Smoking

My father was a chain smoker, and died, age 57, of lung cancer. I was only 12, and it made quite an impression; so, as a result, I never smoked. My daughter's friend's mother, a nurse, smoked, and couldn't give up even though her children begged her to do so. When she was finally diagnosed with lung cancer, she took her own life. I don't know if it was out of guilt or because she knew what to expect, but such a sad story. I'm so glad I never got into smoking because I have quite an addictive personality, and know I would have found it very hard/impossible to stop. When in hospital recently, I was told it was obvious I'd never smoked because of the high levels of oxygen in my blood. Good luck to all those trying to stop. You don't want to end up another tragic statistic.

Oh I do wish you all the best in giving up smoking. Like others I have horror stories of how my dear parents and in laws spent their last miserable years all cos of fags. Mercifully I never started-which is so important-but have "stood alongside" many folks who struggled-and succeeded-in giving up. Never give up, giving up-It's so worth it.

I stopped over 30 years ago. I did it by only promising myself that I would stop for 10 mins. Every 10 mins I tried for another 10 mins. I was helped by the fact that my husband was stopping too and neither of us wanted to give up stopping before the other.
It worked and we were both winners. I think the 10 min rule works because it’s manageable. 24 hours stretches ahead into infinity. 10 mins at a time. Good luck to all of you who are trying to stop. It isn’t easy but you can do it.

I have used Champix twice & successfully given up but eventually started again, once when DH was alive, he was a 20+ a day man. 2nd time I started again was after DH died.

I still smoke 2/3 cigarettes a day, often not having my 1st one until after lunch. I enjoy them. Practice Nurse & GP are trying to persuade me to give up but as I've virtually given up alcohol & have no man in my life it's my only pleasure apart from good quality dark chocolate

DD & DGS are dropping hints nagging me to give up

I gave up after nearly 40 years of smoking after my daughter announced she was pregnant. I know she wouldn't have let me anywhere near her baby smelling of smoke. End off

I had a 30 a Day habit and had smoked for 35 years. I honestly thought I’d never give up. I relied on it for so many reasons. Cigarettes were my little best friends! But they were also my worst enemies ~ I was terrified they’d kill me and they were an expense I could well do without.
I was in the co-op buying my usual supply when the woman serving asked me if I’d tried vaping. She said she’d quit after taking it up. To cut a long story short I ended up buying a vape a few weeks later and unbelievably Ive never looked back. It’s been 5 years since I had a cigarette ( I never took another puff after my first vape) and I barely vape at all now. It was the best thing I ever did. I’d urge any smoker who wants to quit to give it a go.

I smoked for 60 yrs - 30 a day. 2 years ago I was gasping for breath during the night, and landed in A&E. given oxygen and went for x-rays. when the consultant gave me the results, which showed a grey patch on my lungs, I said to myself there and then "stop smoking right now or you will end up carrying a huge oxygen bottle round with you, and you wont see your g.children, g.g.children grow up". I had confirmed COPD and now have 2 kinds of inhaler which I have to use everday.
However, as much as I enjoyed my ciggies, this was a wake-up call and I stopped right there. I had previously tried chewing gum, patches, pills but nothing worked for me. So my choice was life or death. That was 2 yrs ago, and I am still here so you can guess what I chose....its not easy to stop but it can be done so good luck .....

Ah, Peardrop, I think that's what my brother had, and it worked!

I smoked for years and quit using patches 13 years ago. My motivation was the thought of standing outside smoking while the Scottish weather was doing its worst.
Also, I realised that smokers couldn’t enjoy a meal out or a drink in a pub because they were always craving a ciggie. Non smokers on the other hand were having a far better time and could relax and enjoy themselves free from any nicotine cravings. I definitely wanted to be one of them.

Remember, you are not giving anything up but gaining your freedom.

I smoked heavily for 26 years. Stopped for 6 months or so every now and again and smoked even more each time I started again. In 1995 I went to an acupuncturist, he put a pin in my ear, told me that it would block the craving, told me that the addiction to nicotine would be gone in about five days and the breaking of the habit was up to me. He then shook my hand and said ‘Congratulations Mrs P, you are now a non smoker’.
Not sure whether the pin or the statement did it for me but I haven’t smoked since.
I changed a few things at first, we stopped going out for a meal cos the fourth course was always a cigarette, we no longer stopped for a cuppa whilst out shopping cos a coffee without a cigarette seemed odd. We even avoided DIY cos it seemed too difficult to concentrate without stopping for a fag every ten minutes.
After six months DH also gave up, cold turkey for him.
After the first year we found stopping for a coffee, having a meal out and diy were possible without a cigarette and haven’t looked back.
I remember ex smokers used to tell me that even after 20 years they could still enjoy a fag, this put me off trying for a long time, eternal cravings too frightening.
I can honestly say I did not suffer any cravings after the first few months. DH says it took him a bit longer to get past the cravings but no more than a year.
We now only paint the white ceilings when we move house, smell better and are definitely better off financially.
Unfortunately we didn’t give up early enough to stop damage to our health, DH has poor vein health and I have COPD but our health is pretty good all things considered. We both acknowledge that had we continued to smoke we probably wouldn’t be here now.
Well worth the effort OP, never too late but certainly sooner the better.
Good luck

Going for it tomorrow...will keep posting!and re-reading all comments,thank you everyone!

