ANSWERS: 100
  • Will power! It doesn't matter which remedy you try (cold turkey, patches etc) unless you want to give up for yourself, it ain't gonna happen. Most people who try and fail do so because they think it's the remedy that 'cures' them of the habit. Others were only quitting for a loved one or child. It will only work if you have really decided that you want to quit. If the reason is that you want to quit, and that you no longer want to smoke, then any remedy is as good as the other... they just augment your will power. If you have a strong will, then once you've decided to quit... you've quit! You may not be so lucky, but whichever method you try, remember it will only work if you really want it to work. Good luck.
  • Will power is absolutely vital. However, different methods work better/worse depending on the individual. Some people can "taper" their use, smoking less and less until they finally quit. Some use a patch or gum. Of course, I've known people who got addicted to them (and they cost more than cigarettes!) Many, many, many people have to try more than once to fully quit, and along the way figure out what method is best for them. If you're wondering this for yourself, try going over to www.quitnet.com they're very nice and have tests to see HOW a person is addicted. For example: I was more mentally addicted (vs. habit or physical) so they suggested things to help me based on that. Also, they have forums there and chat rooms. Sometimes talking to someone who'll support you is the best way to quit (stay quit.) If you're wondering for someone else, try to get them over to the site. Also, (this may sound dumb) drink lots of orange juice. If you don't like oj, or can't drink it, try lots of water. It helps flush systems and reduces cravings. Remember however, that if someone doesn't really want to quit, they won't. No matter what anyone else tells them. I hope this helps some and good luck. :D
  • Wow...now that is a can of worms. There is no real correct answer to that...only suggestions that we can give you. I've been around smoking all my life. My parents were smoking long before I was born, so I grew up with it in my home. My mother quit about 12 years ago, but my father has continued to smoke ever since. I'm 21 years old now, and since I have been exposed to it for so long, I have very minor lung damage. I get winded much faster than is normal for someone my age and in my state of health. So one method is to be concerned for others around you...second hand smoke DOES harm people. If you have children, or are around people who don't smoke, keep in mind that you are harming them just as much as you are harming yourself. People may disagree with the concept of second hand smoke hurting you, but disagreeing is not the same as being right. Some users have already given you very helpful advice. Pjchik's advice in particular is VERY accurate. You MUST have willpower. You, most of all, need to be the one who is determined to quit...not the people around you, influencing you. You have to consciously have a want and need to quit. That is perhaps the biggest battle of all. Here's some things to try: Hypnotism: Yes...this DOES work!! It worked on my mother 12 years ago and she hasn't touched a cigarette since that day. See a professional about hypnotism. There are very precise, involved sessions that they give to help you quit. I couldn't beleive that it actually worked on my mother, but it did. She has been smoke-free for a long time now. I can't go into specifics because I don't know all the details, but take my word for it that it works. The Patch: This will somewhat help you in your quest to stop smoking. While it is still putting nicotene into your body, it should hopefully eliminate your craving for cigarettes. As you progress through the patch program, you will need lesser doses until you eliminate it completely. Keep in mind that this doesn't work for everyone. Alot of people stop using the patch within the first 2 weeks because its just not doing it for them. Help Groups: In public help groups you will meet alot of people who have quit or in the process of quitting. You will probably also meet people who have suffered the consequences of smoking, or you will see some of the horrific things smoking does to the body. If that's not enough to make you quit then you have a long road ahead, but the people in these groups will try to help you as best they can by encouraging you. Medication: There are pills to help you quit smoking. I don't know how effective they are, and I've never heard of anyone quitting while on them. If you want to look into something like that, ask your doctor. If your doctor never heard of it, get another doctor, because its becoming quite popular now. as for quitting Cold Turkey: This plain does not work. More than 3/4 of people who quit cold turkey go back within 2-5 months. It might work for some, but its not as effective as a guided program. By just up and quitting, you will have to fight with the cravings, and you will lose sleep, become irritable...lots of bad things. Your best bet is to follow any kind of programs you might be able to find. Good luck...you have a hard fight ahead of you, but with enough support and proper programs, you will be able to beat it. Look to your family and friends for inspiration and guidance most of all.
