HELP!!! I cant quit smoking

United States
August 28, 2007 11:46am CST
I'm 35 and I have been smoking since I was 15. I cant stop. And Im not sure why it is. I have had worse addictions in my life and have stopped them cold turkey never to relapse and try again. And they were worse addictions than nicotine. I think its a bit extreme to make nicotine illegal but I really think that is the only way I would be able to quit. They are too accessible. When I started smoking cigarette packs sold at $1.20 per pack, today you pay 3 times that and I always said I would quit when they got to be $3 and then again at $4, but Im still doing it. And I really worry about my health and how I look. Sometimes Im even embarassed to be seen smoking, but it doesnt deter me from doing it. Im sitting here now with no cigarettes and fighting the urge to go and buy some. Does anyone have any suggestions on how they quit? I really do need help!
3 people like this
10 responses
@ssf12ster (488)
• India
29 Aug 07
see what i did to quit smoking was simple.i tried to get throat ache so once u got that u cant smoke.so my smokin is completly stopped now from 10 years.
• United States
29 Aug 07
Well Im afraid I have had a sore throat and stopped smoking during the time my throat was sore, but only to pick them right back up and smoke again. But thank you for your response!
• Australia
29 Aug 07
Don't give up though. You just have to keep trying. I know from experience as my dad was a heavy smoker. And although it took him really long to quit, the main point was that he never gave up. I'm guessing you are a heavy smoker too and so it will harder to quit. But the main thing you need to keep in mind is that you just can't stop straight away. You have to slowly reduce your intake and this can take awhile too. It will then get to a point where you don't smoke as much and it is only then that you should start taking patches or even stop completely.
• United States
29 Aug 07
Ooops! Sorry Ronna, I spelled your name Ranna by mistake.
@sandwedge (1339)
• Malaysia
29 Aug 07
To quit something you need to replace it with another habit. Example, replace it with a "healthy lifestyle"; go to the gym, work out and get obsess with getting your muscle toned up!
@vinzen (1020)
• India
28 Aug 07
You are the only one who has to do this yourself. Sorry for that comment, but its what i truly feel. It happens with us too, that we get addicted to things and some how cant leave them, no matter how hard we may try. And then one day, we feel that this is bad for us and i have to stop this, but we say how and we seek others help, but no one but we ourselevs can help us out there. If you know what you are doing is wrong, that itself, the self realisation is half the battle won for you. Once you know its wrong, then you also know whats the right,thats the second phase. The final phase is pushing yourself to stop the wrong. You have to do that yourself. Tell yourself to stop, that its bad for you, that i have to stop smoking. And you will. You will be surprised to see that you will stop within a day, if you will it that is. Its all in the mind, if you say i wont smoke from tomorrow and will it and are determined, then you wont, and you would have quitted smoking. Its just a mattter of getting down to doing it. I am sure that if you try really hard, you can, though you dont have to try that hard too, as in a jiffy you can leave it, if you want to. No matter hat others may tell you, or what doctors may suggest or what friends or family may say, nothing works but you, so go ahead and just say NO.
• China
29 Aug 07
i am a girl and i don't smoke.but i know the harm for our health.so first i congratulate,because you have made the fist step--clearly knowing the cigrattes's harm and wanting to quit it. it's so inconsistant,you know the harm but you can't quit it.i think many other things like this,so frankly speaking,quiting smoking is a difficult thing.but where there is a will there is a way.if you really want to quit it,i think you can. Give you my suggests: first,when you want to smoke,do some other things,transfor you attention from smoking. second,choose some products helping you to quit smoking. all a word, you should quit smoking by yourself,others may give you suggests,but no one can do it instead of you
• United States
29 Aug 07
Exactly Tracy, knowing the harm but I cant seem to stop using them. Too accessible! We are in a difficult situation right now and that doesnt help much either. And thank you for your response, I have congratulated myself in taking a major step to try and quit. So glad to hear that you dont indulge in this terrible addiction!
• United States
28 Aug 07
yes i have the answer!!!!!!!! go to your doctor and get a prescpition for chantix,. it works, i was a chain smoker for 30 yrs been on medicine 2 months (you take it 3 months). from dy 1 i didn't crave a cig.its works with the brain and withdraws you from the nicotine. i am on so many medicines for health reasons and i can take this, so don't worry if your on other meds. it its great!! try to quit before & never suceeded. good luck. go for it!!!!
• United States
28 Aug 07
Yea The Hair Dresser mentioned that in her response. I had not heard of it before. Id like to know how your doing throughout your last month of the meds. If you dont mind keeping me informed. Im going to do some research on it. Thank you for your response.
• United States
29 Aug 07
it gave me no problems, i felt fine...the first 3 days i had a small apatite. i swear i do not craze a cig., this is a new feeling for me, i ask my son 4 a cig last week and it tasted like nothing, i put it out!!!! i think this is the best thing i have ever done. go to www.chantix.com amd check out website or call 1-877-chantix. i never before knew the feeling of not wanted a cig. on phone, with coffee, after a meal...don't get that feeling anymore!!!! ps its starts working right away, u can smoke while taking med for i think 7 days. first box .05, next box 1mg. next box same till no boxex,3 month supply one box at a time. good luck, my dt. said he has had a great respond from this.
• India
29 Aug 07
hey i know how difficult is it to leave any think if u want but u cannot do that think.here is one superb idea for u to leave this bad habbit first u have to make some strong dicision on it. i mean first u have to find anyone who can slap on ur face when ever u smokes in front of him or her after few days u will be afraid of that one and in 2 or 3 months u will leave ur smoking i am sure about this idea just try u will succed in it.
• United States
29 Aug 07
Hmmm now that would work! I could put a sign on my back that says "If you see me smoking, Please slap my face" hehe Thank you for your input Simplyman2006!
1 person likes this
@Toni_07 (175)
• United States
15 Aug 08
You can do it. I have faith in you:)
• Australia
16 Aug 08
There are plenty of products you can use these days to help you quit smoking... you don't have to do it by willpower alone any more. I know it may seem expensive to go out and buy patches, gum or medications (like zyban and chantix) to help you quit smoking. But when you look at the cost of smoking (both monetary cost and health costs) it is really good value to use those aids if necessary. Not everyone, myself included, are strong willed enough to quit smoking cold turkey. I had to get chantix from my doctor before being able to quit.
@patzel88 (3310)
• Philippines
11 Jul 08
thats the problem that i want to resolve to my husband because he could not stop from smoking i dont know what is the reason why he is not quiting even the doctor advices him to stop it but still he keeps smoking.