Easy Way To Stop Smoking

ive been smoking for about 4 years and need to stop. i smoked about a 1/2 a pack a day. so is it better to quit cold turkey or ween off them? how long dose the hardest part last? if you know of any tips that worked for you please let me know.

Slowly is better (even though both are better than smoking) as there are many side effects for going cold turkey as result of nicotine withdrawal.

Withdrawal in the First Two Weeks

Because the first two weeks are so critical in determining quitting failure rates, smokers should not be shy about seeking all the help they can during this period.

Withdrawal symptoms begin as soon as four hours after the last cigarette, generally peak in intensity at three to five days, and disappear after two weeks. They include both physical and mental symptoms.

Physical Symptoms.

During the quitting process people should consider the following physical symptoms of withdrawal as they were recuperating from a disease and treat them accordingly as they would any physical symptoms:

Tingling in the hands and feet
Sweating
Intestinal disorders (cramps, nausea)
Headache
Cold symptoms as the lungs begin to clear (sore throats, coughing, and other signs of colds and respiratory problem)

The first few weeks after quitting smoking are usually the most difficult and it’s safe to say that it normally takes at least 8-12 weeks before a person starts to feel comfortable with their new lifestyle change of being an ex-smoker. Withdrawal from nicotine, an addictive drug found in tobacco, is characterized by symptoms that include headache, anxiety, nausea and a craving for more tobacco. Nicotine creates a chemical dependency, so that the body develops a need for a certain level of nicotine at all times. Unless that level is maintained, the body will begin to go through withdrawal. For tobacco users trying to quit, symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine are unpleasant and stressful, but only temporary. Most withdrawal symptoms peak 48 hours after you quit and are completely gone in six months.
Mental and Emotional Symptoms.

Tension and craving build up during periods of withdrawal, sometimes to a nearly intolerable point. One European study found that the incidence of workplace accidents increases on No Smoking Day, a day in which up to 2 million smokers either reduce the amount they smoke or abstain altogether.

Nearly every moderate to heavy smoker experiences more than one of the following strong emotional and mental responses to withdrawal.

Feelings of being an infant: temper tantrums, intense needs, feelings of dependency, a state of near paralysis.
Insomnia
Mental confusion
Vagueness
Irritability
Anxiety
Depression is common in the short and long term. In the short term it may mimic the feelings of grief felt when a loved one is lost. As foolish as it sounds, a smoker should plan on a period of actual mourning in order to get through the early withdrawal depression.

Anger and Mood Swings
Anger is part of the quitting process. You don’t have to have a reason to feel that way, you just do. Accept it, vent it safely. Deal with the irritating situation by dealing with your feelings rather than suppressing them. Say what’s on your mind without blowing your stack. Anger openly expressed or kept inside creates tension which may create the need for a cigarette. Reducing the tension will reduce your desire for a cigarette. Discuss your anger with your buddy. Take a walk. Do deep breathing exercises.

Constipation, gas, stomach pain
Constipation is caused by intestinal movement decreases for a brief period. It will normally last for several weeks.
Drink plenty of liquids (6-8 glasses of water daily); add roughage to diet (fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, bran); go for walks.

Depression & Despair
Find a substitute reward to smoking. Deal with your emotions. Call your support buddy. Use positive self-talk. Don’t cut yourself down; build yourself up. Don’t allow a self-defeatist attitude (I’m no good, I can’t do this). This can lead to a decreased sense of control and a drop in self-esteem. Think of success, not failure! It’s normal to feel sad, angry, or confused in the first few smoke-free weeks. These feelings will pass but If the depression does not appear to be going away, take it seriously and consult your doctor.

Dizziness
Your body is getting extra oxygen like it hasn’t seen for a long time. Get fresh air, go for a walk, change positions slowly. It will last several days and will go away.

Fatigue
Nicotine is a stimulant. 2 to 4 weeks. Get extra sleep and more exercise; take naps; don’t push yourself. If you feel tired when you first wake up, do some moderate exercises and take a cool shower. Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day to speed up the healing process.

Insomnia
Nicotine affects brain wave function. This can influence sleep patterns and dreams about smoking are common. 1 week Take a hot, relaxing bath, avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, pop) after 6:00pm Try relaxing at bedtime with a glass of warm milk, deep breathing and relaxation techniques. Work on a hobby.

Irritability, grouchy, tense
The body is craving for nicotine. Tobacco smokers are in

Is there any tips to quit smoking which is easy and powerful? b’coz i tried so many times but not succeeded.

my uncle tried this and so should you!
1. find a jelly jar (or any little jar) and fill it half way with water
2. put some cigarettes inside the jar
3. shake it up and put the cap on
4. bring it with you everywhere a
5. smell it when you want to smoke
6. keep smelling until the urge goes away (warning: it smells AWFUL)
7. after a while, you won’t even WANT to THINK about smoking
it worked for him, and i really hope it works for you. good luck!!

I quite smoking 3 weeks ago and I’ve realized the hardest part of not smoking is the ritual I have that revolves around my smoking.
Times WHen I SMoke:
WHen I wake up
After I eat
On the way to work
Smoke Breaks at work
on the way home for lunch
on the way back to work after lunch
when I’m bored at work
when i’m bored at home
When I talk on the phone
When I cut the grass
after i get back from running
whenever i’m irritated by life/family/wife/kids

My question is…the one thing that I always looked forward to was smoking…it was also the one thing that calmed me down when I was irritated, or added a spark when bored….

