Hi to all...
And welcome to the support group for those quitting smoking...
.it is known to be one of the hardest habits to kick...
And I'm finding that to be true...I just cant seem to quit out right... I get down to maybe four cigarettes a day and in between that I use a vapor...but I'm finding it very difficult just to quit all together..
I seem to lack the willpower..but i no i must kick the habit.. is it better to go cold turkey? or wean yourself off..?..and how long tell you stop craving them..?.any good tips for quitting..?

...
Do I have to be the one pregnant or can I just get somebody pregnant..lol..

Cold turkey is best. Vapes, either make it worse or you just go from cigarettes to vaping.

I've heard some say chewing gum works instead of smoking chew gum.

Some replace cigarettes with a snack such as carrot sticks.

Some find that not touching that first one you crave will get you through the day and so on.

Nope, doesn't work and if you stick with her, it creates problems.

The patch really worked for me -he problem was I was "wired for sound" all the time. I never gained weight either - I actually lost 15 lbs!

I have been 'inhaling' since 1969 (50 years).
I tried to quit again on Jan 1 this year.
I used nicoderm, the gum and lozenges make me sick.
I made it 3 weeks and stared breaking out from the patches.
I tried vaping, no thank you.

I believe I am allergic to cigarettes.
I have allergy symptoms when I smoke.
I tried cold turkey, always found a way to convince myself to go buy a pack.
Right now, I am smoking the most (gack) low quality cheap cigarette I can find.

I know I need to quit.
I want to quit.
I don't know how to quit?

I considered Chantex but then I read that some of the side effects is suicidal depression and I don't clean that loaded gun.

You might think this is corny but I even tried smoking bread sticks and pretzels.
While you can eat the burnt bread sticks once you smoke them and they taste like toast, they are worse than the cigarettes. Pretzel rods work but you don't want to eat the burnt ones (gack).

So, I'm sitting around at night watching movies and trying not to light a cigarette so I smoke pretzel rods instead. Bout the only thing it does tho is make the pack of cigarettes last longer.

I chose to vape in order to quit. The minute I got a vape, I didn’t touch a cigarette. I’ve seen people vaping and still smoking. The idea of vaping was to fool yourself into thinking you are smoking.

Vaping allows you to decrease the nicotine slowly which I am doing. You can even vape once you’re at zero nicotine.

I likened vaping to smoking a pipe.
I had to concentrate on holding it like a pipe.
(I used to smoke a pipe)

My son suggested I try "Blue".
I am hestitant about transferring one compulsion to another, tho.
"The lesser of two evils is still evil".

The patches were working but my body wasn't cooperating.
I've tried keeping my pack out in the truck but I was constantly making trips to the truck.

I smoke without thinking.
I tried to make myself think about it but end up out of cigarettes as a suprise.
When I was on the patch and not smoking, I felt better.
I don't think my body NEEDS the nicotine.
I think its mostly an auto-reflex.
I buy cigarettes on impulse.

If I don't have the money I can go without them.
If I am somewhere I can't smoke, I can go without them.
Problem is, I never run out of money and I never stay where I can't smoke.
I could put No Smoking signs up in my home but I would know its my home and those laws are mine to follow or not.

What I need is to have cigarettes and actively will myself not to smoke them.
That means, when I finally quit, I will be able to stare at a pack of cigarettes and a lighter next to an ashtray and not want to smoke them.
I will be able to stand next to someone smoking and not want one myself.

I've quit a few times. I smoke now. I need to quit. But I have quit for like 9 years before, and like 6 months.
Patches for me have pros and cons, weird dreams aside. Yes, they lessen the craving, but they also draw out the withdrawals making them take longer. Crave half as much, but for twice as long.
For me, without patches, it's kind of broken down into 2 steps. The first 3 weeks is the hardest. But the whole thing, takes about 3 months.
And the best advice I could give is this
DO NOT get pissed, I.e. drunk, for 3 months.
You'll crave more, your will power will be less, and your more likely to crack. Let's face it, if you smoke, and you have a drink, you want to smoke. Even a couple of drinks, may make you a bit more tempted, but you can probably still say no. But once your drunk, different story.
Good luck

Have you considered hypnotherapy ??

Nicotine patches and gum can certainly be beneficial while your body copes with lower amounts of nicotine .

Identify when you are at most risk for smoking and what your triggers are ., put in place an alternative ., for example ., if you crave a cigarette ...
do a push up and tone your muscles change behaviour patterns that have become ingrained .

Plan a reward .. something for you .. using the money you save from giving up the nicotine habit . .. for example a trip overseas to visit a friend

Look in the mirror frequently and tell yourself you will have reduced wrinkles ., glowing healthy skin , whiter teeth and clean fresh breath

Smoking cigarettes becomes a behavioiur you value doing .. (whatever the reason). to successfully quit you need to change that value system .. so that it does not hold the same importance for you .

Best of luck

I'm not sure I'll ever quit the vapor but I have lowered my nic from a starting point of 18mg to 1.5mg. I have a mild sensitivity to the PG so it's prolonged the process but I don't smoke cigarettes anymore.
It's not easy kicking the cigs!

There's a 1-800 number you can call, smokefree.gov may be a good start in the right direction for resources to help you get through. To me, it's like any other addiction, they have groups for it, but even something like AA or NA may help although many people in those groups smoke, they can be supportive and understanding.

I hate cigarettes 🤢

I've quit a few times and there's a pattern.
Last time:
Was after 3 months of quitting, feeling on top of the world, I announced it to a good friend. The bright guy says, 'Once an addict always an addict'. Talk of fragile egos, same evening bought a pack.


I do know a couple of practicing hypnotherapists. Problem is, cannot seem able to trust them; for obvious reasons.

Been thinking of self-hypnotism; if this was possible.
The problem is once you get into deep subconscious state - who will wake you up?
Is waking up to an alarm, a good idea?

Dating you might be a good step in the right direction

‍♀️

I used to smoke, then they broke my chest plate opened and rebuilt my heart.

After you have your chest bones sawed in half and spread open, then wired back together....you don't want that to ever happen again.. so you don't smoke anymore

Don't let that happen to you, folks.. it really really... really hurts

you were lucky that surgery was an option .., for some it is not .

It is also amazing how many continue to smoke after open heart surgery ... For most it is a life changing event

Frankly, I don't care.
Everything I thought was important to life is a lie.
But thats not why I smoke.
I smoke because I am weak.
I smoke because I have always smoked.
My addiction is far beyond my own control.
If I knew of a soution, I would use it.
Problem is, no matter what I try, the Universe works against it.
I am destined to die with a cigarette in my hand.
Whether this is poetic or devine is anyones guess?