It's so difficult.

[SY37]

I've gotta stop smoking. I've only really been smoking heavily for 2 years and I'm only 21 but still. I've been trying to stop. Life is pretty stressful for me right now and sometimes a cigarette can be your best friend.

It's costly, and unhealthy, but feels so good when you really want one.

I've tried to stop before and i'm going to keep trying. It's really hard though. I tried going cold-turkey and only lasted about 10 days.

Just venting.

[blendermassacre]

Honestly, some of the hardest parts are the social aspects, not the physological issues. Normally people break when they're drinking, or driving, or with other smokers. If you can avoid these situations, things might be easier

[Mazatleco17]

Yep, I have a friend who is in the same situation, but he is 29!!! And been smoking for over 12 years

[mike_v_s]

I quit after 14 or 15 years. Yes, it can be a huge bitch. I ended up going with Chantix and it made the process a hell of a lot easier. I've got friends who weren't as successful with it, but you gotta figure it's worth a try.

Mike

[JimB52]

If you are really ready to quit, it's not that hard. If you're not ready, it's nearly impossible.
I don't miss it every day, but there are times when a cig looks awfully good.

[Deluge Of Sound]

As a former quitter, I can say that its a big pain in the ass, as well as one of those things that can't be rushed. From what I found, you can basically lump the process into three stages:

1. The first three days. That's the chemical addiction peacing out. That really, really, sucks.

2. The first three weeks. Here's the habits and the boredom clawing at you. Its almost worse than the chemical addiction, because these are trained habits that you've got to force yourself to ignore.

3.The first three months. The point where you re-enter society and the land of milk and honey as a non-smoker. At least, that's what I've heard, I haven't made it three months without a cigarette in a long, long time.

[SY37]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

Honestly, some of the hardest parts are the social aspects, not the physological issues. Normally people break when they're drinking, or driving, or with other smokers. If you can avoid these situations, things might be easier

This is a huge part of it. The social aspect is what getting me. That, and I always have to be doing something with my hands while I'm in social situations.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by JimB52

If you are really ready to quit, it's not that hard. If you're not ready, it's nearly impossible.
I don't miss it every day, but there are times when a cig looks awfully good.

Yup,...I quit in April and was ready for it. I have cravings but I tell myself that they only last as long as it takes to actually smoke the cigarette. Usually the craving goes away and life goes on.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

As a former quitter, I can say that its a big pain in the ass, as well as one of those things that can't be rushed. From what I found, you can basically lump the process into three stages:

1. The first three days. That's the chemical addiction peacing out. That really, really, sucks.

2. The first three weeks. Here's the habits and the boredom clawing at you. Its almost worse than the chemical addiction, because these are trained habits that you've got to force yourself to ignore.

3.The first three months. The point where you re-enter society and the land of milk and honey as a non-smoker. At least, that's what I've heard, I haven't made it three months without a cigarette in a long, long time.

That sums it up for me for me as well.

I started casually at 14. Full time at 16. At around 20 I quit
for a year. The stress of a set of very difficult junior year
finals at a very difficult college got me. Back on k00ls, 2 packs
a day.

At age 30, I caught a really bad cold. Coulndn't breathe hardly
for 3 days. By the time I could inhale again, I was off,
so I said what the heck, may as well quit.

Then came that next, fidgety, busy period. I chewed a pencil,
played with a pencil, and played guitar and bass when I wasn't
working.

One thing working for me was that I HAD MADE UP MY MIND
to quit. None of this, 'I will take a pill or a patch or rationalize
a crutch' BS.

This is about pure willpower. If you MAKE UP YOUR MIND to
do this, you will. If you don't, you won't.

You decide where you want to be at. I have friends with
serious health issues. Friends that I suggested should stop.

Listen, I'm not their mother, nor yours. I can't tell you what
to do nor them. I just know that for me it came down to
making the decision.

I'm happy with my decision, it was one of the best single
things I have ever done in my life. I look back at it as a great
personal success.

Make yours and live with it.

[blendermassacre]

Originally Posted by Thor

That sums it up for me for me as well.

I started casually at 14. Full time at 16. At around 20 I quit
for a year. The stress of a set of very difficult junior year
finals at a very difficult college got me. Back on k00ls, 2 packs
a day.

At age 30, I caught a really bad cold. Coulndn't breathe hardly
for 3 days. By the time I could inhale again, I was off,
so I said what the heck, may as well quit.

Then came that next, fidgety, busy period. I chewed a pencil,
played with a pencil, and played guitar and bass when I wasn't
working.

One thing working for me was that I HAD MADE UP MY MIND
to quit. None of this, 'I will take a pill or a patch or rationalize
a crutch' BS.

This is about pure willpower. If you MAKE UP YOUR MIND to
do this, you will. If you don't, you won't.

You decide where you want to be at. I have friends with
serious health issues. Friends that I suggested should stop.

Listen, I'm not their mother, nor yours. I can't tell you what
to do nor them. I just know that for me it came down to
making the decision.

