HELP! Quitting smoking!

[HighEnergy]

Oy! I've tried this before, and obviously not succeeded. I used the cigarettes with less and less nicotine and once I made it 5 months before I started again.

My problem with quitting smoking is I feel like I've lost my best friend and I get all depressed and damn near suicidal.

Any of you have suggestions on how to make it through this?

Thanks~!

[BI BOYTOY]

Oy! I've tried this before, and obviously not succeeded. I used the cigarettes with less and less nicotine and once I made it 5 months before I started again.

My problem with quitting smoking is I feel like I've lost my best friend and I get all depressed and damn near suicidal.

Any of you have suggestions on how to make it through this?

Thanks~!

well geuss what im their right with you pal, help fuck my brain is going to explode aaahhh. i know fisrt hand how hard it is. i have smoked for over 20 yrs. and im being forced to quite. forced by my body. we need to reprgram our minds smoking is as much a mind thing as it is a body thing. but the mind needs to be reprogramed.

[Mrs.F]

I have two friends that have quit their habits with the new medication "Chantix". It's prescription. The one had smoked for many, many years and the other one chewed. They both were able to quit easily without much "suffering". I realize that this may not work for everyone, but it's worth a shot. :2cents:

Good luck to you..

[warmpuppy]

Have knee surgery. I spent five days in the hospital after major knee surgery and couldn't smoke for the entire time.

When I finally got home, I still had the psychological attachment, but the physical addiction was gone. I decided to keep at it. That was 10 years ago.

Just kidding, of course. However, if you do have a situation in which you cannot smoke for a period of time, take advantage of it.

My best wishes for your success.

[HighEnergy]

Thanks for your responses and any more will be appreciated. I've made an appt with the doctor tomorrow, but smoked one a little bit ago just to take the edge off until then.

[gfofbiguy]

When I quit smoking, I used the nicotine gum, which helped me quite a bit. I haven't smoked for over a year and a half now. Good luck to you!!!

[chick_a_dee]

I went cold turkey after 10 years. Here's some things I did. I put away everything that was connected to smoking, such as ashtrays and lighters. Keep busy with projects around the home. Stay out of bars for awhile. Drinking and smoking go hand in hand. Change your daily routine some, especially when you have that morning coffee with that first smoke of the day. Anyone else that smokes should be asked to go outside of the home. If you smoked inside, wash curtains, spray fabreeze on furniture, eliminate any smells related to smoking. Keep busy so you don't think about having a smoke. To avoid gaining weight, because you'll want to eat something instead of having a smoke. Eat fruits, fresh veggies, stuff that's good but won't put weight on. Drink alot of water so you can begin to flush your system clean from the nicotine. Did I mention to keep busy....I have not had a smoke for a year and a half. Good luck

[shameless agitator]

I know several people who used Chantix and loved it. One word of warning though, if you're prone to depression it may not be a good idea. My shrink told me not to use it because they've been doing some FDA warnings about increased risk of suicide. I don't know how serious that is though as pretty much all anti-depressants carry the same warning. As the drug starts to take effect, people with suicidal tendencies are finally able to get motivated enough to do it. There are lots of options out there with nicotine replacement. There's the patch, the gum, (these both just pissed me off because it's kind of a slow burn & you never get that pop. There's also the nasal spray. I haven't used this one, but I hear it's pretty effective for heavy smokers but it apparently burns quite a bit. I liked the oral inhaler. Common side effect is sore throat, especially since most people don't use it correctly. You're supposed to just suck the nicotine into your mouth & let it absorb through the membranes in your cheeks. Kinda like smoking a cigar. Most of us though, would just toss the directions & puff on it like a cig. When I used it I did this and was telemarketing for 8 hours a day. Lost my voice. There's also the new cough drop. Don't know much about it. I would recommend calling the national quit line 877-270-STOP They have counselors who can help you through it, guide you to support groups & sometimes provide free NRT. In the words of Mark Twain "Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it dozens of times".

[gfofbiguy]

In the words of Mark Twain "Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it dozens of times".

