A
female
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:Hello All;I've been a smoker for 15yrs and i need to quit asap. I love it but now i have this ugly raspy cough that erupts in the most inconvenient moments, let alone my discolored nails and palid skin. Should i cut down gradually or just quit 'cold turkey' so to speak? Any tips from anyone who's done it and successeded? Reply to this Question
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (17 November 2007): I am in the process of quitting by gradually cutting down. I've smoked on and off for twelve years. I smoked ten cigarettes a day at about an hour and a half or less between them. What I did, was space my cigarettes 15 minutes farther a part when I felt ready. I am now two hours between cigarettes and down to six or seven a day. When I reach 4 or 5 I plan to quit cold turkey. It really isn't as hard as it may seem. I still get cravings but try to keep my mind busy so that I don't dwell on them. The difficult part is going to be giving them up completely. I've tried the patch several times and also the gum. They worked for a while, but I always ended up smoking again. My father had part of a lung removed due to lung cancer so I do have a strong incentive to quit. I really feel for everybody out there trying to quit. Don't give up! Good Luck.
A
female
reader, mum2be  +, writes (27 February 2007):
When you need to quit smoking, and there is no option about it, it is not about having the resolutions. Yes, i know it it hard, and i am proud of you for taking that first step... which is the most difficult!
Think about why you want to quit, and write it down. Every time you feel you 'need' a fag, look at it! (It could include a photo or whatever!)
Good luck and all the best
xxx
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A
female
reader, mum2be +, writes (23 February 2007):
Cold Turkey can be very difficult to keep up to, but it depends on how quickly you need to quit. If you need to stop right away, like i did (Im pregnant) then you should try going cold turkey. If however, you have a bit longer, you are more likely to be successful if you cut down gradually. You can get patches and stuff on the NHS now, so have a talk with your GP or phone the NHS quit smoking help line.
Good luck to you!!!
xxx
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (23 February 2007): Hi. Both of my eldest kids smoked and had hypnosis, it works, they have been clear from smoking for the last two years now. Just stay away from people who smoke constantly. The new smoking laws in the UK this summer will help a lot of people. For a long time smoker then go and have the hypnosis.
Take care
xx
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (23 February 2007): I agree with the Allan Carr suggestion, I also think hypnosis is one of most successful ways of stopping smoking for good, you need to make sure you find a good experienced hypnotherapist, ideally from someone who has used them before. With hypnosis though you really have to be ready to stop and accept that you never want to smoke a cigarette again. Smoking is habit forming, it's the same as other habits, they persist because your unconscious associates the action with an emotional response, hypnosis targets your unconscious, in essence telling your mind you no longer want to smoke. I gave up smoking myself using hypnosis, it's coming up to a year now and I have never had a craving, from day one I stopped seeing myself as a smoker and I know without a doubt I'll never smoke again, powerful stuff.
I don't really recommend nicotine replacement therapy - it doesn't address the psychological reasons for why people spoke at all. It is something the health care market pushes on people, its more to do with making money than treating people for an addiction.
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A
female
reader, Carina  +, writes (23 February 2007):
 Yes, several tips! First there is an excellent book by Allan Carr about giving up smoking that has a very different approach to most books and it really helps. In there it explains why cutting down never works. Basically you need to see giving up as setting yourself free from an addiction rather than depriving yourself of something. Nicotine chewing gum is very helpful, but only use it for the first week or two otherwise you never get rid of the cravings. Work out some small treats to have when you're wanting a cigarette. I used to burn relaxing aromatherapy oils and treat myself to a good book or magazine to read, or have a luxurious bath, go for a walk somewhere beautiful...that kind of thing. Keeping your hands busy is good too, so painting, handicrafts, sewing etc are all good things to do...but choose something you enjoy! Have lots of healthy snacks around to eat when you crave a cigarette. Carrots and tomatoes apparently have a small amount of nicotine in them so they work well. Sugarfree gum and sweets are good too and things you can eat slowly bit by bit, like sunflower seeds. Write down the reasons you want to stop smoking and put them up somewhere you can see them whenever you're wanting a cigarette. Very good luck!!
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A
male
reader, Dakotanative  +, writes (23 February 2007):
I quit smoking a couple times. I went through a course the Air force offered to quit both times. I don't think I even used the patch they prescribed the first time. Just quit for about 4 months. Proved that I could and went back. A year or so later (couldn't even tell you the year within 2 for sure) I went through the class again just to getthe patch. Actually enjoyed the class and got the patch. Tried it for less than a week. I was so frikkin wired that I was lucky to get 4 hours of sleep a day. Wasn't the least bit tired either, but if made me mad that I couldn't sleep when everyone else in the house was. So I stopped the patch just to sleep. I guess it was sometime around October of 2000 that I last smoked. Have an occasional craving to this day, but it is less than 5 times a year. The smell is just so disgusting that I easily quell the craving. I think cold turkey worked the best.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (23 February 2007): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHey BigFC;
Kudos to you for at least trying. Hang in there!! Just one question.. How did you form that resolution and actually take it to implementation level? I wake up every day vowing to quit but never actually do. Another thing, did you try nicotine patches, medication, hypnosis or the rest of this stuff?
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A
male
reader, Big FC +, writes (23 February 2007):
hello, i'm also trying to quit smoking and i'm on my third day so far. Since you have been smoking for quite some time, I would suggest quitting at a gradual pace that you can handle. So basicly all i suggest is to quit at your own pace at your own time.
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