  • I attended a habit-breaking program at a local hospital. It was a practical, logical program, not just pep talks and self-help jargon. The participants served as a support group. The turning point for me was a man with a gravelly smoker's voice whose doctor told him he would die in a year or so if he didn't quit. The man resigned from the group, saying he would rather die than give up his smokes. "I don't want to end up like him," I thought. He gave me the motivation I needed. I still think of him. This type of program might cost $100-$200. I recommended it to a smoker who was thinking of quitting. He told me "I'm not going to spend a hundred bucks just to quit smoking." Maybe nicotine clogs the brain cells too. This may not be the most effective way to quit but it worked for me.
  • Both will power as well as "want power" is vital to success. Most programs instruct you to avoid triggers that make you light up, such as coffee, alcohol, talking on the phone, etc. In other words, they suggest you change your entire life to be successful. For me, this added to the stress of quitting. I found my quitting success (4 months now) by giving up all my bad habits I associated with smoking FIRST. I did this for several weeks, and continued to smoke. On my quit date, aided by the patch, I gave myself back all my other habits as "rewards" for not smoking. I'm 47, female, and have smoked since I was 16. All my other attempts never even made 24 hours. Just keep in mind this... "This nic-fit will pass, and having the flu is worse."
  • Plain old stubborness worked for me. Its a variation on the try quitting with a friend idea where you're meant to give each other encouragemnet and support. A friend and I agreed to this method - my determination not to give in before he did was the key factor. Admittedly this may not apply to everyone, but it does show that you have to consider your own personality, habits and weak points to discover the methods that work best for you. Other things I found helpful include: 1. Taking it a little at a time. Don't set the task of "I'm quitting for good" which is such an immense task for an addict its a bit like saying "I'm going to run a marathon" when you haven't exercised for years- so daunting you're almost certain to abandon the task before it really gets going. Instead say "I'm not going to smoke this week" (or even "today") something that will be a struggle but not seem impossible. Think in terms of even if you start again after the week is up, you've still saved some money if nothing else. You'll be so pleased with yourself you will probably want to see if you can go for another week. 2. Don't hang around with people who smoke. If your friends smoke and you can't persuade them to quit with you, only meet them in places where smoking is prohibited for a while. 3. Change your habits. Its an old one but it works. If you know you'll want a cigarette if you drink alcohol, leave off it for a while (it'll do you good anyway), same goes for coffee. Also ban smoking in the house and get those you live with to enforce it. Throw out your ashtrays and disinfect the house so it doesn't smell of smoke. If you have to go to the effort of going outside for a cigarette you'll likely think twice about having it. 4. Stop in the middle of a pack and force yourself throw the rest away or on the fire. This really helps hit home the amount of money you're wasting. Work out how much you spend on cigarettes in a year (in my case it was well over £1000) make a special jar to put the money you save by not smoking in and promise to buy yourself something special (perhaps a day at a health spa or something that's good for you as well as pleasurable to hammer home the point not everything healthy is no fun) 5. Sniffing black pepper oil everytime you get a craving is supposed too stop them in the tracks. I've not tried it personally, but several friends have found this helpful. I hope this helps- nicotine patches etc are all very well, but its the psychological tricks you play on yourself that make the differencein the end. Good luck!
  • Go cold turkey, stop and stop associating with anyone who does smoke , if thats not poss, just ask them to smoke outside, also just look at your kids and family and think what life would be like for them if and when you die from lung cancer, that will motivate you to stop the disgusting habit. you will also smell better your food will taste better and that niggly cough will go all by itself. Go on care enough about yourself to change once and for all, be determined!
  • Sorry, I don't know much beyond personal experience here. I quit in 1984 after about 10 years. I had been thinking about quitting for quite some time, and then one day I just saw that it was never going to get easier, it was only going to get harder. So I stopped cold turkey. It was all willpower for about 2-3 days, then the cravings started to subside. After that I had cravings whenever I was at a bar or nightclub (in those days, they smoked at clubs even in California). That lasted a few months, then I was free. Never had an urge to smoke after that.