Exactly! I have done it dozens of times myself LOL.....but this time it seems to have stuck!:bigrin: The thing I liked about the gum was that I could use it while I was working - I used to interview all the new patients for several orthopaedic surgeons, and the days could get very stressful. Even to this day, when I have to fly (or visit my family LOL), I still buy the gum as a little security blanket, but don't use it very much at all (mostly during the flights - not too much when visiting the family). It may not have that "pop" Shameless talks about, but it does help me, especially in my more stressful situations.

I've not tried the patch, as I get weird allergies to things on my skin and it's not fun LOL I've also not tried any of the prescription medications, but talk to your doctor about them and let your doc know, too, that you suffer from depression and would the medication help or hinder you in that regard. A friend of mine tried Wellbutrin and that made her even more depressed than she already was - and for obvious reasons that didn't work for her.

[tigerlily110]

Good luck to you darlin! I know that you can do it and attitude plays a huge part in quitting..
I do not wish the reason I quit smoking last year on anyone! I was diagnosed with breast cancer but I am sooo lucky. It was caught early and on a routine mammogram...I had a lumpectomy and radiaton treatments..I just got the results back from my latest mammogram and I am still cancer free!!!!!!

I figured that I did not wanna encourage any other form of cancer so I quit. It has not been easy but I agree..get rid of your lighters and fumagate your place. You would be surprised at how keen your sense of smell becomes when it is not masked by tobacco smoke and tar.

I used some sugar free Werthers if I got the urge to smoke...

I gained about 15 lbs after I quit (it was also on the heels of the holidays too) but have lost 30 lbs since December.

I would forego the fast food altogether and eat healty as another person suggested. By doing that I was able to cut a lot of calories out plus it is good for your heart!

One big thing that helps...surround yourself with non-smokers. If you spend any time at all with someone who smokes, the urge to smoke yourself is much greater.

Hope that helps and you can do it!

Hugs,

T

[Iowabiguy]

I smoked from 13-23 years old and quit cold turkey. It seemed easy back then when I was young.
I quit for 22 years and then went through a divorce 5 years ago and began to smoke again when the proceedings began. Dumbest thing I ever did!! I tried to quit many times after starting again. Couldn't shake my one pack a day habit!
Got hypnotized and it worked for 5 months but started again! Damn! I was really down on myself but I really wanted to quit the next time and got hypnotized again 1 and half years ago and haven't had one since. That doesn't mean that my mouth doesn't water when I smell the first drag of a cigarette but after that I really can't stand the smell or anything about them.
Good luck to everyone quitting! My thoughts and prayers are with you!! You CAN do it!! There are many ways; you just have to find the way that works best for you. And you know if one way doesn't work, try another, and another and another and another until you find a way to quit. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!

[Bluebiyou]

HighEnergy
This will probably come across as callous, insensitive, and possibly elitist.

Make up your mind.
If you choose to smoke, then don't stop. Don't (pretend to) fool yourself or others.
If you decide to quit, then quit.

There are vicious addictions beyond alcohol, tobacco, sex/porn, food, chat, ...
... there is ICE and heroin, by all accounts the most addictive drugs out there.
There are two ways to quit an addiction:
1. Involuntarily... you die... or are incarcerated... or are separated from your addiction beyond any point of reasonably/possibly continuing. But of course unless your decision follows, you start right back where you left off if it becomes available to you again.
2. Voluntarily... you decide to quit. Sure, 'this' helps and 'that' helps... but only raw decision keeps you riding that horse - even if you fall off. (where 'riding that horse' is a metaphor for quiting)

Very harsh, but I had a very pragmatic psychologist as a mentor for many years... and there may be 50 ways to leave a lover but there's 1000's of ways to self sabbotage 'breaking an addiction'. Just go to an AA meeting to learn more about the craft of lying to yourself (and others), not taking personal responsibility, and self sabbotage. (Note: this is not knocking AA!! But those of you who have seen AA meetings know of what I speak).

HighEnergy
You're attractive and nice. Preserve your honesty and integrity also; keep smoking. It's clearly what you want to do and I estimate (from your text) what you've already decided to do.
Best Wishes,
Blue

[csrakate]

I also quit cold turkey after being terribly ill and I guess it was a bit easier for me to do so since I was in respiratory distress and barely able to breathe. It was frightening enough to decide then and there that I never wanted to struggle for a breath again! (I also made one of those middle of the night pacts with God that if I made it through the night, I would quit and damn if I didn't survive!! LOL!) That being said, 18 months later, I don't go a day without thinking about it and like you, feel at times like I have lost an old friend. I used to "reward" myself while performing certain household tasks with a moment to sit down and smoke and take a break. It became a ritual for me...I work for a bit of time....then I smoke....back to work....smoke! Now I find myself a bit at a loss as to what to do and like any true addict, have replaced one addiction with another one! Now I "reward" myself with time to chat but guess I'll face that hurdle later on LOL!!

