I'm ready to quit smoking...I think

I've smoked 40+ years, never really tried to quit. I've had a rough adult life and cigs were my only constant friend. I have not only been physically addicted but emotionally too. My dad nagged me through the years to stop but I knew that I needed to quit for me, not anyone else or it wouldn't work. And I knew that I had to be mentally ready to do it for real, not just try.

I am ready now. Determined, prepared, and ready to roll.

I have one pack left and won't buy any more. Going cold turkey. I feel good and excited about doing this for myself.

BUT... anxiety is creeping in. I'm dropping a friend of 40 years.

Does anyone have advice or comments? I might be whining a lot on this thread. Lol

No advice... just best wishes for great success!

It's quite natural to feel anxious, but take heart because there are a number of smoking cessation products available should you be unable to cope. Lozenges, transdermal patches and even a mouth spray are available over-the-counter at pharmacists and they welcome anyone wanting to give up, and offer what could be better for you.

If you intend going 'cold turkey', change where you smoke to another part of the house, or go outside. Avoid coffee, instead drink decaff. You could use vaping as an alternative for smoking cessation, gradually reducing the amount of nicotine like I did. My stopping smoking was relatively painless and I did manage it without undue stress.

Keeping a day-to-day diary on giving up. Getting past the first hour is hard enough, but try a second hour and see how you get on.

Good luck and keep in touch with us on your topic.

Sincere best wishes. Best thing you can do for your health overall. It can be done...you didn't always smoke and your mind/body did fine prior. (((Hugforyou))) I smoked for over 3 decades and quit 6 years ago. You can do it. It isn't a constant struggle...I'll testify to that. The urges subside and do go away.

GO FOR IT!!!!! I did it in 1988 (after a few tries) and be prepared to feel urges when "triggered"----I think that once I realized being angry was a trigger for me it was easier. Best thing I ever did (am turning 67 soonish)-----That last time I wrote down all the reasons I wanted to stop, and had things I had to do Before getting One cigarette (I had to re-read all the reasons, drive to a town 10m away, buy the most expensive pack, take out one smoke and throw the rest away before driving home and going to a small gravel pit to smoke---I think I did that 3-4 times). Sometimes (if you 'slip') making a decision, say, to not smoke in particular places (home for me) can help.
Good Choice!

I am debating this as well. I have surgery on friday and wondering if I should just slap the patch on and see what happens. I am so afraid of failure and dissapointment though.

I confess anxiety got the better of me and I got 3 more packs.

I think going cold turkey is best for me. If I try to taper I know I won't stick to it long.

Thank you all for your support ☺

Iris, don't blame yourself because we are all too human and your giving up smoking may take some time. I took about six months, but used vaping as a way to help ease the cravings. It was handy because I could vape indoors, whereas I'd have to stand in the porch if it was raining, and I'd hardly expect my daughter to tolerate any smoke.

If you fail, don't beat yourself up about it. Self-blame is no help to us and feeling guilty for giving in is only natural, but not worth getting all anxious and self-hating.

Giving up slowly and pacing yourself; now that is the key and you will give up, eventually. Remember, Rome was not built in a day.

I quit just over 10 years ago.

I had tried patches, gum etc nothing helped in the past.

I was determined so I used Chantix , you start the Med and can smoke the first week but the medication makes you literally feel sick when you light up. By day 3 I was forcing myself to light up .. like why???? But I did , nauseous the entire time.

Day 4 I woke up , light one and immediately threw it out, I was just done.

I must say I only took half the recommended dose as I have Bipolar and it has caused some people to feel suicidal.

It’s prescribed to take for about 3 months... I stopped after 3-4 weeks.

I have only had a handful of urges to smoke again.. but it was nothing I would has actually done and within a couple mins the urge was just gone.

I have become the most hypocritical ex smoker ever. Just the smell of a lite cigarette make me want to gag and the worst is how people who smoke smell... I’m literally embarrassed when I realized that I use to smell just like that. Just horrible.

I do think mentally you have to be in a mental state of “ I absolutely want to stop” for anything to work.

Good luck

I bought a calendar and have this laminated to the front of the calendar. Every time I hit a new "milestone" I celebrate by doing something nice for myself. Plus I put an X on every day I don't smoke. When I'm tempted to smoke I look at all those Xs I'm throwing away and all the "milestones" I've passed and it helps keep me strong. I also put aside the money I spent on cigarettes and use it to treat myself to things I like.

When smokers quit – what are the benefits over time?
20 minutes after quitting

Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.

12 hours after quitting

The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting

Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting

Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

1 year after quitting

The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s.

5 years after quitting

Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.

10 years after quitting

The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.

15 years after quitting

The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.