  • The answer given by Keaner had valuable info that could help you to stop smoking. But there are additional things you might try. You can do a "detox" by spending time in a sauna or steam bath. Change your eating habits, reading up on diet and health. Keep busy with new hobbies, creating new associations, which have nothing to do with cigarettes. Get involved in an exercise program such as jogging. Exercise causes the body to release natural "feel good" hormones called endorphins. When it comes to the use of hypnosis, which is still quite popular, I do not recommend it as a cure. Fooling the brain into believing something is true, when it is not true is not healthy. It only masks the situation and in the long run encourages other addictions such as over-eating or gambling to rise to the surface. I do, however, recommend the use of affirmations and spiritualizing the experience. Adding a "Higher Power," into the mix can facilitate the process of healing addictions. I say that affirmations are a way to "co-create" with God or a "Higher Power within—if you're an atheist." An example would be to state: "I am free of all addictions and I am filled with a renewed health and energy." (The "I am" represents the power and authority of that Higher Power mentioned to Moses by God in the Old Testament.) Look into "philosophical religions" such as Science of Mind or Christian Science to gain a deeper handle on how and why affirmations work. You can work with "parishioners" who can lovingly assist you in your quest for health and peace of mine. Having a team to work with makes the task that much easier. And most important, congratulate yourself for the effort you are putting out to improve your health and your life. If you fall off the wagon, don't make it worse by punishing yourself. Keeping your eyes on the prize, stand up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward.
  • I stopped "cold turkey" in 1980 after smoking for about 5/6 years. It was hard for about 2-3 weeks, but afterwards the habit and addiction was gone. I would now recommend "Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking". He sadly died recently, but his method was as close to 100% successful as makes no difference. He brought a book out too. Try it - you've only got your health and life to gain. http://allencarr.com/central/
  • My mum smoked for 16 years I think, and what made her quit was my dad bullying her into it. obviously, that didn't last long. Then she woke up one day, and added up how much she spends on ciggies a year, which really frightened her (we don't have a lot of money). SO she got on the nicotine gum, and here we are, 7 years on and still a non smoker! Its up to the individual, but that worked for her
  • http://www.allencarr.com/central/
  • There was a recent study conducted in the UK which stated that if you plan ahead to give up smoking and make all these rules and so on, the success rate is far less than if you just one day suddenly decide to give up smoking. Unfortunately this does mean that since you are asking this question, you are probably in the category of planning to quit. So my advice would be to choose a random event that is fairly likely to happen within a week long period and if it occurs, stop on that day. For example, tell yourself that you will stop smoking from that point on if you see two blue cars in a row. Also find a substitute. Chewing gum is one of the obvious ones but why not try a bottle of water. It is healthy and (if you put up with going to the toilet every 10 mins at first) doesn't draw too much attention, as those nicotine pens and loads of chewing um often does.
  • If there was one right answer, people would have publicized it long ago. The fact that there are all these different routes shows that there is no one right way. Quitting smoking is hard. But the first thing you have to do is to decide that you *are* a non smoker, perhaps with some residual problems, rather than someone who hopes to give up some day. The most effective I saw was a friend who was shown a scan of her lungs, and never smoked again.
  • I Quit for two years and just started back again this week so I understand how hard it can be......;(
  • I smoked a pack a day for 10 years. Last November I quit by using nicotine gum and the following sentence. "Is putting rolled up leaves in my mouth and lighting them on fire going to help me stop feeling (insert negative feeling here)? No, it isn't!" I've been smoke free for exactly one year today! Yaay!
  • My dad used to smoke, one day he just stopped, now I don't even know what did he use, it was either cold turkey or he's secretly smoking.
  • I used nicotine gum and after a whole year I decided to stop chewing the gum. I have not missed the ciggies once since.
  • I am not a smoker but I do know a few people that have been hypmotized to quit smoking. They have now been smoke free for years.
  • I like the answers here: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/4335
  • i quit on new years and its pissing me off too....im going cold turkey, but im going to smoke some Colts abit...maybe 2 a week...just to make myself feel better....you could try that too i guess.
  • Getting pregnant worked like a charm for me! I realize not everyone wants to (or can) do that, though. ;)
  • Don't try going cold turkey...that is rarely successful. Try to limit your use at a resonable pace like cutting it in half every week.
  • the best way to quit is to never start, but obviously that wont help you now..i havent ever smoked and dont plan on it so i dont know how hard it is to quit but just work at it, ive heard somewhere that if you can do something for 21+ days it will become habit so i assume if you DONT do something for 21+ days then you wont want to do it anymore, so my advice is to just stick with it I BELIEVE IN YOU YOU CAN DO IT!
  • I use to smoke 3 packs a day. The patch worked great for me but I failed to quit the first time I did it. The second time I was prepared to never go back. I had hobbies ready to keep my hands busy. Hardest part was the times was when I got into my car and first woke up. Remember, after three weeks the nicotine that your addicted to is completely gone from your system. Hold on, friend! You can make it!