I wish I could offer you some easy way to quit...but unfortunately, there is no easy way. I agree with the others that some help from your doctor would help immensely...there are so many wonderful smoke cessation drugs out there right now. Other than that, all I can suggest is to perhaps change your routine somewhat so that you don't miss that moment to smoke. Chew gum or suck on some hard candy to help satisfy that oral fixation (ok..no....no one go there!! LOL!) My mother even went so far as to use a straw cut into the size of a cigarette to help her quit. If you drink alcohol, the urge to smoke can be greater so you may want to curb your intake a bit. Lucky for me I had quit drinking prior to quitting cigarettes so at least I didn't have that hurdle to cross!! Get some more exercise where you will at least keep yourself busy while learning how much easier you can move around without the cigarettes affecting your breathing. And if you gain a few pounds as we all seem to do when we quit, the exercise will certainly help you in that area.

I wish you the greatest of luck and if ever you need a buddy to call on to encourage you to stick it out, please feel free to send me a message. I will be more than happy to offer my assistance!

Hugs,
Kate

[GreenEyedLady(GEL)]

I tried cold turkey only made me the psycho bitch from hell. If you have issues with emotion , real issues , dont even bother cold turkey. I too took the chantix , and its a god sent wonder pill. The pill does it job for you. The next thing you know , you forget your a smoker. If you dont have insurance its a total bugger because its expensive, like $127 or so for a month. I paid my co-pay. Try it , I promise you it works !

[scubaman]

I just quit day 12 using Chantix as well. The little blue pill works wonders and really works as advertised. Have/had cravings but not as bad as the times I quit before. With that being said, even with the RX, you still have to be dedicated and want to quit. That is the key I believe. I am paying 113.00 per month. Insurance does not cover it. Good luck!

[**Peg**]

Good for you H.E. - wow if you are HE when you are smoking, you're going to be the tasmanian devil when you're smoke free. hehe stand back world !! :tong:

I quit 17 years ago. I was fortunate enough at that time to have a health care programme with our Federal Government. I drank TONS of water while on the 'patch'. I found that if I was tempted to smoke, drinking a glass of coolish (not cold though) water and then immediately having a ciggie made me feel sick to my stomach. :eek: My own inexpensive 'aversion therapy' and it worked!

For anyone else trying to quit: they found 3 large blood clots in my right lung, rendering it virtually useless for the most part and esp. when I'm exerting myself. I will be on anticoagulants for the rest of my life. I now have no prescription health care benefits. So please, quit while you can, especially if you are young.

best of luck to you HE
**Peg**

[HighEnergy]

Thank you to all of you who answered. This is one of those things in life that I want to accomplish, damn it! The funny thing is, I started smoking again in order to get off the antidepressants! Nicotine is the best antidepressant there is according to a shrink I had many years ago, who actually asked me to start smoking again when I got really depressed once. So it's a vicious cycle. I really wanted off the antidepressants 1 year after my divorce and I stupidly thought, oh, smoking for a couple of weeks will be ok! Haa!

My mother is on oxigen and I don't want to end up like her! I'm going to my medical doctor today to see what she's got to say on the subject. She's very understanding of the fact I don't have health care and been very good about getting my meds for free from the drug companies, so we'll see.

I thank you for sending me prayers and powerful thoughts of being free from this demon!

Oh and Peg, I find smoking energizing!

[12voltman59]

Good luck High Energy in your trying to lick cigarettes--I did it--it only took me about ten years before I totally gave up all tobacco products including cigars and dip--that was the hardest to lick I think--yes--I used to do that form of chew tobacco!!!!:crosseye: It gives ya a real kick!!

