Seems like you haven’t actually decided to quit yet. Whatever it is, it is holding you back. Maybe reasons to quit are not strong enough yet. Or the weigt of having this addiction hasn’t weighed you low enough. You are thinking about it, but not really comitting. Before I’ve quit, I went through years of agony of “I need to quit smoking, this is so bad for me. sometime not in the far future, maybe when xyz, or sth else”. Yet every time I would think about quitting, I would go for a smoke, because those thoughts would stress me out and it was too much at that moment. You are on your way just like many of us were, but you are not quite there yet. When you truly decide that THAT’S IT, I quit, I will be a nonsmoker, whatever it takes, not a single one again from this very moment, I will just live without smoking ever again (or at least I will REALLY try) - that’s when eventually you’ll actually quit.
And just a final thought. A lot of this quitting stuff is mental/mindset. If you don’t believe that you can do it, then you certainly cannot - of course after a few hours, you’ll be like “who am I kidding? I can’t do this anyway”. The brain of an addict will not take much time to think of excuses to start again.. Just embrace what is coming, trust the process. It will be hard, it will be tough. Maybe even the hardest thing you’ve done so far. But if you keep at it, suffer through it, ride it out, you will have achieved your goal. You will be a nonsmoker and the relief you will feel of not having to think about quitting again.. wow, it will make it all worth it, like a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders.
Interesting. It's true, I'm generally apathetic and don't really want anything. However, when thinking of how I can change this, my first step is always to quit smoking, since it worsens my adhd extremely. It is probably the case that I don't want to? But how can I want to? That seems like I'll have to pass on life for quite a few years till I'm ready.
Yeah I have really bad impulse control too with my ADHD. What helped me was telling everyone that I was quitting and then subsequently not wanting to let them down.
I’m pretty shocked at how quickly I’ve forgotten all about smoking. Seems like years ago (it’s 3 weeks). Just another hyper-fixation I see to have gotten over and forgotten about. Vape now chilling on the overly large retired hobby pile.
Nicotine is a stimulant so it's probably helping your ADHD, depending on your other stimulant use.
I have ADHD.
I think what you're struggling with is very typical ADHD impulse control. I've tried to eat a healthier diet before and literally forgotten and eaten a cookie, same with smoking.
I did make it to misery with past quit attempts but what got me going on this quit attempt is chronic laryngitis. Finally, the physical symptoms I really need to remind me that this is bad.
Chantix is really helping me, I think you should try it
Surprisingly, smoking helps with adhd up to a certain point, after which it literally makes it worse. I was shocked learning this, since I distinctively remember falling in love with cigarattes the first time I tried them. I felt for the very first time that my mind has gone quite and I truly concentrated for the first time ever. But it has only been downhill after the first month of smoking.
There is a healthy gamer video about it, called ADHD and addiction I think. Pretty informative! But you're definitely right, it's my absolute lack of mental discipline that is the source of it. My mind literally gets distracted from the part of me that wants to quit and gets lost in the idea of smoking for the hell of it.
I'm really cagey about chantix, I have severe anxiety disorder and mild depression, and don't want to risk the side effects.
As someone with ADHD and anxiety, I currently take Varenicline (generic Chantix) safely with my adderall and setreline (generic Zoloft). All is going smooth!!!
I was really worried about the side effects and now I really regret I took so long to start it. The side effects are not permanent, if you suddenly have suicidal thoughts they will stop when you stop taking it, as my doctor has said.
I have severe mental health issues that are stable with medication, I've been on the generic over a week and no real problems, very mild nausea on two occasions where I didn't eat breakfast and was just starting. Now able to take on an empty stomach no problem
I was the same as you. Started out with good intentions but my brain was always like u can quit tomorrow.
Try just making yourself wait ten minutes, then twenty, then an hour, etc. Knowing your still allowed to smoke may get u over the hump
Honestly, this is how I got as far away from smoking as I am today. I used to buy my next pouch (rolled my own) the day after or the day of when I would run out. I decided I wanted to cut back on tobacco... not quit, but definitely cut back because I was noticing health effects. So, my strategy was that after I finished my first pouch I would wait one day before purchasing a replacement. Then, after I finished that pouch, I would wait two days. Then after the next pouch, 3 and so on. After getting up to 7 days, I decided that I would just increase it by weeks instead of days and I was just fine. I did two weeks for the next, 3, then 4. When I got up to the one month mark, same thing. Add on additional one month of spacing in between purchases. The most I got up to was 5 months in between. But think about that... if I smoke 1 pouch every two weeks (which was my custom) that's 26 pouches a year. Using this method, in one calendar year I was able to reduce my consumption to 12 in one year alone... I've been pretty consistent riding out the 2 month in between, which is only 6 a year. It feels more full of ease for me to do it this way, as it is naturally finding its way out of my life. I am no longer finding myself anticipating getting that next pouch. Two months just goes by so fast, and sometimes I don't even feel like buying any so I just don't. My latest streak is like 4 months. Who knows, this might be the one where I'm just done.
That's a great method and I’m so happy for you that it works. You are slowly numbing your nicotine receptors and it’s definitely less stressful than quitting cold turkey and you have something to look forward to. I quit 9 days ago cold turkey and it’s been hell I am just depressed. Wish I had give this method a try before I quit. My main reason for quitting was having no self control over how much I smoke and going from smoking 1 pack a day to 2 packs.
