I have given up smoking so many times only to start again. I have again started the process of getting ready to give up. I only smoke at home, think in a way I could be classed as a secret smoker, I go to work and I'm fine, its just at home that the cravings get the better of me.
You would have thought I'd learned my lesson by now, in the last 14yrs I have had a stroke which left me partially sighted, been diagnosed with copd and the worst of all had to have a lobectomy due to lung cancer and I'm only 47yrs.
My last attempt was just before I was diagnosed with lc just over 2yrs ago and I lasted about 6months before starting again and that is my average length of time for giving up each time I try.
So here I go again, I've started the process of noting which cigarettes I think I need the most and set a date for 4th June. I've read the books, tried nrt, so please any advice to help me on my way would be greatly appreiciated.
Good Luck to all of you : )
Written by
loopyloo
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Good morning Loopyloo, sorry that you've had such a tough time trying to give up over the years. I'm on 4 weeks today and feel that I will never smoke another cigarette again already cos I think just the one would be the slippery downhill slope for me. Still can't help enjoying the odd whiff I catch occasionally when passing someone who's just sparked up!
I always knew for me that the only way was cold turkey and that was what I acheived. It was tough, especially at the beginning and I made sure that any smoking-related paraphernalia was well and truly out of the way before I went to bed the night before (including the stinky dog-ends and rubbish) and also there was no way I could lay my hands on a cigarette without a load of hassle. That way by the time you think about gettting one from somewhere the craving was over. Mind you I felt I was permanently craving for the first week or so!
Good luck with your new quit and if you keep in touch with us all here we can all help each other to stay strong and hopefully stay quit.
Good morning loopyloo, Sorry to hear you are struggling with the quitting.
I am 63 smoked since I was 17. so god knows what my lungs are like. I had a chest infection 9 weeks ago and because a ciggy tasted horrid made me cough until i was sick , I thought what is the point of putting myself through all the pain and discomfort. I honestly couldnt breathe at the time. So 9 weeks on and still dont want a ciggy. If I get a craving i think what a fool i would be to get this far and then start again. I log on to this web site more or less daily, The support from everyone is fantastic, we also manage to have a joke with each other. Dont forget we are all here for you.
Hiya, I am so sorry to hear you've had such a rough time I totally think what you're doing listing the cigs that you crave the most is a very helpful idea, it's useful to know when to expect the nicotine monster begging for it's fix so you can steel your resolve and tell it firmly "no, absolutely not!"
One thing I did try was tapping- EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). It feels a bit weird and may not be for everyone but it's helped me. I also use the patches, I know someone on here uses the e-cigarettes so maybe that might help you, and having the desire to quit for yourself, not because someone told you to quit is a wonderful motivator. The NHS quit kit (free) helped me too, and obviously the support of friends, family and especially this forum have all spurred me on amazingly!
I think people forget that quitting smoking isn't a punishment, they aren't depriving themselves of something they truly want they are choosing to stop for their own reasons and knowing that means you're owning the situation and you're in control.
Best of luck in your battle against the nicotine monster, you're not alone, we are all in this war together xx
Hey loopyloo, first of all let me start by saying well done to you for taking the biggest step of your journey into quitting smoking again
By being able to go all day smokefree and then only smoking once you are at home, this probably shows that although you are addicted to smoking, it is more likely to be psychological than physical. However, this doesn't mean to say that just because it's all in your mnd that you should be able to find it as easy.
I can only assume that having to cope, live and then deal with all the health concerns that you have puts you under so much pressure to having to stop and then by not doing so leads to feelings of of stress etc and everything that comes along with that.
Focussing on the positives now; you say that you seem to be able to reach the 6 month mark each time you have stopped before, therefore we know you can do it again You have obviously learnt so much each time that you have quit that you will kind of know how you may feel again this time round and by putting plans and strategies inplace we can help to make this time easier for you. You may even find this time easier too
You've already started noting down the cigarettes that you think you need the most. There are just a couple of questions and I'll know where we can start to offer you advice;
How many each day are you smoking at the moment?
What is your main reason for wanting to stop smoking?
I am just about to re-post some of my older blogs and questions from the archive section, so please have a read (or re-read) through some of those again.
Try and stay as positive as possible. Remembering that you are stopping doing something that you no longer want to do any more.
We really are here to support you, how ever long it takes
I have been trying to post this all day, really am having so many PC problems it seems...
Hi EmJay, think I recognise your name from the Roy Castle website. At the moment I smoke no more than 15 and no less than 10 a day. I want to be here to see my youngest graduate from uni and I know to some people this may seem selfish but there's still a lot of things I have to achieve in my life. I also feel very guilty that I was able to have hopefully curative surgery only to take up what caused the problem in the first place again, I feel like I'm being ungrateful rather than thankful to the medical staff.
I have asked a lot of people to come on Monday to help revamp my garden so I will be kept busy.
I am not going to use nrt although I do have patches\spray at the ready if things become too difficult
I am going to try and write on here each day, I think knowing that others are watching my progress will help.
Hey loopyloo, I've worked or the charity for some time now and love it
Your reasons for quitting are fab and and I am a firm believer that when we choose our reasons, we have to be really selfish (in a positive way) and dig deep in our minds and hearts and find our own personal and selfish reasons or wanting to stop. This then helps for us to have a better chance of living a forever smoefree future
How about we help you to put the past behind you and crack on with your fresh new future?
When you have stopped in the past, how did you feel during your first week?
You will find that keeping a blog on here will help you and allow for others to support you along the way too. You'll also be helping many others who'll share the journey with you.
I think you should start getting excited and look forward to your fresh start
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I totally think what you're doing listing the cigs that you crave the most is a very helpful idea, it's useful to know when to expect the nicotine monster begging for it's fix so you can steel your resolve and tell it firmly "no, absolutely not!" 
Will I feel happy again?
After 3 weeks smoke free.. I went back to it again!! It's hurting and I hate myself!
Cravings bugging me again -arrggh.
