I'm quitting cigarettes

[BeHereNow]

Yeah I finally decided to do it. Korean cigarettes seem to be worse than American. I've started having trouble breathing, my lungs hurt almost all day, I can't take a full yawn without the pain reflexively cutting it short, and worst of all is the uncomfortable heart-burn type, choking sensation that developed at the base of my throat. Oh, and tonsils flaring up and making it painful to swallow.

I decided to quit on Friday but had two that day and three the next. Today I've had zero and am getting ready to go to bed. It's not easy, but the fact that every single one of those symptoms has already disappeared motivates me. Today I only had lung pain once and it lasted only a moment.

Beating addiction is no fun. I quit taking pain killers about 2.5 years ago and still crave them every single day, almost non-stop. I hope the nicotine bug doesn't stay with me like that.

So wish me luck. If anyone has some good advice for me, please share.

:pray:

[EdJones]

Good for you and good luck, its a hard thing to do but you will not regret it.

[Dave G]

Maybe it won't be quite that bad.
My father smoked since high school until he had a heart attack several years ago. He chews gum as a substitute. The only problem is he looks like a rat gnawing at a large rope.
I did see him for my nephew's birthday, and I think his cravings must have lessened, I don't recall seeing him chew any gum, now that I think about it.

[mossrose]

You can lick this, BHN! :thumb:

:pray:

:hug:

[Calvinist4Him]

Not only is health a good reason, but just think about all the money you will not be spending, and if you kiss a woman who does not smoke, she will not be quietly and politely thinking "kissing him is like licking an ash tray".

[BeHereNow]

Yeah I meant to post this in the Health & Wellness forum. Whoops.

Anyway, I'm on day 5 and it's been pretty darn tough. The first day I smoked twice, the second day three times, the third day none, and last night I finally broke down and smoked one. And right now it's just past noon and I'm freaking out, but I'm at work and none are available to me.

Gosh this is hard. I think I'll try the gum advice and grab some anti-smoking gum that seems to be so popular here in Korea. Any ex-smokers out there got some advice for me?

Peace

[Piebald]

My grandmother got hooked on lifesavers as she was quitting smoking. I think part of smoking is that 'oral fixation' that people have.

[jason]

Good luck BHN.

If you need any incentive, keep in mind that smoking causes impotence.

Jason

[Xavier]

Yeah I meant to post this in the Health & Wellness forum. Whoops.

Moved.

[Trout]

Yeah I meant to post this in the Health & Wellness forum. Whoops.

Anyway, I'm on day 5 and it's been pretty darn tough. The first day I smoked twice, the second day three times, the third day none, and last night I finally broke down and smoked one. And right now it's just past noon and I'm freaking out, but I'm at work and none are available to me.

Gosh this is hard. I think I'll try the gum advice and grab some anti-smoking gum that seems to be so popular here in Korea. Any ex-smokers out there got some advice for me?

Peace

The first three smoke free days are the hardest by far, once you get beyond that, it is much easier.

[Calvinist4Him]

Any ex-smokers out there got some advice for me?

I quit smoking years ago, I quit cold turkey. Of course, there is a physical and mental addiction, but they can be overcome with a strong and determined mindset. You have to WANT to quit, you have to do it for yourself. I highly recommend avoiding going places where people are smoking, especially for the first few months. Like Trout said, the first few days are rough, but if you can last through those days without smoking, it does get easier. If you are around people who smoke, you will be tempted to smoke. You have to be bound and determined not to smoke. Have your mind made up that you're not going to touch a cancer stick. Hang in there BHN, you can do it. :smile: Oh, and it will help to keep your mind busy on other things.

[BeHereNow]

My grandmother got hooked on lifesavers as she was quitting smoking. I think part of smoking is that 'oral fixation' that people have.

Yeah that's definitely a part of it. Maybe I will get a straw or lollipop stick to gnaw on during the day...

[BeHereNow]

Good luck BHN.

If you need any incentive, keep in mind that smoking causes impotence.

Jason

:eek:

[BeHereNow]

I quit smoking years ago, I quit cold turkey. Of course, there is a physical and mental addiction, but they can be overcome with a strong and determined mindset. You have to WANT to quit, you have to do it for yourself.

Indeed, I am doing it for myself. You saw how bad off I've been doing in the OP. Ish. Creeps me out to think about being only 24 and having ailments like that.