I'm happy with my decision, it was one of the best single
things I have ever done in my life. I look back at it as a great
personal success.

Make yours and live with it.

So you have the pig smoking for you then...

[SY37]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Yup,...I quit in April and was ready for it. I have cravings but I tell myself that they only last as long as it takes to actually smoke the cigarette. Usually the craving goes away and life goes on.

Yup... when I get a craving I just say "I'll have one later" and say it again when I get the next one. This only works for so long for me though....

[Solarmist]

I quit after 20 years with patches in "02", and haven't had one since. At times I wanted to tear the patch off, roll-it-up, and smoke it!

The 1st three weeks is hardest - after that it gets easier, and they start to stink!

BTW ....... you CAN do it!

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by SY37

Yup... when I get a craving I just say "I'll have one later" and say it again when I get the next one. This only works for so long for me though....

That's literally what it takes,...just keep putting it off. Limit yourself to only smoking outdoors and then when you get a craving tell yourself you have more important things that you could be doing.

The cravings get less and less,...

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by SY37

I've gotta stop smoking. I've only really been smoking heavily for 2 years and I'm only 21 but still. I've been trying to stop. Life is pretty stressful for me right now and sometimes a cigarette can be your best friend.

Do it. Quit right now. Get up and throw the poison sticks in the trash. Say to yourself "I choose not to voluntarily suck this particular poison into my body." You're young, you can do it. It only gets harder the longer you wait.

Do you have anyone in your life who loves you? Parents, siblings, friends, significant other? Kids? Picture all those people standing around a fresh pile of dirt, and a headstone with your name on it. Most of them crying.
Melodramatic, I know. Keep that picture in the back of your mind, and when you feel like a smoke, bring it out to the front.

Sorry, I get a bit worked up about this subject. Cigarettes are poison, pure and simple.

Here's a thing that helped me: a box of wooden matches. When I felt like a smoke, I put a match in my yap and chewed on it. That gave my mouth something to do.
I quit at 21, and that was 33 years ago.

DO IT NOW!!

[SelenaBassGirl]

I have quit and started back so many times. I told myself I have one year to quit. I just turned 39 and want to quit before I hit 40.
My father had lung cancer. I found out around my birthday last year (Nov). He ended up having cancer in the brain too. On Christmas morning he was admitted to the ER cause he had fluid in his lungs. He ended up getting a blood clot in his lungs and died 3 days after Christmas. This is the first Christmas without him.
I believe my aunt had it too (his sister).
So I really need to. It's hard. I am gonna try.
I am also gonna think this too:
I have GAS. So think of every time I want a cig gonna put a dollar in a jar. I mean to think of how much I would be saving?? then I can use money saved on bass gear!

[PSPookie]

Take it in steps. First cut down your smoking until you get to as few cigs a day as you can reliably maintain. This was around 5/day for me. Then get yourself the patch or the gum or some losenges to help. Since your smoking will already be at a decreased level you won't have to start with the 10 losenges a day that they recommend you can start much lower. Gradually lower your consumption of gum losenges until you get down to one or two a day and then quit those.

The gum/losenge process should be done slowly so that by the time you get ready to quit them you haven't had a smoke in about a month, helping to break you of the habit while easing your body off of the drug. The you just need to be careful about the situations you put yourself in for the next few weeks. Try to avoid places and activities that you strongly associate with smoking.

After that it's just the (not so simple) matter of staying quit. The thing that stops me from picking up a pack when things get hectic is that I don't want to have to quit again as it wasn't particularly fun.

Anyhow, that's what worked for me. It may or may not work for you, but best of luck in your endeavour.

[XtreO]

[Phalex]

I quit years ago! Except when I go to the bar. Which is like every weekend. Something about playing in a smoky club just doesn't feel right without lighting up myself.

(The band and I are making a compact for New Years. It'll hopefully be easier if we're all on board)

[alfredpunkjazz]

I am 24 and have been smoking heavily for about 10 year, no joking here... I starting to feel the real issues of smoking and I think I'm ready to quit, but man is so heavy just thinking about it...

[SnoMan]

I don't really even want to post in here because starting yesterday I stopped smoking at work and will be slowing down a lot until New Years when I actually quit. I'm starting massage therapy school in January, so there's really no choice...which is helpful.

I quit successfully for 8 months once. It was nice when I was able to notice that I wasn't coughing anymore. Then I had to quit a job while working four hours from home and was angry enough on the ride back that I was wanting to do something unhealthy. So, I stopped at a gas station and grabbed a pack of Camels. I should have picked something less habit forming.

Basically, from my previous successful experience I found that removing the thought of cigarettes from your mind is the best way to go. After January, I don't want to think about cigarettes. I don't want to think about substitutes. I won't allow the fact that I'm quitting to remain on my mind. I won't be smoking cigarettes and that's that. End of story.

The more you think about it, the harder it is.

Do or do not. There is no try. (if you prefer taking advice from yoda)