Anybody here quit successfully? I've been trying since last April (8 months ago) I haven't smoked a cigarette since then. I started with the patch & now am using an e-cigarette. I want to quit completely, but I'm afraid to. I have depression pretty bad, If I knew that would go away eventually, I'd tough it out & quit completely. Has anyone had this problem? Does it ever get better?
Thanks,
Barb

I quit after 30+years of smoking 5 years ago cold turkey. The patches, gum, drugs, e-cigarettes are not good for you. Try hypnotism if you want a more effective treatment.

REplace the urge with exercise and that releases endorphins and seratonin in your body which is the same thing an antidepressent would do. You would be surprised on how much a sip of water and fresh air walk can replace a cigarette.

Good luck!

Ana

Thanks, Ana. I can't believe you could quit cold turkey! I DO want to get off the e-cigs, I'm just afraid the depression will get worse. Do you think it will ever get better?

Like Ana, I quit cold turkey too. I had quit over 30 years ago, but after my 2nd husband died, I picked them up again. For 2 years I smoked a pack a day. Then I met my current (and last!) husband who is a non-smoker. There was no way I was going to make him live with a smoker, so I quit cold-turkey again. That was 12 years ago.

To your question, does it ever get better? YES!! But it can take a long time. I believe you are drawing the pain out by relying on the e-cigarette. You have replaced one addiction with another and are now anxious about getting rid of this addiction too. I cannot recommend Ana's suggestions enough - treat yourself with that glass of water. Put it in a very pretty glass with a twist of lemon and some ice. Then go for a walk in the fresh air if you can. As she says, that releases the "pleasure" hormones in your body - the endorphins and seratonins. The last step you need to take is to break the cycle finally. If you are concerned about the depression, there is no reason you shouldn't ask your doctor about it as there are medications like Chantrix which help with the depression that can be associated with quitting. Don't let that fear stop you from finally breaking away.

Barb imagine in your mind how much better you will feel, and how much longer you will live, and let that thought re-enforce your determination to quit.

I tried many times and failed. I tried the gum, the patch, everything I could.

It was my own determination that I have to quit for my health, and the support of friends, that helped me quit, cold turkey, over 4 years ago.

Now I live with my Mother and sister who both smoke a lot, but I've never given in to the temptation to pick one up.

Also, a pack a day adds up to over $1000 a year that I have to spend on something better.

We're here to support you.

You can do it.

joe

Has it been 5 years Ana??

You see how you lose track of time as you think about smoking less and less?

Or maybe that's dementia setting in.

Ana and I quit at the same time.

Bard,quitting is different for everyone, so find an approach that will work for you. This may be either the cold turkey approach (stopping suddenly and totally) or a more gradual reduction in the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Set a date to quit — and stick to it. Make it sooner rather than later. If you are quitting by yourself, it is recommended that you stop smoking completely on your quit date

And throw out all cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters and anything else that might remind you of smoking.

Given that Barb hasn't smoked a cigarette in 8 months says she is committed! You just need to take this last step and get rid of all associations with smoking including the e-cigarette. If you need help with the depression, then go for it! You will be so glad you did it!!

No advice Barb but we all will be pulling for you to beat the habit. All I can say is that 8 months is so good that you do not want to throw that away. Keep going! You can do it.

Many years ago I had quit smoking cold turkey. I kept my cigarettes with me at all times, in my purse or sitting on my desk at work but never smoked them. I never said I was quitting or that I had quit until probably six months had gone by and somebody finally noticed. Then I put the cigarettes away and never looked back for about 10-13 years (I can't remember exactly). One day I smoked one for some stupid reason (somebody's voice got in my head). Another year went by without another one and then I lost weight, changed jobs and starting hanging out with some smoking, drinking co-workers and I started again (mid-life crisis). This was about 16 years ago. It was the dumbest thing I ever did and I was so ashamed and embarrased by it that I never admitted to my mom or brother that I started again. My sister knew though and I'm quite sure that my brother saw the cigarettes in my purse several times and could smell it on me etc. Now it is just me and my brother in the house (nobody else to blame the smell on anymore since both my mom and sister passed away). Incidently, my sister died from lung cancer. I still can't shake the cigarettes though. I did my best to quit 2 days before she passed away but the day after her funeral I was alone and depressed and couldn't seem to stop myself. It was 9 days and if I just would have remembered I had some gum in my purse I might have gotten past it. I am scared maybe it is already too late and stopping will bring the cancer out. I am scared of stopping like that and starting again, that I feel is probably worse. All the things people say to do to help get past it seem to make me want to light up more.

