My journey - quitting tobacco.

[tommy34]

Hey everyone, I want to make a thread so people can follow me on my journey to quit smoking tobacco and I hope that this can inspire someone else and give them the strength to quit the horrible drug.

Background
I have been a smoker for nearly three years now. I remember the day that I started like it was yesterday. I was out with two mates who were smokers, I bought a packet of smokes so I didn't have to ask them for any. I smoked a couple that night and put the packet in my draw. The next night I was home alone and decided to have one. The head spins from that smoke were intense and I had a couple more that night. I continued to smoke them until the packet was gone and I was hooked. I have been smoking ever since that time. I contribute the wanting to smoke to the state of mind I was in at the time. I had just been though a bad breakup and had the mentality that I didn't care about my life any more. I was in a deep state of depression and I was up to using anything that would dissociate me from reality, even if it was just for a couple of minutes.

Reasons to quit
Since I started, my mind has become much healthier. I no longer describe myself as someone with depression. Although I do have my down times, I think that its normal and I have come along way from where I was three years ago. Controlling my mind was my first goal and I think that I have done a superb job of that, quitting the smokes is my second goal. Other reasons to quit:

• I have a heart condition and tobacco does it no favours.
• I was to live a healthy life
• I don't want to leave my future kids with no dad because of my selfish habit
• No one knows that I smoke and instead of telling them, its easier to quit
• I am strong and I can do it
• I no longer want to be controlled by anything
• The benefits of smoking do not exist

Progress so far
I am extremely proud to say that today is my 5th day with no tobacco, however, I have been smoking my e-cigarette. I only have three cartridges left in my e-cigarette and that is enough for about three days. After that I plan to no buy any more and be completely nicotine free. The first couple of day of just smoking that were kinda hard but now I wouldn't have a cigarette if you offered me one.

Please follow me, encourage me and let me encourage you to quit.

Cheers
Tom

 

[spyhunter2]

Hey Tom, congratulations on your progress of becoming an ex-smoker. I used to smoke myself and always wanted to quit, for many of the same reasons you are, but I never could give up smoking until... I was locked up! I Am now a year off smokes. It was hard but let me tell you it will get better,take it day by day. they say nicotine is as addicting as heroin, and I should know, I was addicted to both.It is. So dont let anyone tell you quitting smoking is easy compared to other drugs, addiction is addiction. anyways best of luck to you on your journey and keep your post updated! Best of luck... Spyhunter

 

[badfish45]

I've found smoking harder to quit than a lot of drugs. Today is my 6th day without tobacco as well, tomorrow will be my 7th. However, today is my first day not using marijuana to combat the cravings so right now I'm extremely anxious. However you basically laid it all out, there are no benefits to smoking and your life will be so much better without it once you manage to quit. Honestly when I quit (this isn't my first time trying to quit) I can feel myself getting slowly healthier, along with a lack of build up of phlegm in my throat consistently.

It's a nasty nasty habit and I'm glad to know Im currently not the only person putting it down.

 

[DemonSeed]

Great post! I'm currently trying to stop... I went on Champix / Chantix, a medication that blocks the nicotine from hitting the receptors. I had really bad side effects... which were totaly awful like a benzodiazepine withdrawal of sort. Nevertheless, I reduced the number of cigarettes to a few and returned to normal after dumping Champix. I was just passing by Bluelight thinking I may come upon a thread that would help me with some of my issues... this summer I had wonderful spontaneous out-of-body dream-like experiences. It was magical and somehow I started to have a discussion with my own self when awake. It's not like I would be hearing voices, but with my own voice with a more wise tone, I would tell myself the right things to do. The little angel on my shoulder told me to quit smoking cigarettes. I know it sounds crazy, but I then quit for seven days. Last night, I went ouf-of-body about ten times... and today I have been feeling wonderful and I plan to totaly quit smoking. My astral projections are not always clear and fade away a lot... I think stopping cigarettes will allow me more depths to those experiences. I have gone a long way and why would I use drugs, even tobacco, when I have access to a magical world of wonders when I stay off?

 

[ArtVandalay]

Nicotine lozenges helped me quit. I got addicted to the lozenges but it's a hell of a lot better than smoking. Now I don't crave ciggs at all, been almost a year. My bro uses the e-cig and lozenges. I puff his e-cig sometimes but for me, a couple loz's a day and I'm straight.

 

[tommy34]

Okay so here is where I am so far. Last Friday was the day that I decided to stop an that night I had my last one. However, I have been smoking my e-cigarette and I feel that I don't think about smoking as much as I was a week ago. My cartridges for that have run out and I am happy in that this is going to be the tough part but I am more than ready for it and I am also a bit anxious because I am getting that feeling of missing out. which is the worse.

I had a sneaky smoke on Wednesday night, a girl at work gave me one so I smoked it. I didn't feel the need for another one after that an it tasted really different, I could taste the chemicals.

So I am guessing that it will be 2 more weeks until I am back to my non-smoker self, I cannot wait and I am extremely excited!

As another reason to quit, I worked out that my habit was costing me $3000 a year an has cost me about $8500 all up. I could have saved this an be in Europe by now...

 

[badfish45]

Hey tommy that's something great to look forward to with all the money that you're gonna be saving

 

[DooMMooD]

I quit about a month and a half ago and I could not be happier.

Seriously I feel better in every conceivable way: lungs (my bike rides are muchhh easier), throat, mouth, pretty much all senses improved, in particular taste and smell. I get les headaches, I don't fucking smell, my BLood pressure dropped a significant bit, I am not spending 10$/pack on cigs every other day. I feel overall much healthier and happier.

For awhile I had it down to 1cig/day, like weeks. Quitting that last one was the hardest. How'd I do it? Kinda ironically: I went to NC one week and had access to cheaper smokes, so I smoked a lot more. After that week my throat hurt so bad and I got wicked sick so I decided: no more.

I'd used the gum in the past and had some success. Lozenges too. So I'd say of you're having trouble cutting down despite wanting too? Utilize those options. If you've been able to reduce cigs without them? Then keep it up. But def use every tool at your fingertips.

And here I am. Going on 2 months soon and I feel so much better. If anyone's debating taking the plunge just take my word that it is 100% worth pulling your hair out or a few weeks. But after ~3 weeks? Becomes much smoother sailing.

Don't forget either you'll r coughing up more stuff for couple weeks, depending on how much of a smoker you were. This is a good thing. It means the cilia in your lungs are working again and actively pushing all that shit out. Get over that hurdle.

Quit peeps. It pays off and you will see very immediate benefits as well a long term.

 

[maxalfie]

Well done Tommy34 on your giving up smoking.
I have been smoking for about 25 years now and have tried a few times to quit but I always last a week or two before returning to being a smoker.
Having been a heroin addict for around 12 years I can say that without doubt it is harder to quit smoking than it is to quit heroin.
I'm free of heroin since August 31st this year but I am not ready to quit smoking just yet as I need at least one vice in my life.
I hope you carry on being a non-smoker as we are all aware its the best move anyone can make for the sake of their health.
Good luck to everybody trying to quit the demon weed.

 

[JessFR]

Man I wish you luck. I'm still working on motivating myself to actually want to quit. Smokings long been my vice for when I don't have access too or am otherwise pressured not to do other drugs. I've tried quitting before but god it's hard not to be able to have a smoke when life is stressing me out.

Again, good luck.