It does seem that getting off an addiction to tobacco is one of the hardest of all addictions to quit and its not merely a matter of shear willpower----researchers have found that nicotine--like the addictive compounds in things like cocaine and heroin--actually changes the chemistry of the brain such that you really can't "live without it."

Good luck in trying to quit smoking--it is much better for ya that you do---you may have to get the patch and do that for a time---I know plenty of people that the patch helped lick this addiction.

[jo69guy]

Good Luck to all who are trying to quit! Chantix worked for me, though I did have a few days of cravings that were difficult to get passed. Monday, I will be 8 weeks nicotine free. Chantix really does work if you really want to quit. The bad news is the cost. It runs around $125 per month, must be taken for at least three months, and some people have some bad side effects. Most prescription insurance will not help pay for it either. Only side effects I had were vivid dreams and bad flautulence. (gas) Hope this helps all who are quitting, or trying to quit. :2cents:

[Dagni]

If you really want to quit, then simply just do it.
But since you came to the point to ask yourself how to quit smoking, then don't. Maybe it's still not time for that.

[ShyBritInMI]

best way to quit is just to stop right there and then, no point cutting down. I was not a heavy smoker but I live with heavy smokers and i just decided one day just to quit just to see how long I could go...its been 2 months now and im doing fine, still have the urge to smoke as I am around 2 heavy smokers but one is in the hospital with lung problems and enphasema, so its clear to them now who made the best choice...i just hope they choose to stop too for their own good.

I feel great since quitting, it can be done....trust me!.

[GreenEyedLady(GEL)]

I love it when the light smokers and non smokers think its so freakin easy to quit smoking. Its like we truly enjoy inhaling poison. For anyone that doesn't smoke let me share something. When your addicted to cigarettes , it becomes a way of life. It is a natural stress reducer, which alone makes its so freaking difficult to quite. I say kudos to those that can quite cold turkey, or just simply quit. I was so , am so , heavily addicted to nicotine that even now If I put one in my mouth its all over. Im smoking again. There is a reason doctors perscribe antidepressants to people trying to quit !

I appreciate anyone who gives support to people who are trying to quit, but don't make it sound so simple. Drives me crazy. While we are atttempting to change our brain patterns , eating habbits , and dealing with other life stressors ( nothing a marlboro wont help ease ) were dealing with people that think smokers are low class individuals, and that we don't care enough about ourselves to not smoke. Some of you Mountain Dew drinkers, coffee drinkers, gum chewers , whatever your vice is , you try giving it up. They don't give near the boost that nicotine does.

I don't really mean to rant and rave I just find it insulting that anyone would think kicking an adictive habbit , in any form should be so easy. Thank you for listening :)

[shameless agitator]

Thank you GEL I was biting my tongue on that one, but it was pissing me off too.

[darkeyes]

Sum rite twaddle wiv a lil toucha pomposity bein talked ere... give up ther an then..no help no nowt..jeez..

Me did it in a sense.. didn use patches chewie or nicotine subs of ne kind wen me gave up... an it wos hell.. gave up in 1999..get me sel all luffly an unsmelly for the millennium me thot... well..did it gain in 2000...2001..2002.. etc etc etc.. finally gave up a cuppla years ago an havent had a ciggie since.. mayb lil naughtie stuff..but no ciggie.. but me cudnta dun it wivout the help of me partner..of me m8s..an the support me got off me mum an dad... it wos sheer hell..an no 1 shud unda-estimate the hell of tryin 2 wean yasel offa legal addiction...

Ther is help out ther for peeps if they wont it an feel they need it... an ther no shame in not bein able 2 get off baccie stuff wivout that help... yea.. give up..chuck away ya fags.. ya baccie pouch.. an suffer the agony of gettin offa nicotine... do it the extreme masochist way.. ratha than the less agonisin waya nico patches or woteva. An from wot me gathers its only marginally less agonisin but ne support ya can get..take it... mite jus b the diff tween stoppin..an still spluttrin ya guts up every mornin an smellin like an ole ash tray for the rest ofya life.. wheezin an increasinly breathless an all the nasties that go along wiv smokin.. an finally dyin in the mos ghastly agony at sum distant time in the future..

Ther no shame in usin wots out ther 2 helpya.. it can ease ya passage from pongy breath 2 sweet.. an in this day an age wen the world economy is goin down the loo, an peeps personal finance stakin a rite bashin..it mite jus helpya keep ya head above water...