What do i do now? ANy Ideas?

YOU HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. you just quit smoking, good for you. you have added on extra years to your life just because of that. they’re are tons of things to do. take up a new Hobie, take a day off work to just relax, spend some quality time with family and/or friends.

best of luck!

I`ve been getting quite worried about my parents for some time now. They smoke about 15-20 cigarettes a day and have been since they were 15 years old. Two of my grandparents have died of cancer, probably because of smoking, some years ago. I really don`t want them to die. So if anyone have any good suggestions so that I can get them to stop, please tell me. They have tried to quit smoking before, but I`m not sure how motivated they acctually were…

If they don’t want to quit they won’t no matter what they use.
But if they really want to the drug CHANTIX is what my husband used. It works really well. The cigarettes make you sick when you smoke while taking it. I know a lot of people who smoked a long time and quit while using it.

Forget looking for a gimmick. Make up your mind to stop and stop. If you need ’something,’ perhaps you can take up running and go for a run every time the urge hits. Oh, and you may need to get a new set of friends. Good luck.

My father has been a smoker for more than 30 years and is going to start taking Champix the stop smoking pill. Anyone take this before? Have any success stories with it? And also how long should u take it for? It comes in a 2 week dosage so after 2 weeks is it supposed to work or should u take it again? Please any helpful tips for champix to be successful would be great!! Thank u so much!

Hi! I’ve been smoking for 19 years and tried Chavix last year for one solid month. Now- it did work- I did not smoke. However, I gained 15 pounds and became very depressed and beyond angry. My mood swings were insane and I took it out on anyone in my path. I finally realized it was the Chavix and stopped for a week- I went back to normal and do not recommend it to anyone. What did work for me was going to a hypnotist. I know it sounds crazy but they put you in a relaxed state and after a few sessions you quit without wanting to kill anyone or gaining weight.

I have been smoking for about 6 years.

I’ve tried using nicorette gum, gradually cutting back, and cold turkey, but nothing seems to work.

How did you quit smoking what worked for you?

Hi Robert..

congrats on your decision to quit.. as your finding out, its seldom easy..I smoked for over 40 years, and tried most of the methods available.. i tried the patches, pills, and various, and sundry concoctions, from health food stores.. in fact the last 5 years of my smoking, was simply one failed quit after another..

the good news of course, is that i did in fact find a method that worked for me, otherwise i wouldn’t be typing this reply.. i have been quit now for over 5 years because i quit trying to do it alone.. i joined a support group, and just didn’t quit quitting..

I am a member of Nicotine Anonymous and attend meetings both locally, and on line… on line meetings are as close as your computer, and you can attend meetings before actually attempting a quit.. good luck, however you decide to proceed, there is simply no wrong way to quit..

Nicotine Anonymous is a Non-Profit 12 Step Fellowship of men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives. Nicotine Anonymous welcomes all those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction, including those using cessation programs and nicotine withdrawal aids. The primary purpose of Nicotine Anonymous is to help all those who would like to cease using tobacco and nicotine products in any form. The Fellowship offers group support and recovery using the 12 Steps as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve abstinence from nicotine.

Source(s):
check out this site for more info, as well as local meetings
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/

check out this site for several daily online voice meetings
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/voi…

besides burning down my house !!! lol any info would be greatly appreciated.
your right bill, Chantix kicks butt!! that’s how i quit, no craving or anything.

I agree with most of the answers clean everything like curtains and paint the walls. You may have to steam clean carpet and furniture too. If you do it yourself call the local janitor supply store they have products that will clean and take away the smoke smell.
Fabreeze is a great product I use it all the time. Also dryer sheets. I bought furniture one time at a garage sale it smelled like smoke I put dryer sheets (downy) into the drawers did it many times and the smoke smell did go away. My husband is a nurse works ICU floor and they hang dryer sheets in the hospital rooms.

I want to stop smoking bad it started when i was a little younger as just fun and it was the cool thing to do but now since i been goin through so many problems and got this new job and got to deal wit school i started to start smoking just to take away stress as it does ease my pain it is just not the healthy thing to do and i wanna quit any advice?

You’ve got to make the decision to stop smoking and stick to it. Start by telling your family and friends that you’re quitting. Get rid of all your cigarettes, too — no point in tempting yourself!

Two tips that really helped me quit:

1. Whenever you feel a craving take a deep slow breath. Your body has learned to associate deep breaths with smoking — so often a deep slow breath will help stop a smoking craving.

2. Take a tube (from a pen or just a pen cap or something) and stick it in your mouth. Puff on it, pick it up and put it down. That helps to keep your hands busy and replaces the oral fixation fo smoking.

Good luck!

I get nervous every time I think about stopping. I have stopped for small amounts of time in the past but always give in to the craving eventually. It’s sooooo hard, but it’s a filthy dirty habbit and it’s going to kill me…help please?

its not easy unless you change your way of thinking.
you have to be positive.
set a date.
you must believe you are not depriving yourself by not smoking.
you are not trying to give up. when you stub out your last ciggy, you have given up. you have done it.
now you must look forward to your new lifestyle.
if or when you think you need to smoke, remember you do not smoke anymore. take 3 deep breaths have a glass of water, go for a walk. remember. you are a non smoker. always . you are a non smoker. its in the past. after a few days your body will be accepting that you dont smoke. your body will love it. mentally you must know you dont smoke. when you believe it, you’ve done it. good luck. ive done it and my husband did it in the same week. be positive.