  • Get some patches or gum by Rx from your doctor. If you cannot afford them, use hard candies or gum, or suckers. Anything to put in your mouth that will be a substitute til you get over the urge will help. By day 6-7 all of the nicotine is out of your system. You are dealing with the psychological addiction now. So figure out something else to do when you are stressed out, drinking, or other times you smoked the most. Yo can also get very good tips from toll free support people at this phone number: 1-800-784-8669. That is the governments office and they have experts on hand. They will help you also these ways: - Private counseling and continued support - A personalized quit-plan - Tools and skills to help you succeed - Information about additional resources such as insurance benefits and other quitting programs in your area - A Tobacco Quit Kit mailed to your home All for no charge. Here are some other tips: Remember it is natural and normal to feel anxiety anytime you make a significant life change. Plan ahead for temptation. It's inevitable. Cut down on alcohol and caffeine consumption. Plan non-smoking tactics before you go to events where other people might be smoking. The quit line cessation specialists can help you devise a plan. Keep healthy substitutes handy to keep your hands and mouth busy, like carrots, raisins, gum, hard candy and lollipops. Keep your hands busy. Carry a stress ball or a doodle pad. Tell your family and friends you are quitting. Let them support you. Drink a lot of water. Carry a water bottle with you everywhere you go. Eat frequent small meals. This will stabilize your blood sugar levels and keep your mouth and hands busy. Change your typical daily routine in as many ways as possible. Take a new route to work, drink tea instead of coffee, and have lunch in the conference room rather than at your desk. Remove all evidence of smoking from your life. Clean your car interior and launder all of your clothes to remove the smell of tobacco smoke. Exercise especially when you are angry, stressed or bored. Make an appointment with the dentist to have your teeth cleaned. Be proactive about spending time with non-smokers and/or ex-smokers. Write down the reasons you are quitting and review them to serve as a reminder why you think quitting is worthwhile. Reward yourself. Plan to buy something special with all the money you save.
  • I quit about a month ago after 14 years. I've found ways to keep myself distracted though; mostly AB :) I've been doing more reading, contemplating, and dealing the the series of disasters that I call a life.
  • I used Skoal longcut wintergreen, but I don't recomend it, because now I am addicted to that more. I know a guy that quit once, he bought a pack and put it on the dash of his car so he would have to look at it all day. Maybe because he was able to visualize the problem better by seeing it in his face. He did quit too, and later became an EMT for a fire station. I think that this was a good way to confront the problem, however, I have never tried it. Avoid places where people smoke. Take deep breaths of air, and exhale deeply five times, this is proven to lower heart rate. might get you over the hump. I've quit before, but started up again because it's such an easy sport, and leaves you as satisfied as playing one. I am incorporating detox drinks, that used to cleanse the body of toxins and such, you can buy these at a Health store or bong shop. My addiction is so strong I don't even smoke anymore, cigarettes are a joke compared to dipping. For you I would reccomend a detox drink, a large nutritious meal, with a multi vitamin, and then dedicate three days to fasting. This is a proven way to cleanse your system. Professional athletes use it when training. They key to curb the hunger is to drink only water, and start and finish with a large nutritious meal, the latter more nutritious. Fasting is not as hard as you might think, and may be hell for three days, but pretend you are on survivor or something. You have to attack this like a warrior. Native Americans used tobacco as a medicine originally. When they were sick, they would smoke lots of it until they got so sick they would vomit the sickness out. After a few days of recovery, they would feel better.
  • Think about the extra years you will get to live, the cancers you won't get, the smells that will leave your fingers and hair, the stains that will disappear from your teeth and fingers and the way your body will recover and thrive once you do quit. Then get some gum (nicotine and regular gum) and something you can fiddle with when you need to calm down and take the break you used cigs for. You have my support and admiration for even trying. Look for quitting support websites too. Best of luck and I mean that.
  • I myself smoke, and I have been discussing this with doctors, that I work with. I would start with what they said. Use the patch, and then the medication, that takes the brains activity craving away. Your hands are so used to doing activities (the hand to mouth movements, the lighting of the ciggarettes, when you get up, get in the car, etc). The patch helps with the nicotine cravings, and the medication, helps the mental dependency, and the mental function part of smoking. My personal advise, for one who saw many friends quit, have someone clean out your house, when you leave, have them throw away all evidence of ciggarettes (lighters, ashtrays, etc). Be ready, and take time off work, if it is stressful, I have seen my friends fail trying to quit, because thier job was to stressful, to survive the stress and the withdrawls, at the same time. You can find things to do with your mouth (gum, those long, straight, small, candy canes, but flavored, if you need to have something to do with your hands). This is only advise, coming from one who still smokes, but has been investigating, so she can quit herself eventually!!