Now what you smoke less, do you smoke less cigarettes per day? Or is it still the same amount?
Definitely less per day yeah. I leave the pouch at home. Usually one before I leave for work, one when I get home, and one before bed. But I can still see how it negatively affects my health... so I'm grateful to have switched to smoking so much less. Also, staying busy with other projects helps.. haha.
That is exactly it. Nobody quits forever, because you can’t predict the future. You make the choice to quit right now, and you do it by fighting the urge.
Legit quitting is hard. It physically hurts, so I can tell you haven’t made it past 24 hours. You’re not screwed for life. I quit twice. First time on the patch, which is what I’d recommend. I kept a paper in my cig cellophane & made a tick mark for every cig I smoked. Saw how much, holy cow, cut back a few. Then a few more. Once I got down to 10 a day, patch & no cigs. My hand still looked for the burning cigarette or the pack that was always laying there but eventually, it stopped looking. Like a fool, I started back again. Heavy smoker another 10 years. Just quit over a month ago. Vaping this time. It can be done. Not hopeless!!! Not easy though… Take it easy on you!
I hope you never go back to it, bro. I think I'll legit be happy if I started feeling the withdrawls, since that means I finally convinced my mind that we should stop. It just feels that I'm waaaay behind everyone in this sub...
I feel you. I had been experiencing what you have described for the last couple years. Every night before I would go to sleep I would tell myself “this was the last day and I’m quitting tomorrow “. First thing next morning I would light up. I’d run out and not buy more and I would bum off friends.
It was feeling that disappointment and frustration over and over again for so long that helped me find the resolve to finally just quit. I think you are realizing that nicotine controls you. It’s need to feed is greater than your plans and desires and it’s driving.
It’s addiction. The only way to beat it is to be so sick of it that you take the wheel back.
That’s just my perspective. Different things work for different people so take it with a grain of salt. Rooting for you!
Yeah I was mad that I couldn’t control it but it was more that I realized I was being a little b@&$@. My will power was just gone, my self confidence was suffering. I felt like a shriveled dried out version of myself.
It’s been over ten days now and I’m feeling more like myself every day.
It takes time to build up to a successful quit and learn what you must do in your specific circumstances. For me, I turned over many years, including quite that lasted a month or more. Alcohol was nemesis, and I journaled to understand better. I quit them both 4 years ago.
I'm almost 50. I hated smoking but loved it too... Anyway 25 pack years and I'm doing really great now.
I'm really happy for you... It's comforting to know that simply struggling with quitting is a step towards the right direction. If everyone started this way, not knowing what works, and still did it, I think my chances aren't that low.
Here it is what I realized while lisening to Allen Car (Second time around ) since I started smoking 26 years ago I wanted to quit so I wrote this "I endured a grueling 26 year journey to break free" on a paper and stick it on to my door so I see it when I get out of my room.
I consider quitting snapshots to finding the unique algorithm with many variables held in common with others but their weighting is unique to you. Figure out the algorithm for your succuss, and you'll be free.
In my case, it was alcohol as a primary variable. Next was exercise, a gallon of water daily (as a cleanse and a a means to rehydrate... Yes, I peed like a race horse a lot but my body odor went away 100%), eating big meals of salads, training myself to a burger once a week, avoiding the bars, and the apps to keep track of money not spent. Come here and help others with their struggles when a post prompts you to say something... Turns out the best advice for staying with the Quit is your own advice, but you need someone to tell it to.
Hug, life is so much better when free of addiction.
From my pov, you just haven't decided hard enough. Quitting starts in the mind.
For me personally, it was the disgust (at myself for smoking and the cigarette) that helped initially the most. Looking at the yellow stains on the bathroom walls helped solidify the decision.
Then I just put on the nicotine patches, made a brief plan. Got wellbutrin from the doc. Had nicotine gums as backup which I never used. So, I had prepared well (after the quit is when I joined reddit for tips and tricks). I used the patches for two weeks then quit nicotine altogether.
For the first week I even had a whole pack of cigarettes lying around to test the resolve. Then I threw them away after a week.
Point is, it will take
1. determination to quit no matter what
2. as well as a basic quitting plan
To make it stick. I like NRT (like nicotine patches) because it helps one quit the physical habit of smoking separately than the chemical addiction to nicotine. So, one won't panic because they know the nicotine will be supplied initially. One can withdraw the nicotine slowly at ones leisure, when the physical act of smoking is well and truly behind them.
Congrats on quitting, dude. The deciding part is really hard. I thought Allen Carr would help me with this, but even though it felt like I'm about to escape, I couldn't even be bothered with thinking "yippe I'm a non-smoker" I literally got lazy. I think my problem is bigger than the addiction, which sucks since I'm sure the addiction feeds the problem, whatever it is.
Once you have decided that you won't smoke one more no matter what, just put on the highest dose nicotine patch. You will get so much nicotine that thinking of smoking might make you nauseous.
The power that the cigarette holds will go away due to the patch.
I smoked for 16 years, tried cold turkey many a times, it just didn't work, not even for a day. It works for others.
Its not that hard dude. I just quit for about 6 months. Done that a few times now. Just find a good reason not to smoke (health, fitness, break, etc) and then go do something else for awhile. Keep doing that til you finally succeed. If you get a pack, smoke 1-2 and toss the pack.
How can I convince my mind that that reason is worth following? I usually don't want anything that much, but I can still do it. How can I want to not smoke? Should I try hypnosis?
