smoking aids

[countryblocks]

I have been reading the post daily and see some new names.My question is did everyone quit cold turkey or di you use smoke kind of smoking aid?

[Dot]

I used patches...sometimes NicodermCQ, other times the store brand....whichever was cheapest when I needed to buy. A couple of the pharmacies here run good sales on them.

[Ann]

I used Zyban and for me it was wonderful. Had to stop after two months becaus it made my blood pressure go up too much.

[Don]

I used patches ( for 2 serious quits) and would recommend them to others. But to each, their own.
An aid is only an aid...it is not a cure. THAT comes from within.

[slim]

I didn't use nicotine replacement so I guess that means cold turkey.

I think that many folks can benefit from patches or zyban or inhalers, hypnosis, accupuncture or combinations of all. The interesting part is that even tho the drug addiction is very powerful it is technically over very quickly. I bet day 3 or 4 is the toughest during detox..yes. The mental part of the addiction is often times long lasting for many of us. What will help you thru that part of the quit?

For me I used many things like a relaxer so I wouldn't be so anxious, I did lots of internet surfing and research, I began to change my thinking about smoking and what Big Tobacco is all about, I joined this bb and became very active member, I slowly began to change my life to that of an exsmoker, and I really really wanted to quit more than I wanted to smoke. That is not a very easy place to find, especially since I was more addicted than anyone..right. I told myself for years that I could never quit and when I did it would last for 1 day or less. Evenually I was ready.

I can only pray that when you decide to quit, that you find that place where the pain of smoking is greater than the pain of quitting. For after a short time (in comparison to all the years of smoking) you will feel better about quitting, you won't wake up thinking about "not smoking" and those thoughts evenually become passing smoking thoughts and easily set aside.
Your habbits slowly change and a new life emerges thru the smoke....that is why we say that quitting is more than just setting the smokes down, it's a journey, a process, a new and better life. And honestly it starts with a decision to not smoke for the next 5 minutes, and another 5 minutes and so on..........one hour at a time.

Best Wishes to you and others as they contemplate a quit date.

[PatB]

I used the commit lozenges. HIGHLY recomend them to anyone that asks. I also thought zyban was pretty helpful when I used it several yrs ago for a quit. Didn't like the gum's taste and couldn't keep the patches from falling off.

Pat

[judyb]

I used zyban for the first 3-4 months. It made me uncomfortably spacy, but it helped me quit! During my first few months quit, I gnarled on cinnamon sticks (the ones found in the spice aisle and for a couple years after my quit, I devoured chupa chups (www.candywarehouse.com/candywarehouse/). The good thing about those is that the lollipop "stick" is actually a hard, plastic straw, also good for gnawing on!!! My best quit aid is a group of supporters, similar to this wonderful place. Promise yourself you will ALWAYS come here, whether you're craving or not. Who knows, you may keep someone else from lighting up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jpkwitter]

The patch is saving my life...as well as the people on this board...but most of all my way of thinking has changed...that helps immensely...I'm not sweating the small stuff or the big stuff right now...total focus on my quit...it was very difficult at first but getting easier as each day passes...the small stuff and the big stuff will still be there when I feel secure enough to deal with them...and BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!! I AM AT 30 DAYS TODAY AND AM SOOOOOOOOOO PROUD>>>>>IT HAS BEEN A LONG HAUL!!! BUT I AM GETTING THERE!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

[countryblocks]

Thank you everyone for the responses. I do read the posts here daily.Hopefully someday I can find the courage to try again.I quit before with zyban and patches and it worked.I don't remember what I did with my hands.I know I had a hard time in the morning.I used to joke and say I will probably sleep alot when I quit cause I didn't know how to handle it. I sleep alot now and don't want to sleep forever.