How Did Ya Finally Quit?
Dear Harlan,
I really want to quit smoking, but just can't seem to get over the mental cravings. It is starting to affect my relationship with my girlfriend, because I told her I would quit. Any advice on what to do?
Smoker
 |
QUESTIONS • COMMENTS • MEDIA INQUIRIES • SYNDICATION INFORMATION: CLICK HERE All
content published and submitted to Help Me, Harlan! |
5 Comments:
Hey Smoker, This is more than mental. Most likely, you're a full-fledged addict whose body physically craves nicotine. According to the American Cancer Society, the pharmacologic and behavioral processes that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine. And it makes sense. How else could you explain grown adults hovering 10 feet outside of the doorway to a public building sucking down smoke in below-zero weather. It's a powerful fix, man. And you need to get some serious help to fix it. Yeah, yeah, there are some people who can do it cold turkey, but most take multiple attempts and most need support.
Start by talking to your doctor. Figure out what method of cessation is best for you. There are medications, tobacco replacement systems and therapies. Also, visit the American Cancer Society Web site (www.cancer.org). On the site you'll find facts, stats and a link to Quitnet (www.quitnet.org), an online 24-hour support system where you can get online help from a trained counselor. You'll also find information on Quitline, a phone number available in some states that you can call for help and support. Get started now, and instead of huffing and puffing 25 feet away in front of the doorways to public buildings this winter, you can be on the inside, breathing easy, smelling fresh, and warming up your girlfriend.
Think about how hard it is to break up with someone you have been dating a long time -- sure, there are negative things about this person you would be better off without, but what if, in some way, you could find a way to live with these negatives and only think about the positives? This is why it's so hard to quit smoking: it's like breaking up with someone who you love despite being bad for you. You know you have to, but do you REALLY have to?
If you are addicted (not everyone becomes addicted), quitting is incredibly difficult, possibly one of the most difficult challenges you will ever face. You will likely never be "ready" for it -- there will always be stressors, there will always be excuses, you will always participate in activities you associate with smoking -- so rather than waiting for that day, you simply have to make the decision.
Expect a struggle -- the cravings will still exist after you've smoked the last one, and some will be stronger than others. But again, you have made the decision to quit, so you find a way to get through the cravings.
I'm in week 8 of my third attempt at quitting. I don't beat myself up for the past unsuccessful attempts because that doesn't help me in any way to get through this one, and very few smokers can do it on the first try. Cold turkey is almost a guarantee that you will quit quitting. For this quit, I participated in a smoking cessation class, used the patch, tried the zyban (it worked for a while but then I had a bad reaction to it... it's a very helpful medication if it's right for you), and used a nictone inhaler. Again, I will not misrepresent my experience by saying it's been easy. But I'm still doing it, because I made the decision.
Lastly, to think about the harmful effects of smoking doesn't necessarily help a person to quit -- smokers know about the dangers and still do it -- we are addicts. But one concrete way to look at the benefits is to do the math and calculate how much money we're not spending on cigarettes -- it's a hefty chunk of change.
Best of luck to you!
Hmm, where to start. I unserstand the quitting thing, because I myself am a smoker and have been since I was thirteen and I am seventeen now. However, I have tried quitting several times before, but now that I am enlisted in the Navy and will be leaving for bootcamp it is making quitting easier..My advice is that not only do you need something to get you're mind off it, but also some sort of motivation ot quit other then just the desire to quit. It took me enlisting to motivate me to quit. Also when you crave it you need to find something to do. For example, I jog, write, listen to music, or skate... So when you begin to crave just do something to get your mind off it. I know the body is physically addicted, but when you take your mind off it, you will pretty much forget about it. However, don't be discouraged if at first it doesn't work because it takes a while to find the right distraction for you...
We all know smoking is hard on our health, and because we are addicted we continue to damage ourselves. The only real way to quit is to seek help in quitting. Harlan said it all and gave fantastic advise of which I will start following today, right here right now I am quitting the cigarettes that have been a part of my life ever since I was 14 and I am now 47. I have many reasons to quit, my breathing will improve, my clothes and hair and breath won't stink any more, my grandchildren will have a grandma they can play with when they visit not one that is stuck in a chair due to poor health. My focus is now on improving my health and I truly wish I had done this many many years ago.
Quiting is a hard thing to do and if your girlfriend wants you to quit let her help you. I know when I finally take that step to quit mine will be right there staring me in face helping that going to help because I don't smoke around her. the only advise i can give is to find something to do where you cant smoke or can go awhile without a cigs
Post a Comment
<< Home