You know, in Korea they have a saying: Never marry a man who quit smoking. The idea is that he must be way too strong-willed. :smile:


I highly recommend avoiding going places where people are smoking, especially for the first few months. Like Trout said, the first few days are rough, but if you can last through those days without smoking, it does get easier. If you are around people who smoke, you will be tempted to smoke. You have to be bound and determined not to smoke. Have your mind made up that you're not going to touch a cancer stick. Hang in there BHN, you can do it. :smile: Oh, and it will help to keep your mind busy on other things.

Thanks man, I appreciate the encouragement.

[OneFollowingHim]

Best to you. :thumb:

[Xmansmommy]

I'm glad you've decided to quit BHN. And I do know it's extremely hard to break an addiction. Consider how long you've been addicted and realize that it is going to take alot longer than 3 days to overcome an addiction you may have had for years. I don't mean to discourage you but to help you consider things realistically. I smoked only for a couple of years in my younger days and I too quit cold turkey. They say that keeping something in your mouth and/or hands does help with the mental aspects of withdrawl. It was true for me so I chewed on pen caps and pretzels. Best of luck to you and I'm glad you're already feeling better physically.

[jason]

:eek:
No really it does.

It gives you heart disease and clogged blood vessels, which causes problems with the fine blood vessels in the penis, thus leading to erectile dysfunction :teeth:

I learned something in biology :teeth:

Slightly more seriously though, good luck with quitting, I'm sure you will suceed.

Jason

[Cu Mhorrigan]

Okay Having quit smoking this past october, I am going to give you some hard core pieces of advice.
One Quit cold turkey, dont use the gum, the patch or any other crutch to "Ease you off" The sooner you get over your nicotene addiction the better.

Two: Allow yourself to be a Jerk for the next few days. Let it happen and warn people ahead of time. You will be amazed how understanding people can be especially coworkers.

Three: If you still have a pack of cigarrettes, Throw them out or smoke them all. and finish them. On the final cigarrette, go out and eat something (Prefferably Italian. to celebrate) Then quit buying ciggarretes "Just in case".

Four: Keep Lots of Sour things, that's right I said Sour. the biggest mistake people make is that they buy sweet things. Sweet things only make the craving worse because you really want the bitter taste of a ciggarette.
Get Kosher Dill Pickles to snack on (The kind with the spices on the bottom), Garlic Cloves (You eat the cloves whole after peeling them, and for The Gods' Sake Dont chew it!). Start putting spices in your food it will help your tongue develop your sense of taste.

Five: Dont Kick yourself when you mess up. Just get yourself right back on that bandwagon and start over.

Six: Depending on your religious beliefs have a ceremony commemorating the day you quit. Make a promise to yourself and set up some kind of Marker Like a poster (Preferably of a person you find attractive) or something that you can look at everyday.

Seven: If you get the urge to have something Smoky around you, burn some incense. you will be suprised how well that works.

That's all for now.
Cu Mhorrigan

[mossrose]

Take up knitting, or painting, or cross-stitch, or anything that will keep your hands busy.

And all the advice that Cu has given sounds good.

Hang in there, BHN!

:thumb:

[BeHereNow]

My goodness Cu, that's a lot of advice! Thanks a ton. Let me address them and give you my experiences thus far.


Okay Having quit smoking this past october, I am going to give you some hard core pieces of advice.
One Quit cold turkey, dont use the gum, the patch or any other crutch to "Ease you off" The sooner you get over your nicotene addiction the better.

Okay, I like that idea. I actually brought some nicorette patches with me from America in case I wanted to quit. I only had ten and have two left now. Honestly, I'm past the worst part of the withdrawl and I think I'll be fine without them.


Two: Allow yourself to be a Jerk for the next few days. Let it happen and warn people ahead of time. You will be amazed how understanding people can be especially coworkers.

You know, in retrospect, I was a jerk the first two days with absolutely no cigarettes. I yelled at my students (uncharacteristic for me) and even made one girl burst into a hysterical crying fit. Granted, she hit me very hard and shouldn't have, but I overreacted. I apologized the next day, but wow, I think it was the anxiety.


Three: If you still have a pack of cigarrettes, Throw them out or smoke them all. and finish them. On the final cigarrette, go out and eat something (Prefferably Italian. to celebrate) Then quit buying ciggarretes "Just in case".

