trying to stop smoking

[mormonwifey]

Okay this is weird. I started on Chantix before my husband did and he has not even craved a cigarette in over 2 weeks,been on chantix for a month. I am having a very hard time to stop and it is driving me crazy. I have already succeeded in everything I try to do,but can not seem to succeed to stop this smoking.....

any ideas??? I have smoked for 26 years

[NeuroTypical]

Congrats on your decision to try and quit. Addictions stink bigtime.

I wish I had advice for you. For what it's worth, if you feel like slapping your husband sometimes because it's so easy for him, I'd say you're normal.

Hang in there, keep trying. Hug your hubby instead of strangling him.

[Guest mirancs8]

I smoked for 22 years with 5 years smoke free when I had my 2 kids... OK so that's really 17 years. Anyway I can completely understand your struggle. It's really a mental game in the end. For me I automatically had a smoke in the morning when I woke up, had one after breakfast, had one after lunch (sometimes 2), one after dinner and one before bed. When I was in my early 20s I could go through at least 1/2 a pack just at a night club... you know alcohol + nightclub = smoking.

I found that much of the reason I smoked was automatic. I didn't really think about it. What I did was stop thinking about it. I found something else to do in its place. I'll start cleaning the house, going through papers on my desk, drink a large glass of water, take a walk, write in my journal, and anything else that will pull me away from that thought. For that 5 years I stopped cold turkey. Again for good this past year. I never had an addictive type personality so stopping cold turkey isn't a big effort for me but I know many cannot do that.

Don't focus on the meds focus on your thoughts and your activities surrounding the moments you smoke. Change them. It's like when you want to lose weight and you take diet pills and wonder why they're not working. It's not that the meds don't work... it's because you're doing the same thing you haven't changed how you approach the challenge. Meds are there to help... they will not stop you from smoking. Focus on what you are doing at the moment you want to smoke and instead of pulling out the cig instead pull out a book or whatever will change your pattern. Have you ever heard of cognitive therapy? Try it, it works. You can do it by yourself just challenge your thoughts. Challenge the reasoning behind you desiring that smoke at that very minute.

[Roseslipper]

Have you asked your Heavenly Father to help you???? Pray for His help, you can fast for His help, asks your family and friends for their help and prayers, and support, also get a Priesthood blessing for help. Just some suggestions.

[mnn727]

TicTacs -- thousands of TicTacs -- its what finally helped me to kick my 17 year habit - that was 22 years ago now.

[hordak]

technology

Electronic cigarettes. You can step down in the same way you would with the patch or gum but get the feeling of smoking, don't taste the same though.

Electronic smoke box (don't know proper name). Put a pack in and it records every time you open it to smoke. After a week of using it you plug it into a computer and it makes a program that corresponds to your habit, and tells you when to smoke. You follows it's instructions, smoking each time it beeps, and it cuts down until zero over the course a a few weeks. So much of the habit is based on conditioning and not the chemical "need" this helps that. It's like Pavlov's dog, in reverse.

[MichaelCraig]

Pray for strength. Every time you have that urge, pray. Ask others to pray for you. Prayer works.

[davebres]

Perhaps you are not aware of the LDS Stop Smoking lessons taught by the missionaries. This is a free community service that has been used by missionaries for over 25 years. It works extremely well because it turns off the longing for a cigarette. It can be taught to anyone who asks by missionaries or priesthood leaders. Teachers who need a copy of the lesson manual can get one at LDSStopSmokingProgram.org

[bytor2112]

Buy a cattle prod and every time you reach for a cigarette have your husband hit you with it....I'm sure Beefche can share some insights to how that might feel :)