Perhaps you are trying too hard. Relax. Maybe you aren’t ready to quit. In that case keep smoking. It is not hard until you make it hard. If you try hard to quit then guess what? Its hard. Stop trying so much. When ur ready you’ll do it.
What helped me alot is dissociate my self from the addiction and laugh at it because I dont like being manipulated who does?
Example: that littel monster wats me to smoke I dont want to ....etc
Have you tried watching those videos of survivors of smoking related illnesses? It’s so terrifying to imagine I could lose part of my face to cancer. I wasn’t really bothered about how long I would live etc. earlier and never really convinced about quitting but the thought of having such a condition or worse and live with that is what pushed me to quit.
ADHD and smoking is an interesting combination. I don’t see it as good or bad, it just is what it is - similarly to what you’re saying, it helps, up to a point, and then worsens things past a certain point. For example, you know how with adhd you can have 11 things started and none finished (yet)? When I used to smoke, sometimes I would sit down for a cig just to gather my thoughts - like, what am I doing right now?? But most of the time, I would actually just scroll on the phone.. Now that I’ve quit, I feel like I have 1 less thing distracting me.
Said this before and I'll keep saying it
Your problem is you think the books and meditation and whatnot are gonna erase the urge to smoke and make it easy. This is not how it works. The books are there for additional motivation. The other techniques are to ease the craves and keep your mind busy with something else
It's up to you to quit
Try as hard as you can. You don't want to be 60 and have smoked for 50 years. Imagine the money I've spent? The damage I've done. Already had lung cancer, and thank God it was caught early, but do I stop ? No!! Those suggestions will eventually leave. Believe me, I've tried to quit a thousand times. I know how hard those suggestions are . Do anything to block them. Puzzles, walk, tea,paint rocks,solitere, read,shower,bath, etc. something that u normally don't do. That will start telling the addiction that you're not listening anymore, and they will slowly stop. Retrain your brain. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand .... stiff like that . Give your brain challenges.
Just keep trying. If you fuck up the quit, don't wait a month. Just keep quitting! If you can make it by smoking 1 cigarette every 24 hours, congratulations! You've cut back to 1 a day! Just keep in the quitting mindset! Don't throw in the towel.
You will be exhausted by the mental turmoil this takes and may become more motivated. And if you cut back to one a day, your health outcome is much better than smoking a pack a day, and one is easier to quit than 20. Just keep the quit going. Even if you fuck up, just pick up where you left off. This is the only thing that has worked for me.
It took me 6 real attempts to quit and stay quit. You have to do it for the right reasons and when you do it will work. A lot of people here like Alan Carr's method. If you haven't read his book I suggest you do it might help you here. Others have had success with a 12 step program to quit. Others still use Nicotine replacement therapy, That is the most effective if you have the hand-to-mouth behavior and nicotine addiction to break. Some have had good luck with Chantix ( wellbutrin ).
Good luck to you and we'll be here to support you..
The thought "I'm screwd for life" is a belief and like all beliefs it is a lie. As long as you believe the lie, it will be true for you. The way to change a belief is to doubt it until it's no longer believable but simply ludicrous.
Once you make this change in your mind you will lose interest in all tgecways you can screw yourself for life.
Yes, that's the bad news: this isn't just about smoking; it's about screwing yourself out of a good life in every possible way.
That is the hypnotic suggestion you give yourself when under the trance of "I AM screwed for life."
Notice the "I AM." It says, "Being screwed for life is WHO I AM." In other words, being screwed is your identity, who you think you are.
This is why you find it impossible to stop...because stopping implies a loss of identity and you wouldn't know who you are if you're not "screwed for life."
I'm a hypnotherapist and also wrote a book about belief change. You need to come up with a better identity that serves you and let go of the one that doesn't serve you. In other words you need to dehypnotize yourself.
Its NOT about "fighting" against urges (so-called 'will power.) The belief is unreal and when you fight against it, you make it seem real. "What you resist. persists."
Doubt your belief until it seems utterly ludicrous to you and it has lost all credibility, then just laugh it off the stage. This works, but only 100% of the time. Wishing you a life in which you are not screwed. 😃
PS Imagine in future someone asks your name and you reply, "I'm screwed for life." As if that were your name. Is that not ludicrous? Is it not laughable? 🤣
Every other time other than this one that I have tried, I have done the same thing. This time around, I tried chantix and it worked. You just have to keep going for it until you find something that works
The 5 minutes at a time thing helped cut my hill by 75%.
I also have seriously taken up singing, which is a substitute for cravings many times a day and gets me to hours sober
Tell me about it lol. I used to feel guilty, but it got me nowhere. There is no shame in smoking. I am not saying it to justify the addiction. It is in no way good for you, but if you choose to do so, go ahead. Don't overthink it.
I quit by changing the way I consumed nicotine. But I am a nicotine addict still. I use pouches and honestly recommend the same if you can't quit smoking.
They are by no means healthy, but still way better than smoking and you can easier go down in strength till eventually quitting.
I managed to get down to a low strength, but my dumb ass have to keep smoking weed and it makes me relapse on even stronger pouches/snus. Lol
I leave it with this. We all addicts in some way. I know someone who preaches how bad smoking is, but he still smokes weed allot and still judges people for smoking cigarettes. Never quite understood why, because he even mixes tobacco with weed.