  • 19 craving stoppers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. When you're challenged by a strong urge to smoke, take a few deep breaths and remember your determination to be free. 2. Think of your most important reason for wanting to stop. Say it out loud in front of the mirror. 3. Do not start feeling sorry for yourself. It's the people who are still smoking who should be pitied. You were smart enough to follow a program and stop smoking. 4. Immediately turn your attention to something else. Remember that even the most intense craving lasts only a few minutes -- 5 or 10 at the most. The urge will pass whether you smoke a cigarette or not. 5. Do something with your hands. Knit. Doodle. Play with coins. Write a letter. 6. Be good to yourself in every possible way. Even indulge yourself a little. Enjoy a special treat on weekends (a good meal, a show, etc.) with the money you've saved. 7. Frequent places where you don't smoke rather than places where you do. 8. Curb use of alcohol and caffeine. 9. Seek the company of nonsmokers. 10. Concern yourself only with today--tomorrow will take care of itself. Get through today without smoking 11. Eat something! Low calorie snack, veggies, chew fresh ginger. Bite into a clove. 12. Talk to yourself! When the urge comes, say: "Slow down. You're doing great. You can keep going." 13. Distract yourself! Whistle! Sing! Brush your teeth! Work on a hobby! Take a shower. 14. Analyze! Do you think you need a cigarette as a reward to relieve boredom, or after an extended period of concentration? Find another way to take a break. 15. Move! Get up and walk around. Take a drink of water. 16. Practice relaxation exercises. Stretch, yawn, do deep knee bends, touch your toes, shrug your shoulders. 17. Make believe! Pretend you're smoking a cigarette. It's a very helpful breathing exercise. 18. Breathe! In and out, as if you actually had a lighted cigarette in your mouth. You will find that you are actually sighing! 19. Think of quitting as an act of love - for those you care about. It's also a gift to yourself. Change you behavior, it is a choice to act mean and ugly...... Hope this helps Im on day 55, congrats to you your doing great..
  • I am on day 5 and it is SOOOO hard..I am on the patch 21 mg ..and I have a bag of dum dum pops on my desk..and when I get really bad I go to quitnet.com
  • cold turkey
  • Just decide you don't want to do it any more. No matter what you do, if you don't really want to quit, you won't.
  • Then number one way to quit smoking is to put that goal to yourself. No matter what, your not going to pick up that cigarrette and light it and smoke it. Or maybe see some pictures of what smoking is doing to your lungs. Its some pretty gross stuff, they taught me in HS and thats when i decided i was never going to smoke.
  • It really needs to be cold turkey. The only additional advice I would give is to quit at the same time you change scenery - when you move to a new house is ideal so that you don't have to ruin a vacation. You should be away from all the old behavioral cues for at least a week. It makes it a lot easier since so many of your urges are actually triggered by environmental stimuli such as the end credits of the Simpsons, got fifteen minutes to kill while a DVD burns, etc. You will still endure a generalized craving, but you will avoid a lot of the more focussed jonesing, which is a good, good, thing to avoid - the very moment of weakness.
  • I used the patch for 6 weeks, after smoking for more than 20 years. I still get cravings once in a while during high stress, but I just tell myself I don't need it. It will be three years in May.
  • having self-control.
  • Esay method, have a family member constantly following you around, and frisk you when you go in teh shower and bathroom, so you don't sneak one in.
  • pick up something else, such as answerbag.
  • Im on day two of the patch and I keep eating lollipops. I think I am going to die.
  • First you will have to REALLY want to quit. Then think about how much you smoke. I think heavy smokers need the gum, patch or pill. I would start with the gum or pills if that does not work go to the patch. But most of all be honest with yourself about quiting.
  • Hang in there kiddo it's gonna get easier. Cold turkey is the best way to go!
  • I used nicotine gum, then I became addicted to the gum for quite some time (very expensive habit), then I used the patch to get off the gum. I haven't smoked in about 2 years, and haven't chewed the gum for about a year. Hubby read a book called the "Easy way to quit smoking" or something similar to that title (he's not here or I'd ask him), he also used the patch for a while, but he said the book really help him. He has been smoke free for about a year, the longest he has ever quit after several tries in the past. Hope this helps, Good luck I know it's hard to do!