My incentive was when smoking was banned inside ,I didn't want to be stood outside in all weathers , I didn't use anything , I did go to smoking cessation nurse a couple of times and said my reason for smoking was mainly stress she explained that wanting a cig caused more stress and giving up would not create more stress which I found to be true . Good luck and keep trying .

I never thought I would stop after more than 30 years but I got tablets from Doctor and a grand child on the way. However you have to do it for you. I still think I want a cigarette but I don’t really. It is liberating and I still drink so I’m not a saint

I smoked gor 40 years heavily! The only thing that made me stop was whe my daughter had a baby. I stopped immediately . No patches or anything. Just cold turkey! I admit I shook like a junkie for 3 days and felt awful. But oh, It was worth it ?. It’s like being let out of s prison. Nicotine was my gaoled and no mistake !!

Oh, and good luck.

My brother had something, like a piercing, but not, if you know what I mean, just something inserted in his ear-lobe and every time he wanted a cigarette, he just felt his ear lobe and the craving went away. He never smoked again. Has anyone else tried this.?

"Giving up smoking was the hardest thing i have ever accomplished! Take it one day at a time...you need to get rid of the addiction to nicotine.."
Same here, Omaoma.
After a few failures I finally did it when I had a severe case of 'flu, almost pneumonia. I just couldn't smoke. And TG wasn't tempted afterwards.
Maybe the addiction is so strong because a smoker lights up so often and reinforces the habit each time.

I gave up 21 years ago, after "giving up" many many times before. The last time was different because I was really motivated..... I had to pass a physical including a lung x-ray to immigrate to Canada. So I stopped 15 months before I had the x-ray. What helped me was drinking a glass of water every time I wanted a cigarette, or I ate a prune or a carrot. I also used the patch.
I have heard that the colour of your skin changes from a yellow stain to more pink within a week of stopping. I now realise how disgusting I smelled - since I stopped, I have to hold my breath when I stand next to a smoker in an elevator, for instance.
I remember reading once that there is a sure way to stop smoking. It's when the Doctor says "I'm sorry to tell you you have lung cancer." That'll do it.

I gave up about 33 years ago, had smoked since mid teens. I had given up once and restarted but when they finally reached the heady amount of £1.50 a pack I thought how stupid it was to burn that amount of money. I stopped straight away, and never wanted to go back to it. I had never liked smoking until mid morning, and would get through 10/15 a day. I think the main thing is really and truly wanting to stop, if you don't have that determination you won't do it. Eventually all my family (except bro) have given up over they years.
Good luck to anyone doing it.
You will be horrified at how much it stinks on clothes/furnishings once you get your sense of smell back to normal, I hate even standing by someone who has been smoking now, even in shop queues etc you can smell it. It turns your stomach.

Watching my darling Dad die was incentive enough for me to give up. I saw a hypnotherapist and haven’t smoked since September 2001. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but after many tries, I really wanted to quit and it ‘took’.

Keep your hands occupied.
Perhaps by sipping water, I used a tamagotchi toy, 20 odd years ago but I don’t think they are still available.

Farview every time I tried to give up (before I finally succeeded), I would pick a day to start, and go to bed the night before filled with a mixture of determination and dread. Dread about getting up next day and not being able to have a cigarette with my first cup of tea.
So, when I tried for the umpteenth (and final) time, I decided that this time I would give up after having that first cigarette of the day. I thoroughly enjoyed that one, determined it would be my last. I have no idea if that was the determining factor in my success, but I’ve always felt it was a massive help to get me through that first day.
Good luck - I know this will sound trite, but seriously if I can do it then anyone can. I was a very heavy smoker, upwards of 30 a day, and had smoked for a over 40 years.

youtu.be/zs3mvj1YAG8
This man makes a lot of sense, and has videos about every aspect of giving up.

Keep going, you are doing so well. When I gave up I had tried several times before but I was determined. Two things helped, but it still wasn’t easy. Firstly I bought boxes of fresh orange juice and when I wanted a cigarette I drank fresh juice, secondly I only looked ahead in 5 minute slots. I would say to myself when I was desperate, ‘just wait 5 minutes ‘. Eventually, I think about 3 weeks, I realised I wasn’t having to do either. Good luck, you feel great eventually.

No lectures just the benefit of my experience.
I used Paul mc kenna stop smoking cds for 6 months before I stopped. I also used patches for about a year to ensure I wouldn't start again.
I resigned myself to gaining weight and I did 1 stone but reduced this to half stone after taking up walking. I continued with the cds for another year. Keep using all you can for as long as it is needed and one day like me you will longer want to smoke. There are no quick fixes. Please preserve it is totally worth it.