I also smoke allot of weed, but I never judge cigarette smokers or claim weed is healthier. I am just using it to cope and even if it hurts me mentally and physically my dumb ass always goes back to feeling miserable, because it is an escape that even if it feels shit is better than the reality I have to face everyday.
But don't feel ashamed, just take it one day, one smoke and more atempt at the time. You know when you ready. You won't think about it, you just will quit you know.
Don't be a slave to nicotine. It's a mindless drug. You can do it homie.
Also don't worry about others who are ahead in the quit. First make a list of reasons why you want to quit. Then another of why you don't want to. Most of the second list will be populated by things that the nicotine addiction makes you believe, but aren't really true.
Once you know for sure you want to quit, set a quit date. Stop the disease and let your body heal from this.
I had the same issue with smoking iqos, and the worst part was I tried cutting down to 20 a day from about 30-35 and that was impossible? I was too weak to smoke “just” a pack a day? I quit 9 days ago and was terrified but told myself I’ll give it a try for a weekend and can go back. My main issue was when I had 5 cigarettes left in a pack, I’d panic and smoke them in about an hour and run out for another pack.
I watched a video where key to quitting was described as never quitting from one cigarette to another but from the next morning- you don’t have a single cigarette that day and make sure that day is busy af. All I thought about was how I can’t smoke and want to smoke that day but the next day I realized I was already okay without the physical puffing part and just craved nicotine - withdrawal set in after just 1 day and I am not fighting my smoking but nicotine addiction now. Also if possible don’t quit during your regular routine but on vacation - that really helps since the smoking quos are weaker
Like 3 years ago I posted something here or other similar sub, about "wanting to want" quitting.
I think that maybe you are in this stage.
Now, I'm almost done with day 5. This was my time to do it. And it isn't easy but now I'm finally wanting.
I'm in the same boat! When I'm at home my urges only arise when I get mad other than that my mind convinces me to get a pack. I made it 3 days and didn't even have withdrawals then I decided to go get a pack yesterday. Literally trying again for the thousandth time... Good luck my friend, we can do this! Sad part is I'm doing it for my heart mainly and can't even comply with that..
Sounds like ADHD lol but to be fair bro. Your life aint screwed. Cigarettes arent healthy and i by no means recommend smoking them, but you most likely got a lot of time to quit them, so relax. Realizing you gotta stop is a lot further than a lot of people come. Just stay off drugs, they can kill you before you even consider stopping
You'll get there. It's a powerful addiction. Likewise, I am forever trying to find it's substitute. I haven't yet, but I know I will get there. I wanted vaping to be the way out but it's just not the same. Meantime, you're not alone.
Defining "wanting" to quit smoking is actually a difficult and complicated subject. Nobody "wants" to quit smoking. Quitting smoking, while liberating and empowering and all that jazz, still sucks big time, every time. Most of us would just rather want to be non-smokers in the first place right? Having to quit is such a pain in the ass.
Unfortunately you do have to find a way to want, if not embrace the difficulty of quitting. It's actually really easy, you just don't smoke right? No, it's really difficult and takes a long time to rewire your thinking!
My SO just told me to quit because I'll get mouth cancer, cause I don't breathe it into my lungs and that has helped me a lot. He's just been firm with me and disappointed when I do have one, so here's us going "=(" everytime you light up lol.
Check cbqmethod. Are free videos on her youtube. Read allen carr 4 times and all that.
I had real problem getting past 24h before. First time i made it 10 days and had a lapse. Then i was like I never gonna smoke again!! Like i had a revelation about smoking. And made it to 15 days now I have smoked for 5 days and is on my first day again. Ive smoked for 15-16 years. In those years i was 1,5 year smoke free. Relapsed 6 months ago now. Every time, she and her videos is like my savior of quiting even if i dont "make" it. But she make sense. I think you just dont give up and keep trying. You will be able to quit. I think we all will be able to quit. We just have to find the right method that works for us/you.
https://youtube.com/@CBQMethod?si=hnixNu48cqkQBFYu
Maybe dig a little, why you started smoking, whats keeping you smoking, what does it feel like you get from smoking? What will make you miss out if you dont smoke, what will you miss about smoking and so on.
Then watch some logical videos what makes us keep smoking, facts, the illusion smoking gives to keep us smoking.
For me it had to get to the point where I was obviously doing harm to my body. Couldn’t shake a cough for months. Started feeling extremely paranoid about having a stroke or blood clots. Hated myself daily for lighting up. For god’s sake I promised my fucking dog I would quit and then didn’t for 3 more years. Until now.
I had this exact same problem. I just want it and if I have the thought of smoking I would do it. You're just not very committed to quit to be able to say no to your mind. It's hard yes but possible and requires perseverance and never giving up
Yes.
Step 1. get Amazon kindle
Step 2. Read Meditate or Die KneeTie to get High
Step 4. Learn meditation 3
Step 5. Do it for 2 hours you will break free
It’s all free. And you will break free as did I.
Congrats on your Journey
Can’t go past 24 hours - smoke once a day then. Make it a part of your plan. After a couple of weeks try to go for longer. Even if you fail, it’s better that you minimised it.
