Ask Me Help Desk - Kicking the habit completely

Kicking the habit completely

Hello all.

I have pretty much kicked the accuall chemical addiction to ciggarettes I had. I go for WEEKS without one and have no issues nor withdrawl symptoms.

However even after weeks of no smoking, if I go anywhere that there is a smoker, I feel that physical addiction to need to hold the ciggarette and suck on it. I just can't seem to find a way around it.

Its not really affecting my ability to NOT smoke. But how can I make these physical habits stop (the holding, sucking, inhaling, blowing out, ect)

I can't really stay away from it, as everyone at my moms place smokes and I can't NOT go over there because my daughter has a sleep over every weekend at their place.

And I've tried chewing gum, I've tried sucking on suckers and other candies, it just doesn't do it for me. :(

And I've tried those plastic fake ciggarette inhaler things, and all that does is burn my throat :(

I lit my most recent one three and a half years ago. I go through four packs of tic-tacs a day now, and I still have the oral fixation. I haven't quit smoking yet, I just haven't lit the next one.

I successfully quit smoking by visualizing that I was on the subway in New York City where you cannot smoke (even though it was a good 15 years after moving away from NYC). I would just keep remembering that I was on the subway. I'd pound the desk at work with my clinched fists or pound the kitchen table at home and kept saying to myself that I was on the subway.

After 2 weeks you should really have no physical cravings for a cig. What I think you have is the psychological craving. Have you tried any self hypnosis on yourself to see if you can stop your cravings that way? Self hypnosis is relatively easy. If you want some info on my techniques just PM me and I'll be happy to pass along to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catsmine

I lit my most recent one three and a half years ago. I go through four packs of tic-tacs a day now, and I still have the oral fixation. I haven't quit smoking yet, I just haven't lit the next one.

You must have wonderful breath :D

Thanks everyone ;)

Yeah I know its just the psychological issue. I have tried self hypnosis/self relaxation whenever I get the desire. It helps a little. But as soon as I open my eyes again it's there. Lol.

Its probably something I'm going to have to live with forever. And ill just have to get the will power to NOT do it.

I had a boyfriend a looooong time ago that was asian, and he had a family member in his native country send him these metal fake cigarettes... OMG, they were great! They were just right, right size, good taste and they didn't irritate the throat! I soooo wish I could find those, but all I can find are those plastic ones!

The only way I have ever been able to quit is cold turkey,they say that doesn't hold the best I agree.last time I quit was right after hurricane IKE came through.I got on a green tea kick and stopped any alcohol and smoking it was all good for two months and I gave in to a beer, then my wife smokes so that is like impossible.I started cigars and next thing you know right back where I started.
For nervous fidgeting try one of those squishy balls I forgot what they are called

Were the plastic cigarettes you had the prescription kind?

No passmeby they were from the store, and you can buy little capsule things that you insert into it to get the niccotine. Let me see if I can find the product...

Here you go...

http://www.stopsmokingsteps.com/wp-c...3/inhaler_.jpg

Can I ask what store you got them at? I might be interested in trying them out! Or if you could give me their proper name so I could look them up online? Those are def not the ones I was thinking of!

Mmm aparently my hubby got it from a friend. And doesn't know where his friend got it from.

Wow. That's scary. Remind me never to take anything my husband gets from a friend :P who knows what it is.

Jennie,

I worked with a guy years ago that satisfied the oral fixation of quiting smoking by cutting a cigarette length piece of drinking straw. Whenever he was craving that feeling, he'd suck on the straw. They're practically free and harmless. I quit 6 years ago, and know how tough it is. I'm pulling for you.

Thanks jm, I tried that. But it didn't work because it wasn't the same feeling. But I could try stuffing tissue in it for some inhaling resistance :P

I tried that, but with a pen instead of a straw! I stuffed it with cotton balls that I put Vick's Vapo Rub on! Ah... but it didn't work unfortunately! But I was still smoking at the time though, I was using it to try to cut down, so it might be different to someone who has already quit.

Why not just use a cigarette. But first, throw out your lighters.

Haha wouldn't work jm.

