smoking, dirty addict

Losing all · #1 07-06-2006, 01:33 PM

I've been a heavy smoker for years (3 packs of reds a day). Laying in bed last night I decided I was quitting cold-turkey starting today, it's not going that well..

after 15 hours:

I feel like my best friend is dead.

My fingernails and joints feel weird.

I feel stoned, and not in a good way.

My vision seems kinda blurry, wtf?

I'm looking for tips on keeping my mind off of these little bastards. I don't really have a gameplan, gum I guess.

acoustix · #2 07-06-2006, 01:36 PM

Just remind yourself that if you can make it 3 days, then the physical addiction is passed. Then you can work on the mental addiction (which I've heard is actually harder). Keep busy, and try not to think about it.

I'm off to have a smoke.

kipin · #3 07-06-2006, 01:39 PM

Mind over matter, keep yourself occupied for as much time as you can.

Gum would probably be somewhat helpful.

My guess is toothpicks would also help in replacing cigs.

FishSticks · #4 07-06-2006, 01:43 PM

- Chew gum.
- Brush your teeth a lot.
- Exercise. And I mean go seriously run until you are desperately gasping for air, even if you are out of shape and all that takes is a 20 second sprint. That helpless burning feeling in your lungs help a lot. You'll get weezy but it's good mentally and also to feel physically how bad your lungs are.
- Drink grapefruit juice, and *lots* of water.
- Snack if you feel like it.
- Go do something like get a haircut or buy a new shirt or something to reenforce this self-improvement concept.
- Don't use the patch of nic gum or any of that [censored].

Cold turkey is the best way. It sucks, there's no easy way around it. You just gotta man up and do it for you.

Good luck!

mrclean368 · #5 07-06-2006, 01:46 PM

I quit a few years ago. Its tough but yeah if you can get thru the first 3 days it does get easier. Stay busy, occupy your mind with something else. I used a nicotine patch and made life a bit easier. I also chewed on a lot of sunflower seeds, seemed like a good idea at the time.

Good luck!!

posnera · #6 07-06-2006, 01:56 PM

If you can quit cold turkey, great. However, it is not the "best" way, if you want to define "best" as highest successful quit rate. As I said in another thread, there is a direct correlation between the number of different modalities used to help and the quit rate. Nicotine replacement, Zyban and counselling have an additive effect on the likelyhood of successfully quitting.

The single most important factor is a desire to quit. Most people who eventually suit smoking had at least one failed attempt at quitting in the past, so don't be discouraged if you don't succeed the first time.

And please, don't believe those who say that cold turkey is the only/best way, because they are absolutely wrong.

bobhalford · #7 07-06-2006, 02:05 PM

patch worked good for me, but I kept relapsing anyway. Took me about 6 tries in a few months and finally I quit, cold turkey. Been about 7 months now. I was smoking 1.5 packs a day of reds. Being smoke free rules.

foureightsuited · #8 07-06-2006, 02:09 PM

sunflower seeds work well too.

Losing all · #9 07-06-2006, 02:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
sunflower seeds work well too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good idea. I'm going for a long walk, i'll stop and pick some up. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

livinitup0 · #10 07-06-2006, 05:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I've been a heavy smoker for years (3 packs of reds a day). Laying in bed last night I decided I was quitting cold-turkey starting today, it's not going that well..

after 15 hours:

I feel like my best friend is dead.

My fingernails and joints feel weird.

I feel stoned, and not in a good way.

My vision seems kinda blurry, wtf?

I'm looking for tips on keeping my mind off of these little bastards. I don't really have a gameplan, gum I guess.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nic patch was my best friend during this time.