Trying To Quit Smoking/Coffee/etc... Advice?

Start with "the other" smoke, that is the one making you "weak" in general.

Edited by tamijo - June 29 2012 at 16:11

Lots of good advice here Darkshade.  The most important thing is to WANT to give up.  You talk about getting through the weekend.  When I gave up I didn't 'go out' for the first couple of weekends at all.  I would advise avoiding situations where you would normally automatically reach for that packet of cigs.  You might find e cigs get you through the weekend but I havene't tried them so I don't know.  Tis useful to give your hands something to do.

Originally posted by darkshade ^ Sorry, but you clarify?

What im saying is, as long as you smoke "the other" you are not 100% yourself, and its a lot harder to get strong.

Originally posted by Slartibartfast Step 1 - switch to smoking coffee Step 2 - quit smoking coffee Step 3 - etc. Step 4 - profit

Good luck Darkshade. Smoking is by far the most harmful of the behaviors you mention and its the best place to start IMO.

 E cigs have their own set of dangers as recently reported.  Also I don't see how they can help you quit, if your still getting your nicotine you are simply changing delivery method and not dealing with the addiction. Unless they have like differing strengths, like strong medium and mild doses of nicotine. I guess that could work like the patches or gum are supposed to work. I'm not a fan of it though, it just prolongs withdrawal symptoms in my way of thinking.

 My number one advice to you is Don't Quit Quitting.  Meaning if you end up smoking one it doesn't mean your attempt has failed. It doesn't mean start smoking full force again. It doesn't mean try again later. It simply means you are still in the process of quitting. Keep quitting.

 Another aspect is that you have to know you are going to quit. The advice that you have to want to quit is only half way there. You can't just want to quit but not be sure if you can, that's like giving yourself permission to smoke before you even start quitting. Once you KNOW you are going to quit things are a bit different. At this point any cravings you get make you realize that if you smoke another one you have to go through the craving again. If you don't smoke another one the next craving will be lessened (assuming your a day or so into the process). Once you're over the peak of cravings you realize that to smoke one now means means that at some point you WILL HAVE TO ENDURE IT ALL AGAIN.... and why waste the suffering of withdrawal you have already been through?

Originally posted by Slartibartfast Originally posted by tamijo Originally posted by Slartibartfast Step 1 - switch to smoking coffee Step 2 - quit smoking coffee Step 3 - etc. Step 4 - profit Not everything comes down to money. OK how about: 1. Collect underpants. 2 ? 3. Profit.

Edited by stonebeard - June 30 2012 at 12:45

So today has been Day 2 of not smoking cigarettes. It hasn't been as bad as I remember it being last time I tried to quit.

Good deal! keep it up

The herb can cause you to smoke more cigs, depending on the individual though. It has been an addictive pattern with others. When I quit, a problem developed around me. Depending on what is defined as a problem becoming mine or other's around me at the time. I had made up my mind and through the course of time friends observing that I had quit, decided to have a field day with the realization. They always had something to say, whether it being supportive or non-supportive , after a while you just feel like telling everyone to buzz off. Unfortunately, some people are jealous of your will power and they react like children. They make attempts to bust on you. This is where you have to put up a solid wall and I do mean solid! They still smoke and you don't. It creates a threat or disappointment in their lives. You have to read between the lines to understand it. Otherwise you may start to believe that YOU are the one who is paranoid? But, don't sell yourself short. People will begin to bust your nuts once they discover your power to give up smoking. That alone can develop into  far worse agony than the quitting itself. I remember Jim Morrison stating that when people joke around, they are actually serious and when they are being serious they come across as being funny. To a degree, I agree with this and especially when you're in a situation that I've just explained. It is possible that people joke around just to get away with saying something personal and offensive. In that case, the joke is an excuse for them to attack someone, (such as an x-smoker), and it is excused by a majority of individuals around you. Eventually they will become jaded and stop their annoying remarks. There may be a few who never learn and so be it. This was the issue that developed with me because I was unfortunately around a lot of people. I still quit. 

If I could in some way infuse smoke into the Irish coffee I'm drinking now, I would have some odd addiction trifecta going.