Unfortunately I grew up in the south (or at least my mothers version of the south) and I light my ciggarettes on the stove :P and its not a gas stove either :P its an electric one. The old fasioned coils and all :P hehe.

LOL, I'd go for the toaster first if I didn't have a lighter, but there's been a few times I used the stove in the past! I don't allow smoking inside my house since my girls were born, so I can't do that anymore!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

haha wouldnt work jm.

unfortunately i grew up in the south (or at least my mothers version of the south) and i light my ciggarettes on the stove :P and its not a gas stove either :P its an electric one. the old fasioned coils and all :P hehe.

It should be: "fortunately, I grew up in the SOUTH..."

Lol I didn't REALLY grow up in the south. But I was raised 'southern' I grew up in Washington state but my mom was born and raised and spent most ofher adult hood in little rock Arkansas

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

lol i didnt REALLY grow up in the south. but i was raised 'southern' i grew up in washington state but my mom was born and raised and spent most ofher adult hood in little rock arkansas

We claim them, they're kind of southern. But I'm in the DEEP SOUTH. It's really a great place to raise boys.

What's deeper south than Arkansas?

Jennie, look at a map sweetheart.

My husband and I argue all the time about what's the REAL south! He's never been to Georgia, NC, SC or anywhere around there, so he has no clue! He thinks Texas is part of that! No way! Not even close!

NC SC isn't south..?

Texas IS south. I'm in Arizona right now. And that's south.

Its all southern, its just you guys are EASTERN southern :P and we are central/western southern ;)

No... I'm talking about southern "feel" and tradition! Yes, NC, SC, GA, is Southern. Texas is Southern geographically, but not really Southern in tradition and feel compared to those other states! I feel that the 'South" stops at Louisiana!

Yes, it's the southeastern United States, but it's called "the deep south" . Here you go:

Deep South - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grasshopper, you forgot to type in a Suthen Axcent!

Don't give me no truck about the beach, neither. I's born in Chattanooga 'n' raised in Rome Gawja.

Ahhh I get you.

Arkansas doesn't qualify? They are pretty 'hick' aren't they?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catsmine

Grasshopper, you forgot to type in a Suthen Axcent!

Don't give me no truck about the beach, neither. I's born in Chattanooga 'n' raised in Rome Gawja.

Mah brutha lived in Rohme for a peece, naw he stay in Naashvil. I's born rite heah ehn geawga, as acrow flie bowt 10 mials frum heah.

Ooo so many sexy southerners. Pretty soon ill be called 'little lady' or 'missus' or 'ma'am'

Ifn y'all isn't Southern, don't bother tryin'

We know what we say.

Sweetpea, go Kojak with lollypops.

Who loves you baby?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

ooo so many sexy southerners. pretty soon ill be called 'little lady' or 'missus' or 'ma'am'

Yore prettiur thana red weeng blakburd sitting owna yeller punken. Shuggar

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjoseph

Yore prettiur thana red weeng blakburd sittin owna yeller punken. shuggar

D'y'reckon she'll figgur whut y'said?

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsmine

d'y'reckon she'll figgur whut y'said?

Naw.

Awww thank you hon!

Yes I got it :D

I'm prettier than a red winged black bird sitting on a yellow pumpkin :D

I had dreams when I was a teen that I would marry a country boy farmer and raise horses. Be one of those overweight women in an apron making farm fresh fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and home made buiskets and gravy :)

In fact I dated a guy in North Carolina a few years ago long distance. And we might have worked. But he is disabled (slipped disks) and his mom is older and disabled and he helps to support her, and he doesn't feel that it would be right to try to take care of me and my daughter on social security disability.

And while I was disapointed, I felt he was still a sweet romantic gentlemen because of it :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

i felt he was still a sweet romantic gentlemen because of it :D

Joseph, she's discovered our secret. It ain't complicated, it's just being a Gentleman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catsmine

Joseph, she's discovered our secret. It ain't complicated, it's just being a Gentleman.

That's the trick, my mama and daddy made sure I "understood" how that worked. I'm insisting on it with my two boys too.