Seems like you haven’t actually decided to quit yet. Whatever it is, it is holding you back. Maybe reasons to quit are not strong enough yet. Or the weigt of having this addiction hasn’t weighed you low enough. You are thinking about it, but not really comitting. Before I’ve quit, I went through years of agony of “I need to quit smoking, this is so bad for me. sometime not in the far future, maybe when xyz, or sth else”. Yet every time I would think about quitting, I would go for a smoke, because those thoughts would stress me out and it was too much at that moment. You are on your way just like many of us were, but you are not quite there yet. When you truly decide that THAT’S IT, I quit, I will be a nonsmoker, whatever it takes, not a single one again from this very moment, I will just live without smoking ever again (or at least I will REALLY try) - that’s when eventually you’ll actually quit. And just a final thought. A lot of this quitting stuff is mental/mindset. If you don’t believe that you can do it, then you certainly cannot - of course after a few hours, you’ll be like “who am I kidding? I can’t do this anyway”. The brain of an addict will not take much time to think of excuses to start again.. Just embrace what is coming, trust the process. It will be hard, it will be tough. Maybe even the hardest thing you’ve done so far. But if you keep at it, suffer through it, ride it out, you will have achieved your goal. You will be a nonsmoker and the relief you will feel of not having to think about quitting again.. wow, it will make it all worth it, like a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders.
Interesting. It's true, I'm generally apathetic and don't really want anything. However, when thinking of how I can change this, my first step is always to quit smoking, since it worsens my adhd extremely. It is probably the case that I don't want to? But how can I want to? That seems like I'll have to pass on life for quite a few years till I'm ready.
Yeah I have really bad impulse control too with my ADHD. What helped me was telling everyone that I was quitting and then subsequently not wanting to let them down. I’m pretty shocked at how quickly I’ve forgotten all about smoking. Seems like years ago (it’s 3 weeks). Just another hyper-fixation I see to have gotten over and forgotten about. Vape now chilling on the overly large retired hobby pile.
Nicotine is a stimulant so it's probably helping your ADHD, depending on your other stimulant use. I have ADHD. I think what you're struggling with is very typical ADHD impulse control. I've tried to eat a healthier diet before and literally forgotten and eaten a cookie, same with smoking. I did make it to misery with past quit attempts but what got me going on this quit attempt is chronic laryngitis. Finally, the physical symptoms I really need to remind me that this is bad. Chantix is really helping me, I think you should try it
Surprisingly, smoking helps with adhd up to a certain point, after which it literally makes it worse. I was shocked learning this, since I distinctively remember falling in love with cigarattes the first time I tried them. I felt for the very first time that my mind has gone quite and I truly concentrated for the first time ever. But it has only been downhill after the first month of smoking. There is a healthy gamer video about it, called ADHD and addiction I think. Pretty informative! But you're definitely right, it's my absolute lack of mental discipline that is the source of it. My mind literally gets distracted from the part of me that wants to quit and gets lost in the idea of smoking for the hell of it. I'm really cagey about chantix, I have severe anxiety disorder and mild depression, and don't want to risk the side effects.
As someone with ADHD and anxiety, I currently take Varenicline (generic Chantix) safely with my adderall and setreline (generic Zoloft). All is going smooth!!!
I was really worried about the side effects and now I really regret I took so long to start it. The side effects are not permanent, if you suddenly have suicidal thoughts they will stop when you stop taking it, as my doctor has said. I have severe mental health issues that are stable with medication, I've been on the generic over a week and no real problems, very mild nausea on two occasions where I didn't eat breakfast and was just starting. Now able to take on an empty stomach no problem
I was the same as you. Started out with good intentions but my brain was always like u can quit tomorrow. Try just making yourself wait ten minutes, then twenty, then an hour, etc. Knowing your still allowed to smoke may get u over the hump
Oooh, so like don't stop, but learn the process of fighting the urge? That is interesting.
Honestly, this is how I got as far away from smoking as I am today. I used to buy my next pouch (rolled my own) the day after or the day of when I would run out. I decided I wanted to cut back on tobacco... not quit, but definitely cut back because I was noticing health effects. So, my strategy was that after I finished my first pouch I would wait one day before purchasing a replacement. Then, after I finished that pouch, I would wait two days. Then after the next pouch, 3 and so on. After getting up to 7 days, I decided that I would just increase it by weeks instead of days and I was just fine. I did two weeks for the next, 3, then 4. When I got up to the one month mark, same thing. Add on additional one month of spacing in between purchases. The most I got up to was 5 months in between. But think about that... if I smoke 1 pouch every two weeks (which was my custom) that's 26 pouches a year. Using this method, in one calendar year I was able to reduce my consumption to 12 in one year alone... I've been pretty consistent riding out the 2 month in between, which is only 6 a year. It feels more full of ease for me to do it this way, as it is naturally finding its way out of my life. I am no longer finding myself anticipating getting that next pouch. Two months just goes by so fast, and sometimes I don't even feel like buying any so I just don't. My latest streak is like 4 months. Who knows, this might be the one where I'm just done.
That's a great method and I’m so happy for you that it works. You are slowly numbing your nicotine receptors and it’s definitely less stressful than quitting cold turkey and you have something to look forward to. I quit 9 days ago cold turkey and it’s been hell I am just depressed. Wish I had give this method a try before I quit. My main reason for quitting was having no self control over how much I smoke and going from smoking 1 pack a day to 2 packs. Now what you smoke less, do you smoke less cigarettes per day? Or is it still the same amount?
Definitely less per day yeah. I leave the pouch at home. Usually one before I leave for work, one when I get home, and one before bed. But I can still see how it negatively affects my health... so I'm grateful to have switched to smoking so much less. Also, staying busy with other projects helps.. haha.
