Still a smoker - Smoking Cessation Message Board

sandiegoros · 06-26-2002, 08:35 PM

Hi everyone, I am new to this board. I have been smoking off and on since I was 16 yrs old - I am 40 yrs old. Lung cancer, high blood pressure Emphysema runs on my mom's side of the family. I have tried to quit, it would last for 3 months and would start up again. The biggest problem I have is I enjoy smoking, the doctor said it wasn't so much the nicotine - it was the habit of holding something between my fingers. When I did try to quit, I would hold a pencil and pretend to smoke. What things did everyone try and really worked for you. Thanks.

cozy · 06-26-2002, 11:47 PM

Sandie, I try not to mimic the actions of smoking so that I don't continue to harber physical addition. I wish I could tell you something magical to help make the stop smoking easier. I can't! I used the patch. I stopped going to bars. I had/ have low fat munchies to nibble & dabble with. I just try to keep my mind & hands busy. Maybe someone else will hap along to give better advice. I wish you the best on your venture. Hope to see you here as a regular.

crystalll · 06-27-2002, 09:14 AM

Hi Sandie,

Welcome to the board. First of all, let me just say that your doctor is full of it. This may sound harsh, but none of us smoke because we enjoy it. We smoke because we are addicted to nicotine, and we somehow convince ourselves that we enjoy it. We all know that nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Who really ENJOYS inhaling noxious fumes into their bodies?!

The first time I quit (unsuccessfully) I was convinced that I started again because of the habit. This time I know I'll be successful because I understand why I continued to smoke in the first place - nicotine addiction. I am finally convinced that cigarettes are not a crutch, they are not my friend, and I don't need them to "keep my hands busy". Whenever I get the urge I repeat this to myself. I agree with cozy, I have chosen not to substitute anything for cigarettes because that would be somehow admitting that I "needed" them.

I wish you the very best of luck. You CAN do it.

Crystal

sandiegoros · 06-27-2002, 09:41 AM

Hi - thanks everyone, I will try to quit, even if I do baby steps. In the long run, I will feel so much better. How long as it been for you that you quit smoking?
Rosalind

cozy · 06-28-2002, 12:24 AM

Rosalind, Baby steps are just fine for many. Very few succeed at the giant steps. Shoot honey, Success at any pace is still success. I've not smoked, as of, July 1, 7months. I can say this in advance because I know it's gonna be a happening for me. You still doing okay?? Donna

[This message has been edited by cozy (edited 06-28-2002).]