Stop Smoking Help Blog

Werner Michael answers:

Hi,

I’ve smoked for 11 years, a pack a day, more when I’ve been drinking.

I made the decision a month ago to Stop! Ask your self why you want to quit. Write it down. Then ask yourself the benefits of quitting that pertain to you. (Health, Money, e.g. Whatever that may be).

I quit a month ago yesterday, cold turkey, for me that’s the best way.

I printed out this list of “Things to Think of When Tempted” and stuck it on my fridge and my wall at work.

Things to Think of when Tempted
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your Health and your families

How Much better you’ll look and feel

The longer, easier life you’ll lead

The thousands of pounds you’ll save every year

Your cleaner home, car and clothes.

I personally want to see my grandchildren when they come along and not to let my kids see me die a slow death by suffocation and I want to LIVE.

Your brain will tell you you want a cigarette. Tell it to “back off”!! And to think of something more constructive!

You’ll do it this way, I promise.

Werner Michael answers:

Wanting to quit is the most important step. Make sure to talk to the people close to you and ask for their patience and support. Then the first thing to do is get rid of your ashtrays and clean the smokey smell from your car and home. Remove as many remnants and reminders as possible.

In moments of temptation understand it will only last about ten minutes. If you can divert your attention for ten minutes the craving will pass. Stay busy, try a new hobby or explore an interest to replace smoking with a new positive habit. Keep your breath minty fresh also, it may detour you from spoiling it by smoking.

Helpful herbal remedies include nicotiana and yarrow or golden yarrow. They help ease cravings and alleviate emotional symptoms associated with cigarette withdrawal. Both are available in a liquid tonic form just add a few drops to water or juice.

A common quitting strategy is tapering down to a target quit date. Smoke one less per day. Only have your allotted amount of cigarettes with you each day with the others hidden. Have a reward planned for yourself on your target quit date!

Start saying “goodbye” to very cigarette you smoke (for positive programming).

Remember to drink extra water too because as you quit toxins are going to be released from your body. Eat a balanced diet and take supplemental vitamins to restore your health. Congratulations on improving your life!

Werner Michael answers:

Varenicline (the active ingredient in Chantix (US) and Champix (UK)) does have some significant side effects that I really really wouldn’t want.
Most notable are the depression, mood swings and suicidal urges (I think that this article might be of some interest http://www.lawyersusaonline.com/index.cfm/archive/view/id/431683 )

If I had to give up, then Allen Carr is about the least innefective way to do it. It’s certainly better than the NHS services, where after you’ve been “smokefree” for a month and they get to add you to their statistics, they don’t care.

Only when you do quit, please don’t become a fanatical smoke-hater?

Werner Michael answers:

Just quit….it’s hard but the best path

Werner Michael answers:

Yes me I’ve been smoking for a long 30 years and want to quit before the months out – Thursday for good – no more failed attempts for me! Tips uumm….. I’ve bought myself an electric toothbrush to keep my mouth busy and clean the nicotine off at the same time, another tip (only useful if you have ice around) when you get a craving pop an ice cube in your mouth and by the time it melts (and your mind has been pre-occupied with the thought of “oh my god whats that cold thing on my tongue I’m gonna get brain freeze soon”) hopefully the craving will have gone! Plenty of chewing gum, the more energy you get into your quit, remember, remember to do more exercise.

Werner Michael answers:

Start chewing gum or putting tic taks in your mouth or something that keeps your mouth busy besides cigarettes. You have to decide you need to quit for yourself, not your mom saying you should quit or your coworkers.
When you feel like you need a cigarette, go and distract yourself with something else. Go and read a book or take a bubble bath. Take your mind off of the situation.
If the information availible isn’t enough to make you quit then here this:
Smoking is a very dangerous addiction. It will cause disease and or death in your lifetime if you don’t make 2008 your year.
Smokers will die an average of 12 years older than nonsmokers ( do you want to have a long life???)
There is an increased risk of cancer and stroke with smoking.
Causes Larynx Cancer, Lung Cancer, Oral Cancer, Bad Breath, Stained Teeth, Hoarse Voice, smoky odor and risk to asthma to your children ( glad you are considering that in your quitting plan. It shows it has importance in your life. )
Quitting Smoking has so many benefits to your health and well being.
You should go to a website where you can connect with other smokers who are going through the same thing you are for support~ it helps to know that you’re not alone…
Quit Cold turkey~ it’s one of the easier methods
Stop carrying cigarettes with you…
Work on it one day at a time… Don’t think about tomorrow, next day, next year, your time is now.
Don’t dwell on the fact that you are depriving yourself of a cigarette but rather that you care enough about yourself to try and fix your problems.
Be proud that you are not smoking!
Avoid social situations which would trigger the urge to have a cigarette such as going to a bar.
Make a list of the positives of quitting and when you want a cigarette get out the list.
Drink Fruit juice the first few days as well as veggies.
Practice deep breathing exercises when you have a craving.
If you encounter problems and stresses in your life assure yourself that smoking will not fix the problem but probably make it worse!
I hope that I have helped you!
Best Wishes,
Molly

Werner Michael answers:

For your information…

Stopping smoking is not somewhere outside.. I for instance is a smoker.. I have been smoking for 5,6 years,… And i just left smoking as i had a real fear of death in my mind.. I stopped smoking from august 2008 and till this april 3rd i was not smoking at all.. And this happened on 4th of april.. I was having adrink with my friend.. And he offered me a smoke.. Which i wud generally avoid.. Earlier.. Accepted that day.. And i started smoking as if i have never left smoking…

So smoking s not a habit as people think.. It is only an event.. If you want to stop smoking .. Dont think about it.. And when you really have the urge to smoke.. Just say yourself this one time “i willNOT smoke.”

i was able to stop smoking just because i really had the fear of succumbing to cancer…..

So it is all in your mind.. Your mind can do what is good for you if you really think you must do it!

Be strong in your mind.. Think of the negative things you would end up with if u continued smoking..

Gud luk to stop smoking..

3 things u shall do ..
1.avoid places where u smoke.. Like a smoking joint..
2.avoid persons who will encourage u to smoke..
3. Tell every one you know that” U HAVE STOPPED SMOKING ” this will make ur ego understand that if u smoke again that thall the words of all those who laughed at you saying “u can never” true, correct..

Diver urself in any other activity u like .. When u feel to smoke.

Werner Michael answers:

I’m in the same boat you are. What those pamphlets tell you is to recognize the triggers that make you want a cigarette. Big ones are being in the car and after meals for me. So I started by not smoking while driving, helped me cut down considerably. Now I’m working on the post-meal cigarette. So far I’ve come down from a pack a day to about a pack every 3-4 days. I guess the idea for me now is to pick a date on when I’m going to quit and stick to it.

Also try convincing yourself that cigarettes taste gross. That worked well for a friend of mine (but she also found out she was pregnant, so that helped a bit too!)

I also find that taking quick, sharp breaths when I feel a cigarette craving coming on help out a lot! I think it mimics the inhalation process of smoking (duh, because I AM inhaling…)

You can try thinking of the money and the health issues, but I never had any luck with them. I could always find a way to justify the need to buy another pack, and if I was that worried about the health issues (I know, I should be) I’d have quit already, or never started in the first place.

I also found that I had greater success if I kept it to myself that I was trying to quit. Typically I guess you’re supposed to tell everyone so you feel obligated to quit, but then I just felt like I was letting everyone down if I caved in, and that made me want to smoke more.

Obviously, you’ll have to figure out what works best for you. Just don’t give up!

Good luck to you!!!!