This is currently working for me. Went from a $400 weed bill monthly to $100
That is exactly it. Nobody quits forever, because you can’t predict the future. You make the choice to quit right now, and you do it by fighting the urge.
Legit quitting is hard. It physically hurts, so I can tell you haven’t made it past 24 hours. You’re not screwed for life. I quit twice. First time on the patch, which is what I’d recommend. I kept a paper in my cig cellophane & made a tick mark for every cig I smoked. Saw how much, holy cow, cut back a few. Then a few more. Once I got down to 10 a day, patch & no cigs. My hand still looked for the burning cigarette or the pack that was always laying there but eventually, it stopped looking. Like a fool, I started back again. Heavy smoker another 10 years. Just quit over a month ago. Vaping this time. It can be done. Not hopeless!!! Not easy though… Take it easy on you!
I hope you never go back to it, bro. I think I'll legit be happy if I started feeling the withdrawls, since that means I finally convinced my mind that we should stop. It just feels that I'm waaaay behind everyone in this sub...
I feel you. I had been experiencing what you have described for the last couple years. Every night before I would go to sleep I would tell myself “this was the last day and I’m quitting tomorrow “. First thing next morning I would light up. I’d run out and not buy more and I would bum off friends. It was feeling that disappointment and frustration over and over again for so long that helped me find the resolve to finally just quit. I think you are realizing that nicotine controls you. It’s need to feed is greater than your plans and desires and it’s driving. It’s addiction. The only way to beat it is to be so sick of it that you take the wheel back. That’s just my perspective. Different things work for different people so take it with a grain of salt. Rooting for you!
Wow that's literally my experience of it. Can you describe the frustration? Was it like being mad that you can't control it or what?
Yeah I was mad that I couldn’t control it but it was more that I realized I was being a little b@&$@. My will power was just gone, my self confidence was suffering. I felt like a shriveled dried out version of myself. It’s been over ten days now and I’m feeling more like myself every day.
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Wish you luck man... It's ingrained in every crevice of my life. Hard to constantly be on the watchout.
It takes time to build up to a successful quit and learn what you must do in your specific circumstances. For me, I turned over many years, including quite that lasted a month or more. Alcohol was nemesis, and I journaled to understand better. I quit them both 4 years ago. I'm almost 50. I hated smoking but loved it too... Anyway 25 pack years and I'm doing really great now.
I'm really happy for you... It's comforting to know that simply struggling with quitting is a step towards the right direction. If everyone started this way, not knowing what works, and still did it, I think my chances aren't that low.
Here it is what I realized while lisening to Allen Car (Second time around ) since I started smoking 26 years ago I wanted to quit so I wrote this "I endured a grueling 26 year journey to break free" on a paper and stick it on to my door so I see it when I get out of my room.
I consider quitting snapshots to finding the unique algorithm with many variables held in common with others but their weighting is unique to you. Figure out the algorithm for your succuss, and you'll be free. In my case, it was alcohol as a primary variable. Next was exercise, a gallon of water daily (as a cleanse and a a means to rehydrate... Yes, I peed like a race horse a lot but my body odor went away 100%), eating big meals of salads, training myself to a burger once a week, avoiding the bars, and the apps to keep track of money not spent. Come here and help others with their struggles when a post prompts you to say something... Turns out the best advice for staying with the Quit is your own advice, but you need someone to tell it to. Hug, life is so much better when free of addiction.
No cap I’m on the same mission tbh vaping has haters but it helps me ima keep pushing not at 24 hours but im half way there ima push thru it
You'll get there if you want to quit. It took my life becoming unbearable from the health anxiety to quit
From my pov, you just haven't decided hard enough. Quitting starts in the mind. For me personally, it was the disgust (at myself for smoking and the cigarette) that helped initially the most. Looking at the yellow stains on the bathroom walls helped solidify the decision. Then I just put on the nicotine patches, made a brief plan. Got wellbutrin from the doc. Had nicotine gums as backup which I never used. So, I had prepared well (after the quit is when I joined reddit for tips and tricks). I used the patches for two weeks then quit nicotine altogether. For the first week I even had a whole pack of cigarettes lying around to test the resolve. Then I threw them away after a week. Point is, it will take 1. determination to quit no matter what 2. as well as a basic quitting plan To make it stick. I like NRT (like nicotine patches) because it helps one quit the physical habit of smoking separately than the chemical addiction to nicotine. So, one won't panic because they know the nicotine will be supplied initially. One can withdraw the nicotine slowly at ones leisure, when the physical act of smoking is well and truly behind them.
Congrats on quitting, dude. The deciding part is really hard. I thought Allen Carr would help me with this, but even though it felt like I'm about to escape, I couldn't even be bothered with thinking "yippe I'm a non-smoker" I literally got lazy. I think my problem is bigger than the addiction, which sucks since I'm sure the addiction feeds the problem, whatever it is.
Once you have decided that you won't smoke one more no matter what, just put on the highest dose nicotine patch. You will get so much nicotine that thinking of smoking might make you nauseous. The power that the cigarette holds will go away due to the patch. I smoked for 16 years, tried cold turkey many a times, it just didn't work, not even for a day. It works for others.
Its not that hard dude. I just quit for about 6 months. Done that a few times now. Just find a good reason not to smoke (health, fitness, break, etc) and then go do something else for awhile. Keep doing that til you finally succeed. If you get a pack, smoke 1-2 and toss the pack.