  • Set yourself small targets, like giving up for a week or a month before moving onto considering doing it for life. The first time I tried to give up smoking I just couldn't get past the idea of never having another cigarette again, and I really think that's why I failed. Then, last November, I found out I was pregnant and so had to stop. My husband did too, so that helped, and although we now had a very good reason for quitting, it was hard as it meant I couldn't take any nicotine gum, use patches etc. However, thr thing that got me through was the thought that I could start again in nine months if I really wanted to, although I pretty much knew I wouldn't. Now, six months later I haven't had a single cigarette and know I won't start again when the baby's born. It was a week of hell (especially with the pregnancy hormones to add to it too), but it was worth it. However, I still don't think of myself as a non-smoker per se, just as a smoker who doesn't smoke anymore. Other tips: Avoid people who smoke, especially people who you normally take smoke breaks or similar with. They should understand, and if they don't, they may try and convince you to have a ciggie to ease their own conscience. It doesn't have to be forever, and the first time you stand with them when they're smoking and don't want one is a very good feeling. Don't go to pubs or drink too much generally as that makes you want a ciggie. Go to the cinema a lot, or out for meals, or just for nice long walks. Put aside the money you're saving and use it for something nice. It sounds silly but it really does help to see it mounting up. Count each day as it goes past and feel proud of yourself. Every day for at least a fortnight I would say "ten days since a cigarette, eleven days..." etc. It helps to see you are getting somewhere, even if time feels like it's crawling along. Don't get dismayed if you fail. If you have one cigarette, start again. It's hard, and your brain is telling you that you NEED another ciggie, so don't feel bad. Just throw away that packet you bought and start again from day one. You'll get there eventually. Good luck!
  • I smoked for 8 years, and I got hypnotized. It worked. I don't know ... I never felt hypnotized at all. And, yet I quit. I'm not sure if she just pushed me to have the will to do it, or if the power of suggestion just invaded my brain, but, either way, the $75 was well spent ... considering that was about a month is smokes.
  • Nobody likes a quiter.
  • For me, just stopping. I had a health scare, so I just stopped. A week in ICU will do that.
  • wow.. i guess it's lots to say to this "?" look at all this answerbags lol i'll tell you a veeery efficient method: 1. find one of your friends that also wishes to quit smoking; preferably someone you hang out with alot (gf, bf, bff etc) 2. ask him/her how serious they are about it 3. if similar with your goal make a commitment to each other involving cash $$$ 4. each of you have ready around $500.00 aside-less or more is fine 5. put 2/2 together and that will be the reward amount for the person who sticks with the promise in case the other one fails 6. you will both have a good motivation NOT TO LOSE your share of money! 7. set up a 3-6 month period (or as much as you'd wish) in which the deal will be valid 8. if you could make it that that long...you did it!
  • try to find the book "Allen Carr's Easy way to Quit Smoking". It's awesome.
  • study the pics on the packs of cigarettes carefully. (gradual basis) Start tapering of one every week until your down to just a few then start buying the kind that have holes around the filter and you've got it made after that. Luck!
  • Not buying another pack of cigarettes no matter how bad you want them, nothing is going to work like good ole fashion will power. I tried all sorts of things from RXs all the way to patches and gum, I didn't stop until I decided enough was enough. I'm 7 months into not smoking!
  • stay in public places
  • Nicorette + Willing to Quit!
  • i never learned how to smoke. the best way to quit is by smoking less.eg.instead of 1 per hour,do 1 every 2 hours and keep extending the hours.eventually you will be down to 1 per day and ultimately you quit.little miserable but a non-smoker.do not use stuff sold in the pharmacies to stop smoking.they are worst than smoking.
  • Just stopping.
  • First, having the desire to quit smoking, then gradually decreasing and eventually quitting OR if the person can handle it -- COLD Turkey!! :-)
  • Just do it!! smoker for 33 years.its very hard to stopbut when you need one just do something for 5-10 more mins.most of the time it will go away for a while and soon it takes longer for you to want one.good luck
  • Go get a bunch of those gummy bears and stick them in the back of your mouth so you wont curse or grind your teeth and clear everyone out of the house for about a month because some $#*! gonna go down.
  • There is no best way. Everyone is different. When I quit, first I stopped smoking in my home and taking my two ten minute breaks at work and only smoked at lunch and the drive to and from work. If I wanted a smoke after I got home I had to go outside. Then, when I was ready to give it a go for real, I got rid of everything to do with cigarettes and got the nicotine patch. It has been three years and six months since I had a cigarette. I still crave them once and a while, but it gets better all the time. I told myself that I just WANTED a butt I didn't really NEED one. Good luck!!
