**HELP WITH SMOKING PLEASE?..well your thoughts anyway

[Peterlock]

Hi Folks, :wave

I feel kind of silly writing this...my addiction history is pretty much an open book off line and on. So anyone who has read my posts on the issue would pretty much have an idea of past battles.

Well, today is day 5 without a cigarette and it's murder!

I am using the nicoderm patch and the gum once in a while but it's the emotional dependence I guess..I keep reaching for my cigs...looking ashtrays ( I threw them all out)

I did quit once before, for six years but went back with a fervor like anything else with me I can't have just one, one cigarette lead to 2-3 packs a day in record time.

I's strange, my motivation to stick to Atkins by the book is unshakable, my commitment to exercise and nutri-supplements the same..but it's different with smoking, the motivation to continue quitting is really questionable.

For the record, I know their terrible, I know the anti smoking argument and the data it's built on...I'm rambling! sorry about that..just having a bad I need a cigarette more than I care to admit moment

Peter ha

[ravenfan]

Peter,
I am a smoker who is trying to quit too. I have done everything you have and am miserable myself. Getting rid of ashtrays, etc, is a great idea. I have tried the patch, the gum, nothing seems to work for me either. The only time I have quit is when I was pregnant. But after my baby was born, I went right back to it. The only thing that is helping me right now is exercising alot more. Doing that makes me realize just how bad ciggies are. I am down to just a couple a day at the moment. I wish I had better advice for you but I just want you to know that I am in the same boat. I am not ashamed to admit that I smoke, I just want to quit, and quit for good. I think my biggest problem is that my entire family and husband smoke as well, and most likely will continue to. Do you have that problem as well?
Kim

[Peterlock]

Hi RavenFan, :wave

Thanks so much for you response and I defiantly know what it feels like. My partner Sean smokes but it's not an issue for him and he'll go days without smoking, when he does smoke he goes outside.

As for me, I'm lost without cigarettes and conflicted.

From a political perspective I respect any persons right to smoke, I despise that we have demonized smoking to such a monumental extent and excuse the pun but it's a smoke screen to avoid dealing with other issues like prescription drug addiction awareness, Obesity, AIDS..and the list goes on and on..

From a Personal perspective I hate what they're doing to me...having been clean and sober for 5 years I remember the constant work it took me to get there, and the pain of it all. But with this..I just don't know..right after I posted this note I went and did my 2 mile walk and what did I crave more than anything afterwards?

Yep!

There are people like Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross, the famous psychiatrist and research expert who dealt exclusively with death and dying - she was a world renowned champion of the rights for the terminally ill, a brilliant person and wrote over 20 books on these issues. Her most famous "On Death and Dying" I read back in college 25 years ago and still remains required reading in most any Psychology class. She smoked right up until the end of her life and defended it with a passion, she died last year at 78.

As usual I'm lost as to my point, I guess it's that I'm so torn between wanting to smoke and not apologizing for it - I never have, and not wanting to smoke for reasons that are so complex I don't really understand them all.

Anyway please excuse the long post...if you ever need an ear or to vent I hope you won't think twice about letting me know.

Here's a site that's worth taking a look at if you haven't seen it already.

https://www.whyquit.com

Peter ha

[theredhead]

Oh, Peter, just hang in there. I can't imagine how tough it must be for you, not having been a smoker. But I saw an uncle die of emphysema from smoking. He told my children, after his diagnosis, "Anyone who smokes is a damn fool!" I'm glad you're not one!

[ravenfan]

Peter,
I hadn't been to whyquit.com, but now I have. Boy, am I in tears after reading some of those stories. I thank you for pointing that site out to me. I am very familiar with Dr. Ross's work, but did not know of her personal choices with smoking, very interesting. Isn't it tragic, yet strangely interesting how some people smoke their entire lives and are still going strong, yet some die so young from tobacco use. My friends and family defend their smoking habit always. I don't, I want to quit so bad, but keep puffing anyway and don't know why. Here in Maryland smoking in bars and restaurants is still legal, but the time is coming soon when it will not be. I think most states will go that way, if not already. Cigarettes are legal, people still smoke, and people will always smoke. Congrats on being sober for so long, that is a wonderful accomplishment in itself. I also crave nicotine after exercising for some reason. After reading about some others experience with wellbutrin, I think I might try that and see if it will work. Have you thought of using wellbutrin as well? I know you are very miserable now, but try,try,try to keep going without your ciggies. 5 days is amazing considering how much you used to smoke every day. You have support on this board, and I will be glad to help out anytime. I have seen many of your posts and consider them very insightful.

[Laurenfra]

Peter I so wish I had some great words of wisdom for you. I don't I offer you a hug :hug and well wishes.

[goin2Bgood]

Hi ravenfan,

I smoked for 22 years and I knew no way in **** was I ever going to stop. Then I started Atkins and read about how this lady named Brook quit smoking and started Atkins on the same day. I thought she was nuts, but she's at goal and still smoke-free. She posted recently here near the end of this thread about it. Three others also quit smoking during that first time I did Atkins, and all three read the book Brook suggested.

What made an impression with me is that their quits were all relatively painless (at least from what I expected). I couldn't even go an hour without a smoke, much less a day. I decided I wanted what they had and picked up the book for myself. After reading DANDR reading this book is a walk in the park but it made an impression. Before I finished I knew I was going to quit smoking and felt at peace with it. The day after I finished the book I quit. That was 1 year and a handful of months ago. Since then I know 2 people in "real" life (not online) who also quit after reading the book and are still not smoking. It's a cheap book and well worth looking in to, especially if you're struggling.

The book is Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Stop Smoking." My paperback copy was around $8. If you can't afford it I'll send you a copy, I feel that strongly about it (the offer is for you too ravenfan, just like it was for Peter). Just PM me. Allen Carr is an English author and is better known in Europe than he is here in the States, so I've included the Amazon.UK reviews in the links. You'll see the B&N reviews are from an older revision of his book, but the newer revision is out and it's basically the same. There aren't as many reviews tied to the newer release yet. I always wondered why they didn't combine reviews when a book goes in to a newer revisions? It's the same book!

Anyway give these a read. You'll find them more compelling than I ever could be (and the reviews, along with knowing others who had used the book, were what sold me!):

Amazon.com UK Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking 311 reviews

Barnes & Noble Easy Way to Stop Smoking (older edition) 161 reviews

Barnes & Noble Easy Way to Stop Smoking Revised and Updated Edition 19 reviews