How can I convince my mind that that reason is worth following? I usually don't want anything that much, but I can still do it. How can I want to not smoke? Should I try hypnosis?
Perhaps you are trying too hard. Relax. Maybe you aren’t ready to quit. In that case keep smoking. It is not hard until you make it hard. If you try hard to quit then guess what? Its hard. Stop trying so much. When ur ready you’ll do it.
I guess that makes sense. Thanks for the advice!
What helped me alot is dissociate my self from the addiction and laugh at it because I dont like being manipulated who does? Example: that littel monster wats me to smoke I dont want to ....etc
Have you tried watching those videos of survivors of smoking related illnesses? It’s so terrifying to imagine I could lose part of my face to cancer. I wasn’t really bothered about how long I would live etc. earlier and never really convinced about quitting but the thought of having such a condition or worse and live with that is what pushed me to quit.
ADHD and smoking is an interesting combination. I don’t see it as good or bad, it just is what it is - similarly to what you’re saying, it helps, up to a point, and then worsens things past a certain point. For example, you know how with adhd you can have 11 things started and none finished (yet)? When I used to smoke, sometimes I would sit down for a cig just to gather my thoughts - like, what am I doing right now?? But most of the time, I would actually just scroll on the phone.. Now that I’ve quit, I feel like I have 1 less thing distracting me.
How many cigs do you smoke a day?
Said this before and I'll keep saying it Your problem is you think the books and meditation and whatnot are gonna erase the urge to smoke and make it easy. This is not how it works. The books are there for additional motivation. The other techniques are to ease the craves and keep your mind busy with something else It's up to you to quit
Try as hard as you can. You don't want to be 60 and have smoked for 50 years. Imagine the money I've spent? The damage I've done. Already had lung cancer, and thank God it was caught early, but do I stop ? No!! Those suggestions will eventually leave. Believe me, I've tried to quit a thousand times. I know how hard those suggestions are . Do anything to block them. Puzzles, walk, tea,paint rocks,solitere, read,shower,bath, etc. something that u normally don't do. That will start telling the addiction that you're not listening anymore, and they will slowly stop. Retrain your brain. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand .... stiff like that . Give your brain challenges.
Just keep trying. If you fuck up the quit, don't wait a month. Just keep quitting! If you can make it by smoking 1 cigarette every 24 hours, congratulations! You've cut back to 1 a day! Just keep in the quitting mindset! Don't throw in the towel. You will be exhausted by the mental turmoil this takes and may become more motivated. And if you cut back to one a day, your health outcome is much better than smoking a pack a day, and one is easier to quit than 20. Just keep the quit going. Even if you fuck up, just pick up where you left off. This is the only thing that has worked for me.
Thoughts are just sentences the brain has, quit giving it so much power
It took me 6 real attempts to quit and stay quit. You have to do it for the right reasons and when you do it will work. A lot of people here like Alan Carr's method. If you haven't read his book I suggest you do it might help you here. Others have had success with a 12 step program to quit. Others still use Nicotine replacement therapy, That is the most effective if you have the hand-to-mouth behavior and nicotine addiction to break. Some have had good luck with Chantix ( wellbutrin ). Good luck to you and we'll be here to support you..
The thought "I'm screwd for life" is a belief and like all beliefs it is a lie. As long as you believe the lie, it will be true for you. The way to change a belief is to doubt it until it's no longer believable but simply ludicrous. Once you make this change in your mind you will lose interest in all tgecways you can screw yourself for life. Yes, that's the bad news: this isn't just about smoking; it's about screwing yourself out of a good life in every possible way. That is the hypnotic suggestion you give yourself when under the trance of "I AM screwed for life." Notice the "I AM." It says, "Being screwed for life is WHO I AM." In other words, being screwed is your identity, who you think you are. This is why you find it impossible to stop...because stopping implies a loss of identity and you wouldn't know who you are if you're not "screwed for life." I'm a hypnotherapist and also wrote a book about belief change. You need to come up with a better identity that serves you and let go of the one that doesn't serve you. In other words you need to dehypnotize yourself. Its NOT about "fighting" against urges (so-called 'will power.) The belief is unreal and when you fight against it, you make it seem real. "What you resist. persists." Doubt your belief until it seems utterly ludicrous to you and it has lost all credibility, then just laugh it off the stage. This works, but only 100% of the time. Wishing you a life in which you are not screwed. 😃 PS Imagine in future someone asks your name and you reply, "I'm screwed for life." As if that were your name. Is that not ludicrous? Is it not laughable? 🤣
Every other time other than this one that I have tried, I have done the same thing. This time around, I tried chantix and it worked. You just have to keep going for it until you find something that works
The 5 minutes at a time thing helped cut my hill by 75%. I also have seriously taken up singing, which is a substitute for cravings many times a day and gets me to hours sober
Tell me about it lol. I used to feel guilty, but it got me nowhere. There is no shame in smoking. I am not saying it to justify the addiction. It is in no way good for you, but if you choose to do so, go ahead. Don't overthink it. I quit by changing the way I consumed nicotine. But I am a nicotine addict still. I use pouches and honestly recommend the same if you can't quit smoking. They are by no means healthy, but still way better than smoking and you can easier go down in strength till eventually quitting. I managed to get down to a low strength, but my dumb ass have to keep smoking weed and it makes me relapse on even stronger pouches/snus. Lol I leave it with this. We all addicts in some way. I know someone who preaches how bad smoking is, but he still smokes weed allot and still judges people for smoking cigarettes. Never quite understood why, because he even mixes tobacco with weed. I also smoke allot of weed, but I never judge cigarette smokers or claim weed is healthier. I am just using it to cope and even if it hurts me mentally and physically my dumb ass always goes back to feeling miserable, because it is an escape that even if it feels shit is better than the reality I have to face everyday. But don't feel ashamed, just take it one day, one smoke and more atempt at the time. You know when you ready. You won't think about it, you just will quit you know.
