aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[river]

Ok since the ban I've quit but I'm going mad! It's really hard, it's driving me crazy please please please so i wont feel like the only nicotine less nutter out there I need some AB support! Is anyone else struggling to quit smoking? Is anyone trying and its working/not working?If so how are you doing it? maybe we should start an AB quit group!!!! :o )

[Psychick]

If its what you want....you can do it!!!

I actually quit end of March/beginning of April.......and without any nicotine products like patches and gum!

Heres a couple of tips:

1) If you get a craving, which lasts only a couple of minutes, sing along to a whole song. You may have to do this in your head at times lol but do it anyway. By the time the song has finished, the craving will have past.

2) Put an elastic band on your wrist. Each time you get the urge to smoke.....snap it!!

3) Keep you fingers busy........maybe having a little book and pencil.....when you feel the need to do something with your fingers (OI you lot with dirty minds...behave!) sketch things or right little notes....thoughts or poems.

Good Luck!!!

[whiffey]

Get some nicotine chewing gum, e.g. Nicotinell 4mg fruit, it really helps.

[Hellyon]

When I quit my 30 a day habit 25 years ago the thing that helped me more than anything was a large nut and bolt - seriously! Like Psychick said you need to keep your hands busy and a friend gave me a 6" long bolt with a nut on it and I used to spin the nut up and down the bolt. You can get one at any hardware store. It worked a treat and I've given my 'cure' to several people since and they've all said it helped.

Good Luck, you can do it (you'll probably feel crap for a couple of weeks, and cough loads while your lungs clear, but then you'll start to feel much better I promise)

[Ethel]

It IS hard - I stopped in 1994 (after many previous attempts) with patches.

Best thing I ever did. And what stops me from ever smoking again is the thought of having to go through stopping all over again.

Think of something you really want to buy but can't justify the expense - and put the money you would have spent on cigarettes into a bottle or jar every day.
Open a savings account and bank all that cash once a month. If I were still smoking it would be �300 per month.
It soon adds up and you will see how much money you have literally been burning.

[Baby Jane]

Psychick
Good morning darlin
I tried your elastic band tip and it bl**dy hurt,so I had a ciggie, but never fear I will try again and not be such a wimp. Thanks for the tips cos I dont want to resort to patches and gum.

[spoonthief]

I found the nicotine gum helpful .. you chew it and it tastes pretty strong and wierd, but you leave it in your gum or under your tongue and then when the flavour comes out you chew it a bit more and stick it back in place. Just the act of doing that actually got rid of the craving. Where did you used to smoke? I used to stand on my front step and smoke outside, so I still walk out there and have some fresh air, whilst chewing my gum. I will reduce this habit over time to try and get it out of my system. Remember that the cravings are only for a few seconds, even if you have lots of them in one amount of time. Also remember the only cigarette you need to quit is the first. That is just ONE cigarette you are not smoking. Finally remember that as each day goes by you are reducing the receptors in your brain that make you crave, so it WILL get easier, you just need to keep going to prove it. If you need support, look up the NHS programmes, ring your GP surgery for advice on their stop smoking clinics, and just keep reminding yourself that you are choosing life, not denying yourself anything. Good luck!

[Cockney_si]

Think of it as this.

You are now a non smoker so you will need to clear away any trace of cigarettes, this means filty ash trays too, even if it means holding your nose when you empty them into the bin and wash them out...ewww, the awful smell as you do that should gety you in the non smoking mood.

Throw away any smoking parphenalia like pouches of tabacco.

The hook for nicoteen is only around 3 days once you're past that you're nearly home and dry.

Spring clean any nasty tobacco odour from your house and think that if a cigarette even touches your lips it's gonna make you feel horrible and cringe.

Take up a hobby.

Good luck.


Tell your friends not to offer you cigarettes

[river]

Hi, Thanks everyone, well done Psychick and all you other quitters Has anyone else tried to give up since the ban came in?ooo this is like therapy! :o )

...might try the bolt idea

[RATTER15]

I gave up 2 years ago in August!!! and now I can laugh at the people stood outside of shops, pubs, hospitals in the pouring rain just to have a drag on that old cancer stick that really gets you by the short and curlies!!!

Well done river!!! stick with it, its not easy but I did it from 50 a day to zero overnight and haven't had a ciggy since!!!

[Psychick]

lol baby jane........thats the whole idea! Its like telling yourself off for wanting to smoke!

I did try gum at one point but kept forgetting to stop chewing and just leaving it in the side of my mouth......which is probably why I suffered with heartburn from it! lol

When I quit this time, my boyfriend hid my ashtray, lighter etc on top of the kitchen cupboard.........think it was about 3 days before I spotted them but by then it was getting easier and easier to resist.

Of course the best method of giving up and staying a non smoker.............get pregnant! lol NOt only is there the baby to consider......if someone walks past me now and I smell cigarettes....it makes me feel so ill! lol

Good luck to all of you who are quitting!

[RATTER15]

see a hypnotist they are really good!!!!

[missrandom]

well done, keep it up, it really will be worth it!

[Psychick]

Ive just remembered sitting in my friends house yesterday....she smokes roll ups and on her little pot she keeps them in was a St. Johns Ambulance sticking saying "caring for life". I laughed at the irony and told her I was going to get her a cancer research one to go on there!

[divegirl]

Hi, I gave up at Christmas :O] I used patches and the elastic band [mad as it sounds]. IT IS HARD!!! But you can do it. I still want a fag most days, but I just 'twang my band'....lol Give yourself a goal. I have saved every penny from not smoking....�50 a week [and a bit more] and last month I booked for my daughter and I to go to Borneo at Easter. Just stick with it.

Lisa x

[WendyS]

Every time you're desperate for a cigarette and resist the temptation put 30p into a jar. Perhaps the motivation of seeing the cash mount up will help persuade you that you've done exactly the right thing, no matter how hard it feels at the moment. Just remember that the first week is the worst and very slowly, as the nicotine leaves your system, it will get easier. And your lungs will be smiling with relief. And the undertaker will be looking grim because that will be one less cancer victim to boost his profits. Hang on in there !