  • Heroin really takes the edge off.
  • Gum!! Lots of gum! lots and lots and lots and I mean the good old double bubble stuff. I couldn't use the nicotine replacement gum because it made me feel twitchy. Bubblicious and Hubba Bubba gum has become my new best friend. It also helps not to be around other people who are smoking, but of course this is not always possible. So mostly gum. I look obnoxious chewing it all the time, but it is the lesser of two evils.
  • I have tried several times. I know several people who have quit. My Dad and my old boss both quit cold turkey. Both these men had smoked for more than 30 years. They just put them down and never went back. How I wish I could be that determined. I have tried patches, had terrible nightmares, gum and lozenges gave me an awful sore throat. I guess we just have to make up our minds that we are going to do it and go cold turkey.
  • Stay away from the first cigarette and you'll never have to worry about the second one.just put of smoking till tommorow. One day at a time.One is too many,a thousand is not enough.
  • Make up a list of things to assist you after you smoke that last cigarette. 1. Open plenty of windows to air out your home. 2. Drink decaf tea instead of coffee. 3. Use a cigarette replacement product like Endit. 4. Have plenty of mouth wash handy. 5. Brush your teeth every time you get the urge to light up. 6. keep notes about the benefits you are getting from quitting. 7. Use visual imagery to displace the thought of smoking with something more pleasant. 8. Chose an appropriate reward or gift to give yourself after you have gone without cigs for a week or a month. 9. GOOD LUCK!
  • Get help from a doctor and support from as many people as possible. It's hard to quit but well worth the effort. Go to this site and from there you should be able to get all the information you'll need to begin. http://www.smokefree.gov/
  • Maybe knowing the benefits of quitting may help you. Benefits 20 min. Blood pressure and pulse return to normal 8 hrs Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half. Oxygen levels return to normal. 24 hrs Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out mucous and other smoking debris. 48 hrs There is no nicotine left in the body. Ability to taste and smell is greatly improved. 72 hrs Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase. 2-12 weeks Circulation improves 3 - 9 months Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung functions are increased by up to 10% 5 yrs. Risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker 10 yrs. Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker. Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never sm
  • Cold turkey.It's tough,but it worked for me.
  • Several of the people I work with swear by Chantix (by prescription only). It's not cheap, but it has definitely worked. There are a number of people at work who are now smoke free because of it.
  • My boyfriend has given my dad those magnets you put on your left ear for 2-4hrs a day (kind of like the staple that people got for a while there to stop smoking) and he doesn't smoke while he's got it on.
  • CHANTIX.....The new prescription drug.....IT WORKS.......I had tried and tried to quit and so had several other people I know, and that did the job........It's about &120.00 dollars........They say you need to take the starter pack, and then a matinence pack for 2 more moths, but everyone I know, including myself didn't need to go back for the matinence pack......Most quit within 2 weeks. There is also a program that the Drug company that makes CHANTIX offers that allows you to get the medication for free if your income qualifies you for it. You should check it out!!
  • by looking at this
  • for every cigarette you crave eat a banana that way you will be alot healther and you wont smoke
  • if only I knew.
  • Ok, I'm gonna go slow here.. try to keep up. 1. Put the ciggarette down. 2. ...well eh, that's about it..
  • I've always thought having someone kidnap you would be an effective way to kick the habit. If you don't have the willpower, borrow someone else's.
  • Ask the people that had smoked for very many years and quit, how they did it. Enough different advice will give you a much better route.
  • I realized there wasn't a point in it after I did it.
  • They introduces a chemical in the paper that made the cigarette flame resistant for safety reasons. They also made the cigarette taste horrible. Suddenly, it wasn't hard to quit.
  • shame on you for smoking
  • My wife got pregnant and we both stopped there and then.
  • With great difficulty. The patch helped.
  • I started on patches and that stupid plastic cigarette. The patches gave me bad vivid nightmares and the plastic doodah gave me an even worse chest. I threw the lot away and just 'gave up'. Don't even think about it now after a year and a half.
