I didnt want to quit smoking... but for a christmas present I got the patch to help quit smoking.... so I decided to help me save money I would quit starting Jan 1st.... and I did.... everything went well and then three days ago I forgot to put on the patch and I was ok... same for yesterday... and today untill I went to the bar.... although I was ok when I went to the bar while on the patch... I really dont want to start back since I have been off for 3 days.... but the temptation was strong tonight.... would it be better to go back on.... or try to resist the temptation and stay off?? and for anyone who quit smoking how long will this last... I havent smoked a cigarrette in 13 days... but I still want to... I figured it would be gone by now....

1/13/2007 1:48:02 AM

I dont think addictions ever truly leave anyone. Its just the approach that can be varied in anticipation of your addiction.

1/13/2007 2:52:59 AM

Just stop cold like I did because they provide no high, real negative health effects, the cost does add up, it really smells horrible. It's part physical and mental, but I think a lot is mental. Im trying this same approach to booze but with less avail.

1/13/2007 3:13:28 AM

go pack to patch.... if you can just finish the patch....the mental part will be that much easier

1/13/2007 4:37:26 AM

dont use the patch anymore. it will only prolong the withdrawal

[Edited on January 13, 2007 at 8:07 AM. Reason : l]

1/13/2007 8:06:49 AM

The patch works. People who use it have a better success rate than people who don't.

1/13/2007 9:24:41 AM

The problem is you went to the bar, where there is a ton of smoke in the air and where you're probably conditioned to have cigarettes with your drinks. Quitting smoking is a lifestyle change and you're going to have to adjust other parts of your lifestyle, at least for a few months or so, until the physical symptoms of addiction go away and you can make it on will-power alone.

1/13/2007 10:10:08 AM

try smoking freebase cocaine

I find that helps with the nicotine cravings

1/13/2007 10:10:15 AM

congratulations on trying to quit

do you have a support system? do you have friends who are encouraging you and backing you up? i have never smoked but i would think if you had people encouraging you, it wouldn't be as hard as doing it on your own without someone giving you praise and such.

1/13/2007 11:44:53 AM

Quote :

"I havent smoked a cigarrette in 13 days... but I still want to..."

I haven't smoked since halloween and I get urges every now and then. I agree with ducksauce, addictions can be broken, but your mind can never go back to when you were "unfamiliar" with cigarettes. If you haven't smoked for years, you can still pick up or hold a cigarette like you used to.

I agree with the support system, my roommate nagged me to death if I talked about smoking, but she also encouraged me and told me that I was doing a good thing. Also, search for a program on google called QuitKeeper, it keeps up with days quit, how much money, and how much "life" you've saved.

I've saved over $150 since October 31st and saved 3 days of my life.

[Edited on January 13, 2007 at 1:07 PM. Reason : I went cold turkey too]

1/13/2007 1:06:23 PM

Seriously, when I made the decision to quit (I'd only been smoking for about a year, so it was probably easier), I pissed in the box when I had one left. I'd stopped two weeks prior to buying the final box, but gave in to the cravings. I essentially gave myself that lasting image of... well, piss in a cig box, and now I can't even look at others take out theirs without thinking to myself, "I wonder if pissing in their cig box will make them stop."

1/13/2007 3:53:40 PM

Quote :

"resist the temptation and stay off"

1/13/2007 7:16:16 PM

yeah today was a lot better than yesterday... went the whole day without the patch or a single craving... I dont know why it was so hard yesterday

1/14/2007 12:02:05 AM

Is the chewing gum effective at all? Where can you purchase it?

1/14/2007 12:08:53 AM

the gum really works, you do have to follow the instructions on the package though. You basically chew it up, then put it between your gum and lip and let the nicotine soak in. Chew some more, then repeat.

any drug store or grocery store should have the nicotine gum

1/14/2007 2:22:23 AM

I no longer smoke but im curious about this device: My boy has these smokeless hard plastic fake cig. It had a pack of nicotine inside of it and u act like your smoking and just push a button or inhale into the device and you get a slight injection of nicotine. Basically, you push the button or inhale to get a blast of nicotine but nothing else.

Anyone else heard of this, it really cut out his smoking quick.

1/14/2007 2:28:24 AM

Nah I've never heard of that... What has worked best for me are tookpicks... anytime I feel the need for a cig I just chew on a toothpick... and as far as gum goes... it wouldnt work for me.... I dont even like chewing gum... much less the taste of a nicotine gum? it just sounds nasty in my opinion

1/14/2007 8:23:07 AM

the gum works well, the inhaler things do as well as they still give you something to handle as though it was a cig. I have had several folks i know end up carying around an unlit pipe or the like when on the patch jsut so they had soemthing to chew on and to have the smell of tobacco to go with the nicotine. That way its easier to ween yourself off in the end. Cigs are as much of a social thing and a ingrained habit in social situations as anything. You sit down ont he proch, you light up, you have a drink at the bar, you light up, you see other folsk go outside, you go out to talk to them, they light up, so you light up, ect.

1/14/2007 9:59:07 AM

^^ The nicotine inhaler?

1/14/2007 10:00:03 AM