Barb, I can't give advice on the ecigs or the depression but it sounds to me like you're doing great!

Yhanks everyone for the suggestions and encouragement. I've decided to put the e-cig away & go for it! I think I can do it since I haven't had a real cigarette in 8 months. I've been on Zoloft for depression since I had a stroke 16 years ago. It doesn't seem to be helping, but I'll talk to my doctor. That's what scares me the most.

Good luck to you, Oldbroad, you can do it again!

YOu can do it Barb and oldbroad!

Ana

Keep up the good fight all you guys! I never smoked but I know how hard it is to stop (hubby #1 quit when we got married and it was a horrible time). Things get much worse before they get better (same when you stop doing anything you have a habit of doing) but if you can tough it out, you will win big time. Just talking about it to friends and sometimes even strangers with a listening ear, will get you through a tough spot. Don't give up!

Gee, I never heard of an "e-cigarette" What is an e-cigarette - an electronic cigarette? What does it look like? How does it work? Does it run on AC power or batteries (just curious)?

EDIT - Googled, found out what it looks like, what it is, the power source, but still not quite sure how it's supposed to help someone stop smoking?

This April I'll be smoke free for three years. I don't think anyone loved smoking more than me. I still love it. It would be silly to go back now though. I miss it but I rarely think about it. I've quit a few times over the years but the last time I did it seemed surprisingly easy. I just used the lowest dose nicotine patch for a week, and that was it. I must have been mentally just really ready to do it. I think that's the most important thing. If you're really ready to do it, then you can do it, Barb. You can. Trust me, if someone who adored smoking as much as I did can do it, then you can too.

I loved smoking, too, Anne. I think quitting is like losing a loved one. You have to grieve a while before you can get over it. I keep telling myself that - and that I WILL get over it.

You will, Barb. As much as I loathe being around people who smell like an ashtray, I would be a smoker in a New York minute - I loved it too. And I have buried several loved ones including 2 husbands. You never quite get "over it" so to speak, but you move on and totally love life again. It will happen, I promise. You just have to take that final step and let go forever.

Thanks, Drac. So many here have quit & it helps to know it can get better.

Barb, On Dec 16th we lost 2 of my childrens biological mother to lung cancer at the age of 55. It did not need to happen. Having my kids tell me how proud they were that I and their dad quit so that we can be here for them is all the inspiration I need to continue to stay away.

Ana

Hi Barb. It sounds as though you are well on your way to being smoke-free. I gave up cigs about 6 years ago. Just put them down, stopped cold turkey. My husband still smokes but now is smoking outside. I found that if I changed things a bit it helped. Like in the morning, don't drink coffee or tea, drink something else. Use the phone in a different room of your house. Just switch things around that you normally do! At one time I cut straws in half and basically chewed on them, used Vit.C tabs to chew on, sometimes I will still pick up a straw.
One word to anyone that smokes........if anyone in your family, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother has been diagnosed with COPD, I can just about guarantee you that you will eventually have it too! So please try to quit.
Terri

Thanks, Terri, good ideas. One thing helping me is that we have never smoked in this house. Also, my husband quit at the same time I did. That helps a lot. I can't give up my coffee, so I just have to get through it without a cig!

Heaven forfend we should give up our coffee in the morning! I have a feeling you're going to finally break the cycle and it won't be nearly so hard for you from now on. Just don't let that depression get ahead of you. 2012 is the year for you!

Right on, Drac! I think I AM going to do it! I feel much better today. I'm thinking the depression will ease with time. I have a lot to be thankful for and much to be happy about, so I have no real reason to be depressed.

Thank you to everyone who wrote with encouragement and suggestions. It is much appreciated.

Love,
Barb

Hi OldBroad, Don't know how I missed your post. I quit and then one day thought I could just smoke one, big mistake. I think I quit the last time 09/2005.
I have no doubt that you can quit, and I do understand your fear. Might I suggest that you go to a doctor/pulmonologist and have some tests done. (Xray/Cat Scan) Talk with the doctor and he will be able to ease your fears. Just because your sister had L/C doesn't mean that you will. The sooner you go to the doctor, the better. Anyone that smokes has that same fear!
Hugs,
Terri

Hi Terri,

I started writing some stuff here but it sounded kind of negative so let me just say:

Thank you for your confidence in me and the Hugs!

Jackie

Barb my sister quit cold turkey after over 40 years of smoking. Ana is right exercise, eat right, and take one day at a time and you can do it. You will feel better physically and that can help you feel better mentally. Knowing you beat smoking will make you feel great! It is an accomplishment that should help keep that depression under control! Good Luck!