  • One evening sitting in a bar with my business partner, both of us smoking, we agreed we needed to quit. So we bet each other $100 for each cigarette smoked for the next six months. That is, the smoker would pay the other the money. We both managed to stay "clean" for six months. The thought of paying that much just for one cigarette, not to mention the subsequent smokes, was a strong inducement. After 6 months my partner came into my office with 3 cigarettes in his mouth, all lit. He said "I did it, didn't think I could. Now I really want a cigarette." That was 25 years ago for me and I haven't touched one since. He went back to smoking immediately. So while it worked for me it didn't for him. But it's a suggestion.
  • I took a shower whenever I wanted a cigarett. By the time I was done drying my hair and putting on makeup I passed the urge.It is getting past the urge that is the kicker.I took alot of showers for 3 months.That was 20 years ago.
  • Ya, will power is the only way. You have to want to quit or anything else won't work.
  • http://settingcaptivesfree.com/breath_life/
  • Don't try it with will power alone though. its easy enugh to convince yourself that it isnt ok as it is. List reasons for and against and pin them around your house/work/car.
  • If you have a really REALLY strong desire to quit, I would recommend hypnosis. It is how I quit fifteen years ago and I have never smoked since. My sister went to same hypnosis session with me and she continues to smoke to this day. It is all about how strong the desire is to stop smoking. The program that I undertook was called "Prophet Seminars" and the cost was $39.99 with satisfaction guaranteed. No refund but you can come to the seminars as often as you need to until you quit. If this is not available to you locally, check your phone book or internet listings for psychologists/psychiatrists who use hypnosis in their treatment programs. Good luck!
  • Chantix
  • - Tell all your friends you're quitting, so that if you get a craving, they can encourage you to stay on the straight and narrow. - PATCHES!!! They were a godsend for me. - If you're not worried about gaining weight, replace cigarettes with twix/kitkats - Put cigarette money to one side and use it for something fun after a week. - Stay away from bars for a while - the drunken craving are almost impossible to resist. - Write down a list of reasons YOU want to quit and display it clearly anywhere in the house/backyard where you would normally light up.
  • One smoky smoke at a time seems to be the best. One less every day until you are down to none. Or stop buying them smoke the last one at night and you are out when you wake up in the morning. Do it cold turkey like I did. I got sick and had to quit because it was gross. I think honesty it is the best way to quit and within 2-4 days the side effects and nicotine will be out of your system.
  • Patch yourself up! it was the only way i could get through the physicl side of the addiction. For the mental side, make a list of why you wnat to quit, tell all your friends so they can support you/shame you/tie you to a chair when you get cravings. Also, wash all your clothes/upholstery so you appreciate the non-smoky smell after a few days
  • Here's how I did it. I decided to quit smoking after decades of doing so, and did it. Actually, it was more like I came home from work, and discovered I was out of beer and smokes. Was too tired to go out and get some, so went an evening, the first in decades, without smoking or heavy drinking. I woke up feeling good, and never touched alcohol or cigarettes again. No big deal, really.
  • I never smoked but had a friend who filled a gallon container about a thirds full of water and whenever he smoked. he dropped the butts in the jug and put the lid on it. AFter he had a some in there, whenever he wanted a smoke he would open the container and smell it instead. he said it worked very quickly.
  • My husband smoked nearly 3 packs a day for 25 years and believed he could never give up. His doctor put him on Chantix which is a relatively new drug that targets the pleasure centers in the brain and basically makes smoking less enjoyable. He has not smoked cigarettes since July 2007, just has a couple of cigars a week. Stupidly you can't get it on your insurance and it costs 4130 dollars amonth, he took it for 3 months, but in comparison to the cigarette costs it was cheap! Avoid big meals, eat little and often avoid coffee...anything that you will associate with having a cigarette...good luck
  • Everyone that I know that has had success in quitting smoking has used Chantix. I don't smoke, but several of my friends have used it with tremendous success. Good luck to you!
  • I agree get the Chantix it does work!!!:)
  • This is just what worked for me. I first quit smoking in my car and wouldn't allow anyone else to smoke there either. Then I quit smoking in my bedroom. Just gradually eliminated my areas I could smoke until it got down to the dining room table. Boy, did I spend lots more time at the dining room table. It was rough when I talked on the phone because the two were connected in my addiction. I went to Schick Stop Smoking classes which didn't help but I learned not to look at anyone else when they were smoking and to wear a rubber band around my wrist and snap it every time I had the urge. The urge is only supposed to last for 7 seconds. Eventually, because we had to go outside at work to smoke and not let the customers see us, I felt like I was "mainlining" and just gave it up because it was just too inconvenient.

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