To give up..do wot works for u... an gud luk 2 ya... ne who dus it...wiv or wivout help..me has the most incredible admiration forya... hell the word me uses...aint rite..its much much worse than that..an thing is..ya neva quite loses the hankerin....

[12voltman59]

Agreed.

If people really wanted to quit they would.

None of this BS with inhalers, meds, gum, and patches.

My husband was a chainsmoker, smoked at least 2-3 packs a day, and one day he decided to quit and he hasn't smoked since and that was 5 years ago.

Well Flexi---while it is certanly true that some individuals successfully cease smoking "cold turkey"---that is a rather small percentage of the total of those who try to repeatedly quit and fail time and again to do so----just like some people can get off of heroin or cocaine after they get past the withdrawal period--but my point is that there is a high degree of addictive characteristics of nicotine that make it very tough for most people to do---just because your husband was one of the few who successfully quit cold turkey---his is more of a case of being the exception rather than the rule and you cannot infer that such is the case for all individuals and make such a generalized and sweeping statement such as you stated.

I do congratulate your husband on his accomplishment--that is something to be proud of.

http://www.marijuanalibrary.org/NYT_addictive_080294.html

http://www.lycaeum.org/drugwar/addnic.html

http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/nicotine2.html

According to a statistic pulled from the report in the above link: "Unfortunately, only about 6 percent of people who try to quit are successful for more than a month."

The report in the link above is from an article done by the US Federal Government's National Institute of Drug Abuse on this subject. (The NIDA is a division of the National Institutes of Health)

I guess it is my bleeding heart liberal nature that spurs me to talk about the ways that medical research have found that nicotine and other addictive substances do play on the body that make it tough to quit---so I am willing to give people a break and say that they should not beat themselves up when they can't seem to beat such things by willpower alone when they do see others seemingly being able to beat addictions by willpower alone---there are always exceptions to everything.

Knowing that there are the changes that take place in the body due to the introdcution of addictive substances----that does not downplay the importance of the desire by the addicted person to quitting that addiction--it plays a big role without doubt.

For those who for whatever reason, are not capable of beating an addiction by shear willpower and determination alone----that you may need to use other techniques and methods to quit is no failure----if you are determined to quit---and I mean really determined to quit---you will---even the best techniques, medications, intervention and "12-Step" programs" etc. meant to help people quit their addictions are pretty much worthless unless the person who says they want to quit--won't quit until they really truly do decide to make a deal with themselves that---"that is it--I am done with this!!!"

As we used to say in probation and parole work---"you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it!"--

[csrakate]

I love it when the light smokers and non smokers think its so freakin easy to quit smoking. Its like we truly enjoy inhaling poison. For anyone that doesn't smoke let me share something. When your addicted to cigarettes , it becomes a way of life. It is a natural stress reducer, which alone makes its so freaking difficult to quite. I say kudos to those that can quite cold turkey, or just simply quit. I was so , am so , heavily addicted to nicotine that even now If I put one in my mouth its all over. Im smoking again. There is a reason doctors perscribe antidepressants to people trying to quit !

I appreciate anyone who gives support to people who are trying to quit, but don't make it sound so simple. Drives me crazy. While we are atttempting to change our brain patterns , eating habbits , and dealing with other life stressors ( nothing a marlboro wont help ease ) were dealing with people that think smokers are low class individuals, and that we don't care enough about ourselves to not smoke. Some of you Mountain Dew drinkers, coffee drinkers, gum chewers , whatever your vice is , you try giving it up. They don't give near the boost that nicotine does.

I don't really mean to rant and rave I just find it insulting that anyone would think kicking an adictive habbit , in any form should be so easy. Thank you for listening :)
AMEN, sister!!!

[sdnaustin]

I quit about four years ago...four years ago this Memorial day actually...and I tried several times before. But, you don't want to use my method, it wasn't intentional, but it ended up working. I got Strep. I tried to smoke, it hurt like all hell, and I had to go cold turkey for a week until the Strep was gone...since the last few cigarettes were painful, I didn't miss them once I was over the nicotine withdrawl.

