My Last Cigarette!

[Colonâ„¢]

I will. Because I've been succeeding to quit smoking for almost 3 months already. With a cold turkey. I even had a full pack of cigs and a smoking mother near me during it. I even went to parties during it. And the best thing is that I hadn't made any preparations for this what-so-ever. Hence quitting has been a great boon for my self-esteem. I'm strong. And accordingly, a failure implies that you guys are losers. Simple as that.

[Winston]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Ominous silence on this thread...

Pekka, we need a status report. You too, Winston.

I, for one, will not mock you if you faltered.

I'm still on it, haven't smoked now in nearly 6 days. As I posted in another thread however, it's about all I have room for in my life at this point. I have to focus extremely hard on staying on this narrow path that I've gone down, and I've cut all but the most necessary activities from my life so as not to tempt myself into smoking.

Not a fun thing to go through by any means, but contrary to my feeling about this just a couple of days ago, I'm now confident that I will make it, I will complete my transformation into a non-smoker. But it will probably take months before I can safely say to myself that I've made it.

BTW, I decided not to keep posting every day in this thread. It might get tiresome to some. I'll reply if people ask how I'm doing, otherwise I will not post on this subject.

[-Jrabbit]

Way to go, man!

[Lancer]

"Me, I'm close to entering day 4 now, and I think I'm coping quite well. It has really surprised me how, apart from the first day, the withdrawal symptoms have actually not been as bad as I had anticipated. Of course I have trouble being without it often during the day, and the hours seem to snail away sometimes when I focus too much on the craving that's still very much present. But overall, I think it's going better than expected."

Winston, this is great! Now it's six days.

Excellent. Now stick with it. Alot of people who don't suffer too much early on will get cravings several months out. Cravings that catch them by surprise, when they think it's been so long they can have just one...

Six days out though, that's really something, and encouraging to others.

[Colonâ„¢]

In my case I found it very helpful to maintain a short-term view. First I just wanted to leave aside the cancerstick for a day because my lungs were feeling disgustingly. That wasn't very easy but I managed. And since I felt it'd been a shame to just lit another one after that struggle, I decided to go for an entire week without. The weekend would be my reward. During the weekend, again I felt it'd be a shame to just pick up my habit, so I prolonged abstinence for yet a little while longer.
And when I decided to say "I'm quitting", it already was the case for a big part. (I had largely kicked the habit and my natural distaste of cig-smoke had resurfaced)

The point being: while I was struggling I wasn't preoccupied with the thought that I was quitting. I wasn't thinking "oh crap I never can smoke again", but I was thinking "I still can smoke, I'm just leaving them aside for a while". And I think that made a big psychological difference. (it was the first time I tried quitting though, so I can't really tell)

[Japher]

My company makes NicoDerm, and I can therefor get it at a discount. I just picked up 2 week supply for myself, and a 2 week supply form my wife. I see some Nicotrol here on the desk that she must of gotten as well. I start Friday at Midnight.

[Winston]

Good luck to both of you, Japher.

It looks like this thread has really set off some serious thoughts - and decisive action - with some of us. I'm so glad this happened at just the right time.

[Japher]

Thanks Winston. I am starting tomorrow at Midnight, my time... I know, do it now. I need to psyche myself out.

When we stop smoking, wifey and I are having a kid... I really want to have a kid. I'm 30 here soon, and it is time.

I have motivation, and I have means.

Actually went in to get life insurance, and found that it is $1000 more/year to insure a smoker than a non, so I am dedicated.

I will need you help, as well as Pekka's strong head... Speaking of stubborness, I will probably call upon GePap as well as a couple of fewls over at CG... I need to quit!

[Lancer]

"In my case I found it very helpful to maintain a short-term view. First I just wanted to leave aside the cancerstick for a day because my lungs were feeling disgustingly. That wasn't very easy but I managed. And since I felt it'd been a shame to just lit another one after that struggle, I decided to go for an entire week without."

Colon, this is the best way to quit the damned things. I had the flu and my damaged lungs had a hard time just breathing. My addiction became extra clear to me as I tried to smoke and it just made things worse. So, I stopped while I was sick and was both sick and in withdrawl. It took three days to recover from the flu and by then I felt I didn't want to waste all that withdrawl, and stuck with quitting with the loving support of my wife. Like you, I didn't want to start again after several days without.

[Natalinasmpf]

Hmph.

No one is going to try my doublethink strategy?

[aneeshm]

What happened to Pekka ?

[-Jrabbit]

That's the burning question. I fear the worst...

[Japher]

bump!

Day one on the patch! It suks!

[Pekka]

OK. I cracked with teh first one.. at the end of Day 3 I totally lost it. I smoked. Then I went out cold turkey again the next morning. That lasted for little over one day.. then I smoked, and now I'm on new attempt. It's stupid because you have to start from the beginning, when you have smokde so little in a week, but still, it don't count really... I'm craving too. Badly. And my temper is kind of short too.

[Japher]

It really suks for me because wifey is quiting too... and the amount we fight normally is now increased as we are both feigning bad.