Quitting smoking

[Menacewarf]

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping some of you can offer me some of your experiences quitting smoking. What worked for you?

How did you cope with the urge to smoke when you were done playing and every hormone and endorphin is set to full blast and suddenly; no more music and no addictive habit to fall back to for comfort?

When I was a bit younger (and didn't really have music in my life) their was a combination of "young man invincibility," and a kind of sad pessimism. Not quite on a depression scale but in a way that kept me from worrying about a, "a few years give or take as a senior citizen."

Well my attitude has drastically changed (in part thanks to bass) and I want to grow old and enjoy life for as many years as possible and it's obvious to me every cigarette hinders that goal. The question is what can help me to remember this in those all too common awkward moments as a musician that cigarettes seem to fill so well?

Thanks All ,
Bryon

[Gufenov]

A divorce worked well for me. Knowing I was re-entering the dating field, I set three goals: 1)Lose weight, 2)Stop smoking, and 3)Grow some hair. I was successful at two of the three.

Seriously, there was a thread here about that very subject some time ago. For me, it was cold turkey.

[rap138]

I'm in my second month of quitting, inhalers are helping a lot and every day I'm using them less, just the first two days are the worst. Good luck!!!

[PaulCannon]

Heroin.

[Jake deVilliers]

The patch helped me deal with quitting smoking after 32 years of joyous addiction. The patch and a lot of focus and determination.

It takes a little while but its worth it. Soon you'll be smelling smokers from a mile away and then they'll start to smell bad. That's when you'll know things are turning your way.

At your age sex should be a reasonable post-gig substitute or maybe go for a run.

[NickyBass]

For me, I didn't quit for myself--I quit for my son. I might not care if I get cancer or emphazema, but he would---my wife would--my folks and siblings would.

Commit lozengers worked great for me. They curbed the cravings enough that they became bearable.

[J.D.B.]

I broke it with the "backwards-no-pressure-method". I noticed that once I "woke the dragon" I was on the sine wave for the day. I started pushing the start time off a little each day, then smoking as usual till bed time. No pressure. After about three weeks, I had the start time out to about 2:00pm and was easily able to walk away from a thirty year habit two years ago. The key for me was not "waking the dragon" too early. I DO feel better and lost that slightly gray cast smokers have to their skin. I still can't believe I did that for so long and, DEFENDED it! All the best to you and getting away from "the dragon".
Josh

[koricancowboy]

Jan 1 will be my one year anniversary of not smoking! What helped me a lot was actually a book. If you follow it like he says than reread parts every time you get the urge it's kinda like brainwashing yourself into finding it one of the most repulsive things on earth. Or something like that. Anyway here is a link to the book. http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-.../dp/1402718616
Good luck!

Cheers,
OZ

[meev992]

The trick is not to go buy them.

I haven't really made the decision yet to quit.

...For me, it's not wanting to, just yet.

or if you're smoking, you can get friend to punch you in the testicles, that should help you quit really fast.

[Menacewarf]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

At your age sex should be a reasonable post-gig substitute

Gee I Guess I need to go to a club in BC
~
Thanks for the responses. It's helpful to hear from other musicians who have quit. One of the nicotine substitutes sound like good solution for those wicked moments.

I can do about a day without but havn't got any deeper. How long does the extream irritation last?
I'm not a heavy smoker or anything. It just happens that eventually by default I will notice I am pissed as hell and then realize it's the subtle bite of withdrawl and then of course...

[salcott]

It'll be a year for me Dec. 20. I lit up a "bad" cigarette (you know, one of those with a little piece of floor sweepings or something in it) and and it was so disgusting I left a new pack and a lighter on top of a pay phone and never looked back. I had physical withdrawal symptoms for a couple of weeks. The ritualistic/habitual aspects of quitting are harder, but all I have to do now is remember how awful that last one was or smell someone when they come in from a smoke break to keep me going. I'm constantly amazed that my girlfriend-now-wife hung with me through 13 years of cigarette stank.

[Menacewarf]

Originally Posted by salcott

I'm constantly amazed that my girlfriend-now-wife hung with me through 13 years of cigarette stank.

Great for you!

It seems all ex-smokers have a heightened sensitivity to the smell. And gauging from posts above, also a revulsion, which must be needed.

Ex junkies can always spot the junkies, though with a mix of jealousy and pity.

[salcott]

The biggest danger after quitting other than the temptation to restart is resisting the urge to be a "professional nonsmoker". When I hang with the smokers, I don't ostentatiously cough, gag, or move upwind. If I'm asked how I quit, I tell the story; otherwise I mind my own business.

[anonymous02282011]

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

Heroin.

Well, that was in bad taste!

Seriously, ten years a non-smoker from rolling my own for a number of years. YOU CAN DO IT MAN!

now, even the smell of it makes me nauseous. have you tried nibbling on something lo-cal? popcorn? or even a water bottle?

[hdiddy]

I read somewhere that cold-turkey yields the best long term results. Still, good luck guys.

[Menacewarf]

Originally Posted by salcott

The biggest danger after quitting other than the temptation to restart is resisting the urge to be a "professional nonsmoker". When I hang with the smokers, I don't ostentatiously cough, gag, or move upwind. If I'm asked how I quit, I tell the story; otherwise I mind my own business.

Drives me nuts too.
I admire your pride.

[joel kelsey]

Howabout getting pregnant..... Anyways, my Grandfather quit cold turkey by chaning himself to his easy chair. He still got emphysema 30 years later. Was it from smoking? who knows? Quitting seems very hard, but I'm sure the long term results are worth it. GOOD LUCK.

[christ andronis]

Going on 13+ years since I last touched a cigarette....

Started on the patch, got a bad cold so quit wearing it cause I didn't feel like smoking anyway and then just never touched one again. This is from a pack and a half habit per day. Yes, I feel much better healthwise and in my wallet (can't imagine spending $5 + per day on a pack). However, there is a caveat. If I was told by a doctor that I only had a week to live, first thing I'd do is go out and by a pack and smoke 'em. It's an addiction like any other drug and the cravings never really go away, it just gets much easier to resist them.

Best wishes on your quest....you can do this!

Happy holidays to all on this board!

[bejoyous]

I found avoiding the situations where I'd smoke helped me. For example, when at university, I'd take a break from practicing by buying a coffee and hanging out with the smokers. After I quit, I'd make a coffee in the bass room and read something instead or hang with the non-smokers.

My Dad would put the money he would normally spend on smoking in a big jar on his bedroom dresser. It filled up fast! He'd buy himself something special every once and a while. My folks went to Florida twice on that money! (If smokes are $8 a pack --- $8 x 365 = $2920!!!)

[nortonrider]

I didn't even mess around with all of the gimmicks (patches, gum, subliminal tapes, etc).

I always knew that smoking was a stupid thing to do, and I just got to the point where I wanted to not smoke more than I wanted to smoke and quit cold turkey.