Well, actually I have four packs lying around my apartment. I used to keep a variety of cigarettes. So those are just sitting there in order to accustom me to temptation. Almost every man I know in Korea smokes, so I have to be able to resist.

Bad idea, iyo?


Four: Keep Lots of Sour things, that's right I said Sour. the biggest mistake people make is that they buy sweet things. Sweet things only make the craving worse because you really want the bitter taste of a ciggarette.
Get Kosher Dill Pickles to snack on (The kind with the spices on the bottom), Garlic Cloves (You eat the cloves whole after peeling them, and for The Gods' Sake Dont chew it!). Start putting spices in your food it will help your tongue develop your sense of taste.

Okay, I will try that. Great idea!


Five: Dont Kick yourself when you mess up. Just get yourself right back on that bandwagon and start over.

Six: Depending on your religious beliefs have a ceremony commemorating the day you quit. Make a promise to yourself and set up some kind of Marker Like a poster (Preferably of a person you find attractive) or something that you can look at everyday.

Seven: If you get the urge to have something Smoky around you, burn some incense. you will be suprised how well that works.

That's all for now.
Cu Mhorrigan

All excellent advice. I appreciate it!

[BeHereNow]

Just an update. I went every weekday this week with absolutely no cigs until last night. I was out with friends that were smoking and bummed one off him. Honestly, it was putrid. I became nauseated and couldn't finish it. I think that's a good sign.

Starting around Wednesday, it became much easier not to smoke. I'm trying my darndest to take my user name advice and just be here now. I've been able to conquer hunger that way - I'm sure it will help with nicotine addiction.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice, y'all. I think I've just about got this thing licked.

[jason]

Just an update. I went every weekday this week with absolutely no cigs until last night. I was out with friends that were smoking and bummed one off him. Honestly, it was putrid. I became nauseated and couldn't finish it. I think that's a good sign.
Be careful with that.

They did an interesting study in aversion therapy and alcholism. They hyponotised the alcholics to believe that alchol would taste terrible when they next drank it, and all of the alcholics reponded and found alchol to be nauseating.

They thought they had found a cure, but after a few weeks most of the alcholics where back on the bottle.

Puzzked the scientists asked how they could get past the awful taste and they said basically, "Well it was bad at first but I just stuck at it".

So the first couple might be bad, but it wont take much for you to get the taste back. Be careful there,

Jason

[OneFollowingHim]

Good job. Keep it up. :thumb:

[BeHereNow]

Just a quick update. I faltered a few times and did smoke a cigarette on a few days, but now I'm currently on my seventh straight day without one. It gets much easier, and I am already enjoying the plentiful benefits of not being a smoker, such as clean feeling, less baggage to carry around with me, less social stigma (haha), no stinking, my throat and lungs feel good, less craving, not having to plan my day around smoke breaks.

It's awesome and much, much easier than the other addictions I've broken.

Anyeong~~

[Xmansmommy]

Glad to hear it's getting easier BHN. Keep up the good work!

[BeHereNow]

14 days ~~~~~~

I wonder how long it takes for my lungs to start healing.

[jpholding]

I'm sending you some pearls for doing this.

Cigarettes helped kill someone I love (my mother in law).

(Fortunately, they've never been even the slightest temptation to me, because the smoke plays havoc with my allergies.)

We tried all we could to get her to stop. Here's a fun story as an example --

My wife and I were sitting with her at a table, one of us on each side. She had her cigarettes laid out next to her, closer to me; while my wife engaged her in conversation, I quietly took one of them out of the pack and put it in my mouth. Then I picked up her lighter and held it up close to the tip, and waited for her to turn and look.

When she did, the look on her face was priceless. I said,

"Looks stupid, doesn't it?" :lol:

[BeHereNow]

I'm sending you some pearls for doing this.

Cigarettes helped kill someone I love (my mother in law).

(Fortunately, they've never been even the slightest temptation to me, because the smoke plays havoc with my allergies.)

We tried all we could to get her to stop. Here's a fun story as an example --

My wife and I were sitting with her at a table, one of us on each side. She had her cigarettes laid out next to her, closer to me; while my wife engaged her in conversation, I quietly took one of them out of the pack and put it in my mouth. Then I picked up her lighter and held it up close to the tip, and waited for her to turn and look.

When she did, the look on her face was priceless. I said,

"Looks stupid, doesn't it?" :lol:

Hey that's pretty funny, but you know I look like James Dean when I smoke.

~~thanks for the encouragement~~