New approach needed

[nsd_user663_4964]

OK;

I have been half "gived up" on the patches (21mg) for over a year. They do work to stop me craving but i keep lapsing (with booze and stress, and sometimes i just still WANT one) Consequently. i am permanently "giving up", and i've never got off the 21mg patch.But I haven't been back to a regular 40 a day smoker as i was , since i first gave up (thank god) so i can't, and don't want to go back to that.

What can i do different? I am stuck in a cycle, going around and around. I don't really want to try champix, cos then i'd have to actually start smoking again,in order to start hating it and give it up again, plus i have really bad reactions to antidepressants.

I don't think it's my motivtion, i've read and read about nicotine addiction, but i'm still permanently relapsing like a true addict-and i so want to give up but i just can't. I've tried CT a couple of times, most recently just coming off the patch to nothing, but i get ssuch bad cravings and then i'm smoking, next morning giving up all over again.

I'm not ever smoking back like i was, when i was a full time smoker, but i'm never free of it, cos i'm always having one or two here and there. I feel like such a junkie, i should be able to give up smoking forever, and then NEVER SMOKE AGAIN!!

[nsd_user663_5028]

OK;

I have been half "gived up" on the patches (21mg) for over a year. They do work to stop me craving but i keep lapsing (with booze and stress, and sometimes i just still WANT one) Consequently. i am permanently "giving up", and i've never got off the 21mg patch.But I haven't been back to a regular 40 a day smoker as i was , since i first gave up (thank god) so i can't, and don't want to go back to that.

What can i do different? I am stuck in a cycle, going around and around. I don't really want to try champix, cos then i'd have to actually start smoking again,in order to start hating it and give it up again, plus i have really bad reactions to antidepressants.

I don't think it's my motivtion, i've read and read about nicotine addiction, but i'm still permanently relapsing like a true addict-and i so want to give up but i just can't. I've tried CT a couple of times, most recently just coming off the patch to nothing, but i get ssuch bad cravings and then i'm smoking, next morning giving up all over again.

I'm not ever smoking back like i was, when i was a full time smoker, but i'm never free of it, cos i'm always having one or two here and there. I feel like such a junkie, i should be able to give up smoking forever, and then NEVER SMOKE AGAIN!!

Hi Jude

It took me at least four times over the last two years each time i went CT and failed after a few days, i know other people prefer patches or champix but i believed if i was ever gonna give up i would have to get the nicotine out of my body asap. The cravings after three days were a pain in the arse you think you are doing really well and then Bam off the the offy for some cigs,this time i did it differently i went CT as normal but this time i just got away from my old habits i.e instead of waking up going downstairs and having a fag i jumped in the shower first, instead of making coffee with two sugars and a fag i had tea no sugar stop me wanting a fag with a brew then. Just get away from old habits. Look i know its hard everyone does sometimes you wanna scream out loud but the more you ignore it and go do something the less they become. I even went back to my running because i knew if i ran i wouldn't want a cig for hours after, Keep trying Jude you can do this you know i wish it was easy at the start but it aint and you have to tell yourself this is gonna be a b*stard everyday then at least you are mentally prepairing yourself. Good luck hope to speak to you tomorow night then it is 24 hours since your last fag . oh one other thing when your crave is bad grab something quite heavy ie a chair and run up the stairs quick as you can trust me after you will feel sick and your crave would have gone ..barmy i know but i did that a few times :eek: go for it Jude

[nsd_user663_4990]

This is a dilemma aint it..

but i would ditch the expression 'giving up' for starters. This implies you are losing something.

Now to the patches... you went from a 21mg to no patch at all?

Ok try the other way, go from 21mg to smaller patches? heck cut a strip off the end of a 21mg patch so they are smaller each day.. keep making it smaller say... every 2-3 days... only slightly smaller.. but the objective being.. you are reducing the active dose...remember though?? once you get to 2/3rds of the width of the patch, you can get the step 2 patches (14mg), then you can either do them as they specify for 2 weeks.. or you can start slicing them down in size too?

Truth is.. you need to be comfortable with how you wean off them.. but you also know only too well, you can't stay taking nicotine forever either.. so you do need to try something.

[nsd_user663_5189]

Hi Jude,

That sounds pretty rough! I'm not really in a position to offer expert advice as I'm only 5 wks into my 1st quit in 25 years but I think you maybe need to work on your motivation? Reading all the links available on this site really help to strengthen my resolve when I'm starting to wobble, I also find calculating the amount of money I haven't spent on smokes takes my mind off even the worst cravings LOL! Get your reasons for quitting firmly fixed in your mind and they act as armour against the little demon... Good luck and never give up trying.

[nsd_user663_4121]

Aww Jude......... don't stress over this, okay?!! Stress will just add to you wanting to smoke. I smoked for 18 years and probably a good 8 or 9 years of those I smoked but wanted to quit. I only ever gave it a few half hearted attempts........ but I so wanted to be a non-smoker.

I was so desperate finding out the 'magic' that other quitters had found.......... and you know, even though I have been quit for almost 8 months now, I don't think I ever found any magic. I just kept going one day at a time. First month I was miserable almost every day, and then it all lifted, and life started to feel normal again......... there is no trick, no magic, no special way to quit............ you decide on some strategies (nrt, champix, hypnosis, etc) to make the tough days easier and then you begin with day 1 and move forwards. That's all. Then you know the rest........ it gets easier with time.

You be patient with yourself, Jude girl. You will do it soon.......... I know it

[nsd_user663_5325]

My advice is to leave the booze alone. I've been smoking since I was 13 years old, I'm 42 now. Ive tried quitting 2 times before seriously. 1st was a joke I was a bartender at a local pub and drank through my whole shift which meant I made it till the end of the night when I started doing shots. Second quit I made it 3 months, was in a period of my life where I didn't really drink a lot Well I had a vacation and decided to go to GraceLand. Made it as far as BB Kings club and 2 shots of Tequila and ran to the store for some fags. Lesson is unless you have iron will and a solid quit going if you drink your quit is over in my opinion. Also from my reading here and from my own experiences some people try and quit just to quit( I know this sounds silly) I believe you have to have your own personal reason for quitting and you have to be ready and really want it. Not tryin to come across harsh or like I know better or anything like that. Just trying to give my opinion.

[nsd_user663_4964]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Jase and Bradders, definitely with the patch,it does work for me, but then I have a weak moment or two and relapse again...Hence I don't think i've ever completed the whole six weeks they recommend you to be on the 21mgs for, so i smoke (sometimes just one, sometimes for a few days or even a week, get absolutely sick of it , realise i don't want to be smoking and doing this again and go back on the patch! Repeat every so often) So recently, did a cold turkey as i decided "this just ain't working,lets get all the nicotine out and gone" Bah! unbearable. Yeah if i could avoid the one or two unecessaries and bring myself down from 21mg patch, in the manner that it is supposed to be done, that would probably work. Or if i could just get through the horriblenes of the three days with nothing .

Totally agree with booze thing, getting drunk isn't an option anymore cos i will smoke. One or two is just about acceptable ,but dangerous) and i'm unwilling to give up EVERYTHING.

I suppose you live and learn and this quit is a long learning process (very long) about what i can and can't do. In the end it comes down to me just never picking one up and smoking it ever again i suppose (why is this soo hard?)