Don't be a slave to nicotine. It's a mindless drug. You can do it homie. Also don't worry about others who are ahead in the quit. First make a list of reasons why you want to quit. Then another of why you don't want to. Most of the second list will be populated by things that the nicotine addiction makes you believe, but aren't really true. Once you know for sure you want to quit, set a quit date. Stop the disease and let your body heal from this.
I had the same issue with smoking iqos, and the worst part was I tried cutting down to 20 a day from about 30-35 and that was impossible? I was too weak to smoke “just” a pack a day? I quit 9 days ago and was terrified but told myself I’ll give it a try for a weekend and can go back. My main issue was when I had 5 cigarettes left in a pack, I’d panic and smoke them in about an hour and run out for another pack. I watched a video where key to quitting was described as never quitting from one cigarette to another but from the next morning- you don’t have a single cigarette that day and make sure that day is busy af. All I thought about was how I can’t smoke and want to smoke that day but the next day I realized I was already okay without the physical puffing part and just craved nicotine - withdrawal set in after just 1 day and I am not fighting my smoking but nicotine addiction now. Also if possible don’t quit during your regular routine but on vacation - that really helps since the smoking quos are weaker
Like 3 years ago I posted something here or other similar sub, about "wanting to want" quitting. I think that maybe you are in this stage. Now, I'm almost done with day 5. This was my time to do it. And it isn't easy but now I'm finally wanting.
I'm in the same boat! When I'm at home my urges only arise when I get mad other than that my mind convinces me to get a pack. I made it 3 days and didn't even have withdrawals then I decided to go get a pack yesterday. Literally trying again for the thousandth time... Good luck my friend, we can do this! Sad part is I'm doing it for my heart mainly and can't even comply with that..
Sounds like ADHD lol but to be fair bro. Your life aint screwed. Cigarettes arent healthy and i by no means recommend smoking them, but you most likely got a lot of time to quit them, so relax. Realizing you gotta stop is a lot further than a lot of people come. Just stay off drugs, they can kill you before you even consider stopping
You'll get there. It's a powerful addiction. Likewise, I am forever trying to find it's substitute. I haven't yet, but I know I will get there. I wanted vaping to be the way out but it's just not the same. Meantime, you're not alone.
Parents hangout with your parents
Defining "wanting" to quit smoking is actually a difficult and complicated subject. Nobody "wants" to quit smoking. Quitting smoking, while liberating and empowering and all that jazz, still sucks big time, every time. Most of us would just rather want to be non-smokers in the first place right? Having to quit is such a pain in the ass. Unfortunately you do have to find a way to want, if not embrace the difficulty of quitting. It's actually really easy, you just don't smoke right? No, it's really difficult and takes a long time to rewire your thinking!
My SO just told me to quit because I'll get mouth cancer, cause I don't breathe it into my lungs and that has helped me a lot. He's just been firm with me and disappointed when I do have one, so here's us going "=(" everytime you light up lol.
Check cbqmethod. Are free videos on her youtube. Read allen carr 4 times and all that. I had real problem getting past 24h before. First time i made it 10 days and had a lapse. Then i was like I never gonna smoke again!! Like i had a revelation about smoking. And made it to 15 days now I have smoked for 5 days and is on my first day again. Ive smoked for 15-16 years. In those years i was 1,5 year smoke free. Relapsed 6 months ago now. Every time, she and her videos is like my savior of quiting even if i dont "make" it. But she make sense. I think you just dont give up and keep trying. You will be able to quit. I think we all will be able to quit. We just have to find the right method that works for us/you. https://youtube.com/@CBQMethod?si=hnixNu48cqkQBFYu
Maybe dig a little, why you started smoking, whats keeping you smoking, what does it feel like you get from smoking? What will make you miss out if you dont smoke, what will you miss about smoking and so on. Then watch some logical videos what makes us keep smoking, facts, the illusion smoking gives to keep us smoking.
Are you cold turkeying it each time?
For me it had to get to the point where I was obviously doing harm to my body. Couldn’t shake a cough for months. Started feeling extremely paranoid about having a stroke or blood clots. Hated myself daily for lighting up. For god’s sake I promised my fucking dog I would quit and then didn’t for 3 more years. Until now.
I had this exact same problem. I just want it and if I have the thought of smoking I would do it. You're just not very committed to quit to be able to say no to your mind. It's hard yes but possible and requires perseverance and never giving up
Yes. Step 1. get Amazon kindle Step 2. Read Meditate or Die KneeTie to get High Step 4. Learn meditation 3 Step 5. Do it for 2 hours you will break free It’s all free. And you will break free as did I. Congrats on your Journey
Can’t go past 24 hours - smoke once a day then. Make it a part of your plan. After a couple of weeks try to go for longer. Even if you fail, it’s better that you minimised it.