Today I realized how much of an addict I am. Help me.

[seg4527]

My goal today was to go 24 hours without having a cigarette. And at midnight tonight at work, I would reward myself with one cigarette, and then try to go till midnight the next night. I'm trying to quit, and this is my first method I'm trying.

Well, I went to the mall today, with my mom, since I don't have to be at work till 8 tonight, and she wanted company. Me and her went our seperate ways, and everythign just started getting to me. All the little kids, all the whiny people, all the confused old people, and the bells from the salvation army people were the WORST. They just pushed me over the edge. I went into the CVS, made sure my mom wasn't anywhere near, bought a pack and a lighter, and like rushed outside to relieve myself.

It's sad, and it scares me. Whenever I'm stressed out, the first thing I think is "cigarette". I don't know what I was thinking when I started.

I need some helpful advice.

[Call me Deacon Blues]

1. I used Zyban

About 6 years ago, after smoking for 30, and it worked like a charm. Of course, I WANTED to quit, which is where you have to start, but I took the pills for a week while I smoked, then I quit smoking, and I had NO CRAVES.

Worked for me, anyway.

[theorist]

2. I'm addicted, too.

The best thing to do is avoid situations like that. Maybe you should set more tractable goals. Cut your intake in half for a week, then half again. Eventually you'll realize how bad the habit is to you. (At least that's what I go through everytime I quit.) Stress is the worst when you're trying to quit.

There's nothing wrong with you. Just keep your head up and set goals that you can (and want) to achieve. The worst person to disappoint is yourself. Keep that in mind.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. It's really the same for me......

When ever I have a fight with my "significant other," I find that the first thing that will help is a drag off of a MB UL 100. I don't know how I got to this position, but it kind of makes me want to quit....... :smoke: :scared:

[skygazer]

4. It's very difficult and it IS scary

It's scary and maddening to think that something has such control over you. Different methods work for different people. I was fortunate enough to be able to quit cold turkey - not easy but I managed.

One thing that helped me was using a substitute. For me it was Tootsie Pops which is not that great because of the sugar and calories involved but gum, or hard candies or even sucking on a straw sometimes help.

Good luck to you and keep trying. You'll feel much better in the end. :hug:

[ohioliberal]

5. Yea, I need to quit too, I told myself that the new year

would be it. Especially since my dad has emphysema (sp.) and is oxygen all the time and can't go from the kitchen to the living room, where he is now sleeping without stopping for a breath of air. It's only about 20 feet away.

[LoZoccolo]

6. Keep real real busy.

And have fun. When you're having fun, the nic fit feeling kind of adds to the hyperness of having fun, while when you're stressed it becomes more stress.

[sadinred]

7. I am with you!!! I just joined quitcom.net to help and I have a blog

I whine to daily! I am 7 days without a smoke. I have the patch, red licorice, crackers, LOT'S OF WATER, gum, more gum, MORE gum, to help.
It's hard. I haev posted here a few times looking for immediate supports, which many Duers have so kindly offered.

You can do it! You just have to WANT to do it. And don't let your mind trip you up, it will be looking for ANY excuse to smoke. WATCH OUT! Be good to yourself too. Take deep breaths. Let yourself go a little slower.

Good luck. You can do it.:hug:

[NoSheep]

8. Good luck to you. Just keep trying. I'm addicted as well.

:pals:

[frictionlessO]

9. dont worry, just climb back on that wagon... If you need immediate

support and your online you can always yell out here in the lounge and bunch of us will jump right in, Ive seen it happen several times the short period Ive been here.

Im addicted as well, but have cut my intake of "sugar rats" down in increments of 5 Im down to 10 a day after smoking 2 and a half packs a day for years. Im gonna do it and so are you... just remember all those reasons why you want to quit as often as you can.

We're here for you!!

[Mrs. Venation]

10. When I Quit Smoking

back in 1989 I used nicotine gum. That helped lessen the craving, and it also gave an oral substitute for cigarettes.

I smoked for 18 years. Quitting was one of the best things I ever did for myself.

Please don't give up. If you don't make it this time, try again. If you want to quit you will eventually succeed.

I wish all of my DUers who smoke would stop. I love you all too much to see you ruin your health with tobacco.

[Dzimbowicz]

11. I, too, am an addict

I smoked cigarettes from the age of 14 until I was 36 and then I tried to quit. Everything I tried failed, cold turkey, nicotine patches, etc. I believe that the psychological addiction to be as strong as the physical addiction. I also found myself being rather surly without my nicotine. So, I tried a pipe. With the pipe there is a lot more puffing and less inhaling. Seems to work for me. With my nicotine fix I am as docile as a puppy, without it I am one short-tempered SOB. Since I work with teenagers on a daily basis (I'm a teacher) I would rather not be short-tempered. On a second point, people in general do not complain when they smell my pipe (note: I only smoke outside, even at home); they usually tell me that it reminds them of their grandfather.

I have decided to live my life, as long or short as it may be, with what makes me comfortable. My grandfather smoked from the age of 13 and lived to be 81, cause of death: septicemia from a stomach ulcer operation. My mother did not smoke and died from cancer at the age of 57. :shrug:

If your goal is to really quit, do it and don't back off.