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Paul Smith wrote:Hey,
Anybody got any GOOD advice on stopping smoking (not starting isn't an option).
At the end of day 3 now and feeling pretty poor to say the least.

Paul

On 26th April 2006 in a different thread Mandrake wrote:I quit smoking 4 years ago after 37 years or so on the weed (yes, I know, all that money and potential health damage!) and it’s a straightforward process. Not easy by any means but certainly straightforward. Allen Carr’s book will give you excellent reasons to help quit – not how to quit but the reasons why and he also shows the fallacy of the usual reasons why smokers don’t manage to quit. ‘It’s my only pleasure’ – no, it’s really not very pleasant at all. ‘We all have to die some time’ True but why not after having made love all night to a bevy of beauties rather than in writhing agony as you cough your guts up and almost look forward to the release from the pain of cancer?

There are two aspects to quitting – one is to minimise the dependency on nicotine, the other (equally as hard) is to get away from the habit of smoking. These are two distinct considerations which are individually very hard to overcome and together they’re even harder but it can be done. I used Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in the form of mint lozenges – patches are fine but you don’t stick a ciggie on your arm, neither do you squirt it up your nose or chew them like gum. The action of taking out the box of lozenges, opening it, selecting one lozenge and placing it the mouth is very close to the habit action of smoking so that part continues without interuption. NRT really does work as long as you are positive about it and are prepared to see it through – 12 weeks is all you need. There are different strengths of lozenge these days so you start with a strong one for 3 weeks, then a lower strength progressively reducing the strength and the amount of times per day you use them. Beware that after about 6 weeks of success the sly Madame Nicotine can give you the idea that you are now OK and jut one puff to prove it won’t do any harm. Trust me – it will! One puff and you’re a smoker again and will need to start over. If this happens, it’s nothing to be ashamed of, just carry on and be determined to take it further this time. After 6 months is also a dangerous time – the urge to try it will be quite strong so keep some NRT handy just in case. It’s very important to reward yourself – you’ll be saving money so spend it on yourself – be selfish, you’re worth it. A fine and expensive meal, a particular CD, a new jacket, or do something which you might not normally do. Make up any silly games you like to keep yourself focussed – I kept a newspaper cutting with a photo of a certain Tory MP who is also on the board of a tobacco firm. He had a large cigar in his fat gob and a smirk on his face. I just figured he was getting all the perks of the job and a huge salary simply because I was handing over cash each day at the tobacconists. Rather than will power I used ‘hate’ power instead. I blamed him for it all and that anger was enough to keep the determination going. Daft but it worked! The pleasing aspect was that during the first year of quitting, I paid for a short holiday in Switzerland using only the money not spent on cigarettes.

Some Doctors will run quit sessions, Boots and other Chemists also run them but if there isn’t one handy, make very good use of your nearest pharmacist. They can be very supportive, may be able to provide free NRT items and will take time to discuss the pros and cons of each type. You can also try a selection of different ones to see which you prefer. NRT is vital and I’d go so far as to say it’s almost impossible to quit by going cold turkey only. Some folks do it that way but using NRT is the easier option and you need all the help you can get. For a few weeks, avoid situations and places where you usually smoke or where others smoke. This means pubs and clubs are probably out for a while. Explain to your family and mates what you’re doing and why – in many cases they will be supportive and avoid smoking when you’re around. It might also give them the idea to quit as well. Share what’s going on with others – I used the Nicotinell forum and exchanged moans and groans with many others – it really does help. Finally, you might have noticed that I refer to quitting rather than giving up. Quit is a sharp decisive word which describes exactly what’s happening, Giving up is a weak and slushy phrase and not at all supportive. In any event, as Allen Carr says , what are you giving up? Nothing, you’re actually gaining an awful lot. I’m acutely aware that it will take only one cigarette for me to be a smoker again but that’s OK, I can just say that yes I used to smoke but I don’t any more, I’ve moved on. If you’re concerned about putting on weight then take no notice. As your system will start to work more efficiently and your dulled sense of taste and smell gets back to normal, you may very well eat more and enjoy it. You can always diet - no worries but don’t try and quit and diet at the same time – failure in both is very likely!

Carr will give you the mental ammo, NRT the chemical support, and your slight change of lifestyle the extra strength to quit. Sorry for such a long sermon but it all worked for me and one or two others so it might do the same for you. Let me know if I can do anything else to help.

I won't wish you the best of luck - you've already quite clearly made the decison to quit which is a huge step in the right direction so I wish you strength and support instead. Now just carry on and quit!