[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by noopster

One of the things that Allan Carr has you do (this is a spoiler for people who want to read the book but it won't matter really) is write down on a page the reasons you hate smoking ...

That's a good idea, for those that do hate it. Most smokers either still get some pleasure or else is just a neutral thing, or smoking to stay normal like the relationship some alcoholics have with booze. You don't see them drunk: They don't drink to be drunk, they drink to be normal.

I did run through thoughts of many of the worse things that could happen in life. Even if I experienced every possible misfortune, even as a homeless tramp, I would not smoke. Even if I took to worse things, it would not be tobacco. Ever.

It has to be a water-tight contract! Which is why I called it an absolute and irrevocable decision.

[saikishor]

I might be the youngest one posting on this thread, but heres my story:
I never was(and still never am) a regular smoker. Used to smoke once or twice a week, and at parties. But off late, since the past 1 week, Ive been hitting 3-4 cigarettes a day, and now I genuinely feel like it should stop at this point. I did try giving up, but all I could last for was 2 months. 2024- January, February and 2025-January, February. Rest of the months went by with occasional smoking.

I havent really tried nicotine patches and all, since I believe I am not an addict. I can resist the urge of not smoking. I dont smoke when Im alone, but it is always with friends. They light their cigarette, and then even I am tempted to get one for me and thats how it starts.

I want to give up this habit for good. Never thought I would be posting on this thread, but I guess it is time. Would really appreciate suggestions.

Regards

[am1m]

Originally Posted by saikishor

I never was(and still never am) a regular smoker...and at parties. But off late, since the past 1 week, Ive been hitting 3-4...I dont smoke when Im alone, but it is always with friends.

Yep, was pretty much my story as well. Started out as a 'social' smoker, moved on to 2 packs a day at my peak!

What worked for me was cold turkey. Stopped and stopped meeting my friends for 3-4 months. Just used to go to work and come back home. Fortunately, my friends understood and fortunately by then I shifted jobs and my new team had only 1 smoker.

After 4 months, I started meeting my friends but only in public spaces, never went to pubs or their houses where we/they would be more likely to smoke.

After a year, the urge reduced. Stopped feeling the urge after 3-4 years. Though one day, I remember out of the blue feeling a strong urge. Has never happened since.

Now I've not smoked in over 15 years.

[karikaalan]

Is there a thread for struggling alcoholics? Many people I know are not daily smokers per se but would smoke without hesitation when binging / social pub settings etc,. .

[rajeevsulu]

Originally Posted by saikishor

I want to give up this habit for good. Never thought I would be posting on this thread, but I guess it is time. Would really appreciate suggestions.
Regards

I started smoking regularly very early. I was 15 and in 11 th STD . From 4 cigarettes a day it accelerated to 15 a day through my BDS and MDS days. The day I completed my education and started my practice at the age of 27, I just stopped. This was way back in 1997.

Strangely I never had any urge to smoke again. I mix with friends who smoke, frequent places where a lot of people smoke,but, I never ever smoked again.

I think there is no easy or right way to stop the habit. What ever works for one is the right way I suppose. I have a cousin who tapered down his smoking and finally quit about 15 years ago. He was a 20 cigarettes a day guy. He has never smoked again.

At the same time, I know guys who could never stop too. That was not for lack of trying or the efforts they put in to stop.

Ultimately it all depends on the will of the smoker, I feel. My two bits.

All the best

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by saikishor

I never was(and still never am) a regular smoker...
I havent really tried nicotine patches and all, since I believe I am not an addict...

I want to give up this habit for good...

You say that you have tried to give it up but couldn't, then you say you are not an addict.

Well, actually, I'm inclined to agree with you. You don't have any symptoms or difficulties during periods of not smoking; if you never joined a smoking group you'd probably never smoke. So your problem is behavioural, not chemical. Because of that, I don't think that any of the medical aids, whether nicotine-based or not, would be of any help to you.

In fact, using a nicotine-replacement therapy such as patches might do more harm than good. You do not need to maintain a minimal nicotine blood level to avoid cravings, because it is not craving that causes you to smoke. Introducing a daily dose might even make you depend on it. So I strongly recommend that you avoid gum, patches, etc.

You can go cold turkey. It won't even be cold turkey (named for the experience of abruptly giving up heroin) because you don't have cravings or other problems if you stop.

So here's the nitty gritty. Sorry, there is no alternative to telling it straight.

I want to give up this habit for good

No you don't, or you would have done.

I was an addict wanting (and needing, for health reasons) to give up, yet this joke was the story of my life:

Giving up smoking is easy.
I've done it lots of times.

My "attempts" lasted barely 24 hours and sometimes not even a whole day. Plainly, I did not really want to give up, or hadn't taken a proper decision.

That, for me, was the key. In the end, I sat down and took an absolute, irrevocable decision. That's what I called it. It's a bit wordy, but it says something that, even thirty-two years later, I can remember the place and the thought process.

I was going to be a non-smoker. There would be no going back. Changing my mind was not an option. I gave myself a date: you don't need to do that, because you are not an addict. Your date can be today. Heck, it can be Monday, if you want to have a final weekend of smoking with the mates. But whatever you decide, it must be.

If and when you do that, you will succeed, because you are not giving yourself any other option.

I chose patches. You might choose to avoid the behaviour and triggers. Social life might be a bit boring for a few weeks, but do what you need to do.

I want to give up this habit for good

If and when you make that decision, you will.


Others can give you support, but the doing of this is up to you. Entirely in your hands.

Do it! Join us!

(Disclosure: I am not a doctor, I have no medical training or qualification. I'm just a guy who did give up smoking, for that last, final, successful time)