[Skater Boy]

If you're absolutely determined to quit smoking, then systematically try every possible method that you think might work. But it might help to think about the psychodynamics of it all in the process... for example, if you say that you get "depressed/suicidal" without cigarettes, then why is that? And what exactly do the cigarettes give you that alleviates this feeling? If its just a case of nicotine dependance, then obviously try alternative sources of nicotine (ie. gum, patches, etc). Or if, perchance, you think it might be some sort of chemical imbalance in your brain, then your doctor might be able to substitute the nicotine you usually gain from the cigarettes with another drug (should you feel the need to take it that far). If its neither of the two, then I guess you'll need to do some self-searching to find out what the problem is.

I must admit, I didn't have much trouble quitting the habit... especially after my grandmother died of cancer. But, in some social situations, when everyone else is smoking, and they pass me the pack, its tempting just to try one again. I usually regret it if I do though.

Good luck!

[Iowabiguy]

I love it when the light smokers and non smokers think its so freakin easy to quit smoking. Its like we truly enjoy inhaling poison. For anyone that doesn't smoke let me share something. When your addicted to cigarettes , it becomes a way of life. It is a natural stress reducer, which alone makes its so freaking difficult to quite. I say kudos to those that can quite cold turkey, or just simply quit. I was so , am so , heavily addicted to nicotine that even now If I put one in my mouth its all over. Im smoking again. There is a reason doctors perscribe antidepressants to people trying to quit !

I appreciate anyone who gives support to people who are trying to quit, but don't make it sound so simple. Drives me crazy. While we are atttempting to change our brain patterns , eating habbits , and dealing with other life stressors ( nothing a marlboro wont help ease ) were dealing with people that think smokers are low class individuals, and that we don't care enough about ourselves to not smoke. Some of you Mountain Dew drinkers, coffee drinkers, gum chewers , whatever your vice is , you try giving it up. They don't give near the boost that nicotine does.

I don't really mean to rant and rave I just find it insulting that anyone would think kicking an adictive habbit , in any form should be so easy. Thank you for listening :)

I might have come off a tad bit Pollyannaish at the end of my post but I give TOTAL support and understanding to anyone who is trying to quit. I know that stopping smoking is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT for most people. My aged aunt recently died while on oxygen at home. She would turn off the oxygen and smoke a cigarette and then turn it back on. Is that crazy or what?!? Is that not the definition of an addict?
My brother is a belligerent heavy smoker who believes that second-hand cigarette smoke does not hurt anyone. I have seen him blow his smoke in the direction of small children, babies, and old people and shrug his shoulders. He thinks that he is only hurting himself and that he is not addicted. Of course, now he is really mad that Iowa has joined many other states in passing strict anti-smoking laws. Sadly, someday, I won't be surprised if he reprises my aunt's home scene.
I am happy when anyone quits smoking because it is better for them and their loved ones but I would be ecstatic if my brother would quit smoking.

[frenchvikki]

I might have come off a tad bit Pollyannaish at the end of my post but I give TOTAL support and understanding to anyone who is trying to quit. I know that stopping smoking is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT for most people. My aged aunt recently died while on oxygen at home. She would turn off the oxygen and smoke a cigarette and then turn it back on. Is that crazy or what?!? Is that not the definition of an addict?
My brother is a belligerent heavy smoker who believes that second-hand cigarette smoke does not hurt anyone. I have seen him blow his smoke in the direction of small children, babies, and old people and shrug his shoulders. He thinks that he is only hurting himself and that he is not addicted. Of course, now he is really mad that Iowa has joined many other states in passing strict anti-smoking laws. Sadly, someday, I won't be surprised if he reprises my aunt's home scene.
I am happy when anyone quits smoking because it is better for them and their loved ones but I would be ecstatic if my brother would quit smoking.
This post reminds me of the time a several years ago when I was visiting a friend in the North West of England who was hospitalised. The poor girl had to be sent home before she could be operated on because some foolish man who was on oxygen decided he would have a fly smoke. The resulting explosion and fire meant much of the hospital being evacuated and and many people's treatement delayed. I dont think there were any casualties other than the idiot smoker, but the stress and problems created for those who were being treated must have been considerable. Potentially fatal.

