• Smoking and How To Quit
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• Smoking and How To Quit in Spanish (en español)

I quit for 30 years due to having too many bouts of walking pneumonia. I started up again after a separation, and have been smoking now for going on three years. I am so angry that I started again. On top of that, I have tried to quit two times since. I find this board and the tools here very inspiring. I want to get back to my healthy, vibrant self. I found a homeopathic tablet that detoxes the nicotine from your system while it give you calming herbs to curb the cravings. You CAN smoke with them unlike with the patch. But I find I almost forget about cigarettes if I take them and just have to keep busy. It's three weeks and you weane off of them. I have three cigarettes left today. I promised myself I would quit last weekend but didn't so I am going to come here and join all of you in chronical my journey. Best of luck to all of you!!! It's a tough road, but we have done it at least once and we can do it again!

Well its been 3 days, I quit cold turkey!! I'm going nuts, the cravings are killing me! I'm a monster to be around when the cravings hit.. I walk outside and look at the spot where I used to sit and lite up and I feel so lost! But damnit I'm gunna do this! I'm 48, I dont want cancer, my kids are thrilled (but im not) haha but I know in the long run I will be so happy! I've lost my sense of smell so bad, I hate that! Cant wait till that comes back, that's what I'm most excited for!

I have quit a few times in the past, once for 5 years. This quit I decided to drink a mixture of water and a splash of cranberry juice to detox my system. Yes, I have been snappy, tired, short and have headaches. But, I have not smoked in 13 days nor will I. I also find keeping a journal very helpful. Yes, I think about ciggs but I dont want one.

I have been a smoker for 40 + years and have tried quitting several times. I really want to get rid of them. I know I would feel so much better. Patches are not an option for me because of a heart murmur. My doctor says I must do it cold turkey. Please give me some ideas as to what I can do.

I discovered that smoking can cause the LES (valve between the stomach and esophagus) to weaken and contribute to acid reflux and heartburn. If you stop smoking, you eliminate one of the possibilities for heartburn also! Worth it!

If I can do it, a woman can!

Well I am still alive. I have made it almost three weeks now. I did have to go off the medication, not because of dreams but the awful gas pains it was causing (another side effect). That along with the fact that I no longer had the stimulant from smoking, which then caused me to be constipated, made my life a living hell for over a week. I had to go to the pharmacy for help and of course got some beautiful young guy fresh out of college to help me with my "problem." ARGH! But I am happy to say that I made it through the embarrassment and that phase, and all is well. My brain has finally caught up with me, and I no longer have to remind myself that I quit. I still have some problems with moods -- not so much irritability, but more a depression. It's like losing a good friend. My hardest time is when I used smoking as my "reward" like when cleaning. I would always think, "I will clean the bathrooms and then I will take a break and have a cigarette, then I will sweep and mop and then go have a cigarette." I still need to come up with a different reward system for myself before my house falls apart seeing since what I have been doing so far is just avoiding cleaning! Again good luck to all and thanks for listening.

It's been almost 24 hours since I last smoked. It was nice at work today to not have to rush out to get into the car to smoke. That's been a big stress, as has just being such a closet smoker ("Who's going to see me? Do my clothes smell? Did I brush my teeth enough?") I have smoked 108,000 cigarettes in my life (okay, clearly an estimate; I'm organized, but not that organized). I am sorry I ever started. I would like to not have to quit ever again (I've done this many, many times). The longest I have been smoke-free is about two years. I'm kind of excited about quitting. If I can just get through the first 72 hours, and then the first 2 weeks, and then the first three years ... and then ...

I have been smoke-free for a week, and I am amazed at how quickly taste and smell improve. Unfortunately, I picked up cigarettes as a teenager — 40 years ago! What has worked for me is to have the (quitting) lozenges on hand for the most severe cravings the first couple of days. Also, before I quit smoking I counted the number of drags I took per cigarette. Now, during mental stress at the job ... I find a quiet spot and deep breathe that number of times, working with my mind ... and think oxygen sure beats whatever is in that cigarette. Low-cal snacks help too ... you can lose weight!

Day four...I didn't write in yesterday, just too tired. Every day is different, whether better or worse, I am not really sure. I am taking a medicine from my doctor now. I have noticed a pretty significant difference in the cravings and moods. One of the side effects people have complained about is vivid dreams or nightmares. I have had some strange ones but can't say that I would not have had them anyway from just the pure stress of quitting. Last night I dreamt I was married to a woman. I can probably easily associate this with the fact that I really want to be far away from my husband right now, as much as I love him, because he is still smoking and every time he comes near me I want to clean the smell right off him. I guess the worst thing right now is my brain. I know I have quit but I don't think my brain has caught on yet. The thought and feelings of "okay I will just finish this up and go have a smoke" flush over me, and I actually have to remind myself that I did indeed quit. Today I made the decision that I will not balloon in weight and opted for yogurt and oatmeal for "craving" snacks over the chips I had yesterday (and I am not even a chip eater normally!). So to sum up again, it is getting easier everyday but is still the challenge. I guess it wouldn't be called and "addiction" if people could take it or leave without any struggle. I hope my stories are helping others. I noticed tips and words of encouragement, which are great, but I thought it might help to know what hardships others are going through, that you are not alone.