Quitting smoking, any advice?

[meanmrcustard]

They don't have Newports here, but whenever I'm in the States, it's all I smoke, so I can pretend to be in the Wire.

America seems to like Menthols way more than we do here.

[Rebel]

They don't have Newports here, but whenever I'm in the States, it's all I smoke, so I can pretend to be in the Wire.

America seems to like Menthols way more than we do here.

most defenently.

[wormcode]

deffinitly, your subconscious is always telling you that its so much harder than what it is.
When i stopped i had been smoking for 5 years and went cold turkey, had no problems just because i really wanted it
dont get me wrong i believed i was addicted as id previously 'tried' to give up but couldnt last more than a week at a time

I get what you mean, but keep in mind people are really different case by case. I've done loads of drugs, but never had the need or want to do it again the next day. Cigarettes included. Can smoke 4 or 5 in a day if the occasion 'calls for it' (night with friends who are smokers or something), and not smoke again for 2 months. Smoked weed every day for a year, just stopped and it's been over 6 months by now. Done that a few times over the years. Some people just cannot shake it without major help though, sometimes not at all. Got a close friend who gets addicted to anything and everything. Crack, heroin, cigarettes, weed, JWH, food... it's just wired into some people whether it's a type of personality disorder/trait or genetic predisposition or both. I have alcoholic family members, but I seem to have lucked out in the addiction department thankfully.

[hayze99]

I can't smoke straight cigarettes. There's something in them that makes me sick to my stomach with just a pull. All about Golden Virginia. 4 squid for a 50g packet in Spain. Lasts forever.

[waki]

cold turkey! i stopped 7 montsh ago after 11 years of smoking. it's still hard tbh... but well worth it.

[Soiree]

It's the fucking devil.
I've been smoking off and on for 6 years.
but the past 2 years have been a steady climb to 5-10 a day.
I smoked two cigs a day for years, then when I started making money dealing herb, my intake sky rocketed.
last year I was really broke and still managed to increase my habit. took what little money I had.
I have Bi-Polar and as the result of some manic behavior, a few things to be depressed about.
Smoking is dealing with depression, but I know it only a matter of time before I kick the stick myself.
A very close friend of mine just quit after 17 years, and if he can do it, so can I.

I just wish I didn't love the whole vibe of stimulant abuse.
Coffee and Smoking and Portishead is my JAM, every day, some days, all day.

I have a pack out now, I'll taper off with this one, thin it out as much as possible, and then quit at the end.

[idontreallygiveashit]

Interested to see what hayze99 said about his habit having negligible effects.

Are you a healthy person otherwise? Exercise and that? Also, how old are you? I'm just curious because as we've been told for years that CIGARETTES WILL FUCKING KILL YOU ARGH but to say they have negligible effects just shocked me if i'm honest. I mean, i realised the people who get cancer/bronchitis and all sorts of other shit probably smoke insane ammounts, but i always thought i was doing something detrimental.

And i'll probably cave in when i move out - currently living with 'rents and they couldn't know i was smoking. But when i get the house to myself and i'll just have one during the day (regular - one in the morning, one before bed) because it started as a nice treat. Now it's like "well im bored and alone, wank or a cigarette?". Then both.

My god, writing this down, reckon i might get some serious addiction and ill effects.

[meanmrcustard]

Smoking even 1-4 cigarettes a day will increase your chances of getting loads of awful shit. They did a massive study in Norway I think it was.

Found it: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/14/5/315.full

Thing is, the people in that study are older (35-49), and what the study doesn't seem to discuss in detail is exactly how dangerous it is. Okay, so my risk of heart disease is tripled i think compared to not smoking at all, but if that's only taking it from 1 in 10000 to 3 in 10000 I might be willing to take that risk. I'd also want to know how dangerous it is compared to smoking say 10 or 20 a day, rather than compared to not smoking at all.

But I guess the point of the study is to say there is no 'safe' amount of smoking, even if you smoke a tiny amount, it's going to be more dangerous than smoking none, but I guess that's kinda obvious.

As for quitting, i don't think I'll ever completely stop, the thought of never ever having another cigarette makes me kind of sad. I enjoy it. What I intend on doing is making my habit so infrequent that the ill effects are minimised. If I were to tell myself I will never have another cigarette for as long as I live, I will crack. Straight away.