I am not and never have been a smoker, although my father was a heavy smoker and have great sympathy for those who find it so difficult to stop. While I applaud the anti smoking laws of the last few years I realise that in many ways this has increased the stress on people who do smoke. Many are selfish and inconsiderate when it comes to smoking, but I understand enough about nicotine to know that it is an drug addiction which will breed such behaviour and while we cannot tolerate it, we should at least attempt to understand it and make allowances, and make things as easy as we can for those who wish to stop, not unnecessarily increase the stress on them which only makes it more difficult for them. It turns my stomache when I hear people who have no understanding of what those who smoke go through show absoluteley no tolerance whatever for their addiction, and those in particular who have managed to give up, have, like the religously converted, become so much "holier than thou" that they help neither their own cause or the cause of the addicted smoker.

As a primary school teacher I have often had to call in parents whose children have been caught smoking. I do not believe in expulsion of those children although many of my colleagues do, or in their prosecution (for those of prosecutable age which is 10) as I believe this solves nothing. Some parents are very supportive, even the majority of smokers, but I have noticed an increasing number who simply do not care. Like on many matters of discipline I have even been threatened physically, and assaulted several times by parents for having the affrontery to raise the issue with them. Many, even non smoking parents, will not believe their child capable of such a sin and as good as call my colleagues and I liars.

I try to avoid being judgemental about anyone, but this is not always possible. When it comes to the health and well being of a child, often as young as 5 or 6, then I lose patience when I encounter appalling parenting. If we can somehow get parents to understand that if we can stop our children smoking when they are young, and manage to get the message across, then we do have a real chance of making their lives healthier and easier later on. It doesnt matter whether the parent is a smoker or not. The child's well-being comes before all.

[wonderer]

Originally Posted by GreenEyedLady(GEL)
I love it when the light smokers and non smokers think its so freakin easy to quit smoking. Its like we truly enjoy inhaling poison. For anyone that doesn't smoke let me share something. When your addicted to cigarettes , it becomes a way of life. It is a natural stress reducer, which alone makes its so freaking difficult to quite. I say kudos to those that can quite cold turkey, or just simply quit. I was so , am so , heavily addicted to nicotine that even now If I put one in my mouth its all over. Im smoking again. There is a reason doctors perscribe antidepressants to people trying to quit !

I appreciate anyone who gives support to people who are trying to quit, but don't make it sound so simple. Drives me crazy. While we are atttempting to change our brain patterns , eating habbits , and dealing with other life stressors ( nothing a marlboro wont help ease ) were dealing with people that think smokers are low class individuals, and that we don't care enough about ourselves to not smoke. Some of you Mountain Dew drinkers, coffee drinkers, gum chewers , whatever your vice is , you try giving it up. They don't give near the boost that nicotine does.

I don't really mean to rant and rave I just find it insulting that anyone would think kicking an adictive habbit , in any form should be so easy. Thank you for listening


I think I like you GreenEyedLady. ;) AMEN to what you said. I know for a fact it is so hard to stop. For most of us anyway. I think I'll ask my Dr. about the medication (pill) folks here are talking about.

[lookn0ver]

35years i smoked and one day i just had enough.
heres the pitch.
cravings! last for 3 mins.
you will have about 10 a day.
that equates to 30mins of heck each day.
you can do that standing on your head!
next there are triggers.
they never go away.
you deal with those one at a time...forever!
after you eat
with your coffee
after sex
on your drive to work/home
at a party
on~line
...you get the idea.
eventually you run out of reasons to love smoke and end up being
'ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE! who hate smoke.
i hate smoke...i am allergic to it...so are you!
& if you want to smoke THE SMOKE then smoke it :( just don't ask me to smoke it with you because....(please return back to the top of my post)

there is no escape from things that will kill you as you have to die from something sometime...dying from eternal life sounds almost horrible too.

i just choose to finish up smoke free is all.

when your ready so will you.

there was lots of thing i did to get ready to quit ,so don't think that it was like changing the channel on the TV ,because it was not. i fight the good fight everyday to believe in myself in the face of my peers for the choices i'd like to live by as i find out how good for me and everyone around me these choices are. there is a black and a white out there to live by ,but it is real dam hard to find and once you find a piece of the puzzle you hang on to it and do not let it go.
until such a time, you are ideally free to explore .

smoke em if you got em!:bigrin: