I tried But Failed - Smoking Cessation Message Board

rainswirls · 09-18-2003, 01:37 AM

I was about a pack a day.the last 2 days i tried to quit I only had a few drags off of a ciggarette.Then today i just lost it. I have already smoked 2 ciggarettes today!! Can anyone help me. Im really determined to quit but Its sooooo hard.Anyone have any tips or anything. Any replys would be appreciated.Thanks

LarLarz · 09-18-2003, 07:12 AM

Hi Rain. Believe me, I know what you are going through. I am in the same boat. When I quit the first time (for 1 mnth) I just was so disgusted (and fighting a never ending cold) that it was actually easier than I thought. I even went out drinking one night and smoked all night and still didn't smoke after that! I guess I just kept telling myself that the store was only around the corner and if it got soo bad to the point where I could not cope...I could always go and by a pack. I did this for the first hour, which turned into a day, which turned into a week, then a month. After a month I guess I felt like I couldn't cope. LOL. I tried the foolish idea that I would only smoke 1 or 2 or just take a few puffs. That NEVER works. Some people have quit by keeping smokes in the house as a comfort, so they know they are there. That doesn't work for me. If they are there, I will smoke them. Another time that I tried to quit, I made a list on my computer of all of the reasons I wanted to quit smoking and wrote them real big and printed them out. I taped one to my bathroom mirror and one in another room of my house. It did work for 2 days. It kept reminding me constantly of all of the reasons why I wanted to be healthy, etc. But of course, you know how you can talk yourself right out of that, which I did. And eventually took the signs down bc I felt guilty looking at them while I smoked. lol. But who knows...it could work even better for someone else! I also found the month that I quit, I started excersising and getting more fresh air. That helps too. For the first few days, when you want a smoke, take in 3 hug deep breaths. You actually still have smoke in your lungs, or remnants of it...and nicotine (for the 1st 3 days) so if you take those long 3 deep breaths it will help alittle. They also sell fake cigarettes at the grocery store. They look and feel like one, but they are all filter. You can't actually light it. But if you feel like you need something in your hand...
Can you believe after all of that that I still smoke?? lol..but as you can see, I am trying to quit. I hope I can be successful at it soon. And I hope that you will be too! You can write back if you want! Let me know how it is going for ya!

Laura

plush · 09-21-2003, 09:00 AM

hang in there. don't give up.

quitting smoking is just like dieting. just because you had 2 or 3 or more doesn't mean you've ruined everything.

i've quit for a year and a half.

a couple of times i've smoked a cig or two. sometimes more! i just tell myself i'm human and make a concerted effort not to pick up another ciggie.

sometimes i can go for months without a ciggie and then i start smoking a cig or two at a party and i can't seem to stop for the next few days.

just don't think that once you've had one or two or more ciggies, you're a smoker again. this way of thinking is a sure path back to being a regular smoker.

luke1 · 09-21-2003, 08:37 PM

Very, very few people quit first try. It took me five years of trying to finally quit. Each time you do stop for a while it gives your body a chance to heal and you are learning not to smoke in the process. The important thing is to keep trying and never get down on yourself for slipping. You will do it if you keep trying! Good luck.

09-23-2003, 10:32 AM

I too have tried for the past 5 years to quit - did once for 7 mths but then went back at it. I guess the hardest part is the first week - the cravings seem to last all day - I've been off cigs again for a little over a week. The cravings now last about 15 seconds - which I can deal with. Keep yourself busy! Get your mind off smoking - don't kick yourself if you fall once in awhile, we all do. Just tell yourself you had a moment of weakness (you are human) and keep trying to stay away from them. I've taken up lollipops - yep, I pop one in my mouth when I want to smoke & then start some project of some type - or think about anything else. Good luck to you! You will quit - just remember, you are stronger than that little white stick!! And remember you won't die from not having a cig (although it may feel that way LOL) - but you WILL die from them!...