Oh, also. Anyone tried the Allen Carr book?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Eas ... 0140277633

It's supposed to be magic. Something ridiculous like 95% success rate. Mate of mine read the book, smoked while reading it. But once he finished, he put the book down, and hasn't smoked for about 5 years since.

[scspkr99]

I tried the Allen Carr book about 17 years ago and it worked for about 3 months till I had nothing else to smoke and grabbed a cigarette during an argument. It's ok and it deals with the non physical addiction components of smoking pretty well but as with all things to give up you have to really want to.

It's not uncommon to find occasional recreational smokers but it's pretty rare in my experience to find someone that never graduates beyond that. It's insidious and creeps up, most reasons people grab for a cigarette increase in frequency whether it's boredom or stress or whatever. Smokers are kind of marginalised which results in going for more frequent smokes when you are out or smoking more than 1 when in a smoking area.

If you want to smoke are happy with the cost then work away I would have been there for years, if you think it's going to be a simple case of giving up or never getting really addicted then reconsider.

[meanmrcustard]

I tried the Allen Carr book about 17 years ago and it worked for about 3 months till I had nothing else to smoke and grabbed a cigarette during an argument. It's ok and it deals with the non physical addiction components of smoking pretty well but as with all things to give up you have to really want to.

Y'see, that's the thing. Doesn't the Allen Carr method describe itself as something that works without the need for will power? I don't know too much about the detail to be honest, but not needing will power seems simultaneously really good and really far-fetched.

[scspkr99]

I think the thing is you have to be open to his suggestions. It's a pretty intelligent approach because it looks as if he is taking the work out of it but the really wanting to give up is what opens you up to his suggestions.

[jameshk]

Cold turkey is the way to go, I very rarely smoke now. Only if i've had a few drinks.

[idontreallygiveashit]

Reading through this thread just makes want to spark up.

[magma]

I'm pulling the anti-gwa and getting stricter on the weed-only rule. I've never considered myself a smoker, but too many rollies have been finding their way to my lips recently... it's really only the one first thing in the morning on the way to the Tube that's going to be difficult.

Also, can we discuss filters on spliffs? Do they really stop you getting as high or is that just a stoner myth? I might have to give it the Pepsi challenge...

[Electric_Head]

I`ve only ever had 3 cigs in one night.
It made me sick and I never bothered again.

[idontreallygiveashit]

Also, can we discuss filters on spliffs? Do they really stop you getting as high or is that just a stoner myth? I might have to give it the Pepsi challenge...

Yeah, i dont really get how it would do... i mean, the active chemicals are going to be able to slip through the gaps, right? I think its just that you wont get that high, because you need to take harder drags for less smoke. If you have ever smoked an unfiltered cigarette then you'll realise the difference (head will be swimming), and i guess its the same sort of thing for spliffs?

I dunno though, i just made that shit up/

[Dead Rats]

I bought a really good electronic cig that for sure helps you, but I enjoy smoking a bit too much to cut it out at the mo. Also, when a man be getting stressed at work or with the wifey, the e-cig doesn't give the same relief. But for sure if you're serious, I can give you a link/post a picture of what I'm on about, because there's loads of e-cigs out there and alot of them are a bit wank.

[idontreallygiveashit]

E-cigs aren't even recommended by the NHS and other medical associations, right?

[joeki]

1) Stay away from E-cigs. I've watched a mate go completely mental because of them. Also started developing allergies all of a sudden, to the strangest things, like fruit. Plus they too are really addictive (its even easier to spark them up). I don't trust fluid that gets chemically manufactured in China.

2) (paper) Filters on spliffs are mandatory for me. I find any other way to be simply disgusting. If a filter makes you "less" high, then you're simply buying shitty skunk. No cig filters though, that's just ridiculous.


3) I need to quit smoking too, I'll do it when I'm ready. Don't smoke a lot during the week. I need one before I go to bed but often do without them during the day. The weekends are what's bothering me. I can smoke up to a pack a day during the weekend and have another pack last me 10 weekdays easily.

[jazzamataz]

For anyone that rolls:

Buy a pack of clementines. They're your new cigarettes.

rolling = peeling them
smoking = eating them, piece by piece.

DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO SHOVE THE WHOLE THING IN YOUR MOUTH.

It should take roughly the same amount of time as smoking the cigarette does
if you do it right and eventually you will be able to wean yourself off the
oranges once your brain has clicked. Should take 3-4 weeks.