I Plan to Totally Stop Smoking Tomorrow (?) and I need help!

[Ana19]

I set an original quite date of September 1st and it's come and gone.  I am "almost" stopped, but still smoking a couple puffs at a time here and there.  About a year ago I quit for quite a few months, and I'm finding that my mind won't cooperate with my current desire to stop the cigarettes.  What to do?  Any thoughts on why this is happening and what I can do about it?  I know the Chantix is working because I never finish a cigarette anymore; I don't need it to satisfy the craving.  Thanks, everyone.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

You don't have to want to quit but you have to decide and be willing to take the time to unlearn it.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-...

[Giulia]

My advice - just hang out here and read all the daily blogs.  You will get links to other information  that will help you.  You're either serious about quitting and intend to make a total commitment to it and dedicate most of your time to it - or you're not.  If not, then you won't succeed.  Quitting is not a "past time" thing.   It takes ALL your attention and commitment.  There is no "almost stopped... "couple of puffs here and there..."    When you're serious about it - it's all or nothing.
'"I Plan to Totally Stop Smoking Tomorrow(?)  - That's entirely up to YOU..Get rid of the question mark and you're well on your way.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

To quote Dale, "If you have quit smoking and are still smoking, you are doing it wrong!"  You are also making it more uncomfortable than it needs to be by keeping yourself in constant withdrawal.  You should  follow the Chantix directions.  I think they want you to take it for like a week and then quit totally?

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[Junior7]

Welcome!  So glad you are here!

[djmurray]

Please read the Allen Carr book for which Nancy gave you the link.  The key to quitting is not Chantix -- it's your attitude.  As long as you believe that smoking is giving you something of value, you will either be tortured by not smoking or you will relapse.  I read that book and it completely changed the way I looked at smoking.  I'm at roughly day 250 and I can tell you, I know to the bottom of my heart that smoking does nothing but hurt me -- it has no value whatsoever.  My psychological ties with smoking (after over 50 years of doing it) can be unlearned and that's what I'm working on.  I'm going through a stressful time right now and in the old days I would have been smoking like a chimney.  Not now.  I know that as stressed as I am, and as upset as I am, smoking wouldn't do anything to change my situation.  

So please read the book, stay close to this site and read the blogs, and know that you can do this.  Every cigarette you smoke is your choice.  Nothing makes you smoke but your choice to do it.   Please don't make that choice any more.

[Ana19]

All of  you are awesome!  Thank you for the good advice.  I have spent the last week doing more research and feel really good right now.  I'm getting my mind on track, and all will be good.  I have reached out to other networks.  I feel very positive and not so down on myself.  Thank you!