So here is my take on smoking.

I quit many years ago and was smoke-free for 12 years. Then one night while drinking with friends I smoked a cigarette...after 12 years!! I was hooked again and smoked for another 6 years before my husband and I quit about 7 years ago.

It was tough for me as I am sure it will be for you. This won't be another pat-on-the-back article. You've got some hard work ahead of you. Absorb this though: "It's going to be very difficult but I'm up to the challenge and it's going to work this time."

Secondly, don't pick up the first cigarette and you will never have to worry about the second. That was my golden rule.

Do not allow anyone to smoke in the house. Get rid of every ash tray. All smoking (by others) should be done outside.

Don't believe the ads that say in a few weeks everything will be hunky dorey. It takes only 3 days to get the nicotine out of your system but all the chemicals they put in cigarettes today make it very difficult to quit. There are 599 different additives added to cigarettes made in the United States. Here is the list of cigarette additives created by Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._in_cigarettes. Many of these additives are included to make it even more difficult to quit. Go figure.

The first week is tough. The second week isn't any easier. Time is your worst enemy. A minute seems like five. In 30 minutes you will have thought about smoking a cigarette countless times. Then you look at the clock and only ten minutes have passed instead of 30. The thought of having to go through this torture for 24 hours causes a mild form of hysteria. And there is no let-up. Tomorrow is just as bad. It goes on day after day, with each hour of each day dragging by so slowly.

You reason that if you could just have one cigarette to stop the madness you can survive just this day. But with that one cigarette you now have to start all over again at day one. So smoking that first cigarette is a very bad idea because it will lead to the second and the third. Remember the golden rule.

Try not to think to far into the future. It can cause an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. The thoughts that you can't go through this day after day goes through your mind over and over. Instead, try to think of only this moment. Keep bringing yourself back to the now. Reassure yourself that you've made it this far and stop your thoughts from going any further.

Sleep becomes your only friend. It is the only time you aren't craving a cigarette but once you wake up the battle continues until it's time to go to sleep again.

Stay away from smokers for at least a few months as best as you can. Of course you may live with a smoker so keep in mind it will take about 30 minutes for the smoke smell to die down after your friends and family smoke a cigarette. Keep your distance for that 30 minutes.

After the first 2 weeks you will probably be saying to yourself , "Why do I still want a cigarette? I should be over this!" Not so. Remember those 599 different additives. Remember the golden rule.

The only way you can see progress is by looking BACK to where you were 2 weeks ago in your struggle to stop smoking. It is the only way you will see progress. At a month, look BACK at where you were 2 weeks ago. Continue this month after month. Otherwise you will become discouraged because you won't feel and see the results. So look BACK. Keeping a journal might help so you can look back at previous entries. A journal may also help you feel more committed to quit.

At 12 months, smoke free, I still wanted a cigarette. I didn't crave one but I wanted one. It was a weak want but a want is a want. It wasn't until 18 months that the cravings were completely null and void. Get it in your head that this may take 12-18 months to resolve.

Even now when someone lights up around me, on rare occasions it still smells good for a few minutes before I start gagging. But I've quit successfully two times and I've learned my lesson the hard way. I will never pick up a cigarette again.

Lastly, (wo) man up!! Set the house rules and don't let anyone break them and don't apologize to anyone including yourself for making them.

The rest of the advice is what you've heard or read on many occasions.

Sunflower seeds
Suck on hard candy
Gum
Exercise, run or walk
A hobby or hobbies you enjoy using your hands and mind
Niconine Patch
Crossword or Sudoku puzzles or reading
Carry a worry stone and work it
Join a support group
Pray, if you are so inclined
Get out of the house and change your schedule from your former routine so you aren't home as much
Change those smoking times, i.e., do the dishes instead of smoking a cigarette at mealtimes
e-cigarette forum.com
Keep a journal or blog
Chantix®

I wish you the best.

[Deepsoul]

What a beautiful moment Tridek, I just wanted to tell you my husband had hypnotherapy a week ago and hasnt had a ciggarette since. He is amazed ,we all are ,he is 50yrs old and been smoking since he was 8yrs old,it costs 300 dollars in australia and worth it ,hes tried meds etc ,but this is truly amazing.

[Lightwaves]

Thank you Deepsoul for your good will and good energy towards me in my endeavor. Thank you.

Thank you Dragonsong. That's what I need to get. A maid who feels the need to douse me in water every time I may waver. Hahaha.

linen53 -- That was very helpful. Thank you. I'm going to keep a worry stone next to me. This one is very special to me as I received it in a very difficult time in my life. It has the word Hope on it. I hope it will help me now in this time. I also really liked

Secondly, don't pick up the first cigarette and you will never have to worry about the second.

I need to remember that one. Very good golden rule. Maybe I will come up with my own golden rule too and use yours for inspiration. Thank you.

[Astro]

Hello Tridek, why not create a diary/journal of your progress here on the forums. Might that give you an incentive to refrain from smoking, knowing that you can come here for support?

I remember you trying to quit a year or so ago from another thread, I think it was you.

Every day without smoking is a days worth of insight into the life of a non-smoker.

[Gem]

I guess what it boils down to is simple, don't light up, however addiction isn't a rational behaviour, but as a function, not lighting up is essence of it. It's remarkable how easy that is, actually, but also in the non-actual sense - in an abstraction, like a dream that has no bearing on wakefulness, like a peculiar notion that just occurs unbeseeched - the ease of lighting and the ease of not are precariously poised against each other. Perhaps the greater meaning of 'pure of body' adds slight weight to side of not - though the notion of nothing where there was once something is quite incomprehensible to the rational mind. The difference itself, that difference between yes and no, presupposes the proposition, and that proposition recurs time and again, and to say no only ensures its recurrence, whereas yes quells the proposition into the habitual obedience to compulsion, the dilemma then, as I see it is, does one endure the continual recurrence of that inevitable proposition, or does one endure that habit which is henceforth unwanted? In either case, one is destined to endure the unwanted proposition, which in itself contains the compulsion, or otherwise endure the continued obedience to that compulsion, which is itself, the unwanted habit?

[Heaven]

Good Luck with it Tridek!! I haven't been able to stop smoking completely so I know how hard it is. Recently I was able to stop for a whole month and now I'm back to one a day. I still have to stop completely.

Wish you lots of strength to stop!!!

Tridek, have you quit?

I quit cold turkey 8 years ago, haven't smoked since. Yes, I was a flaming witch for a few months, but I got over that, too. YOU can do it! Keep us posted on your progress.