How can I quit smoking?

Just out of curiosity, for those of you who are former smokers, what tips do you have for someone looking to quit, or was there a specific methodology that helped you? Thanks.

Stop.

I don't get the "haz" part?

I smoked a pack a day for about 13 years and finally quit 6 years ago. I tried to stop a bunch of times before that, but it never took. I think it's important to not beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon, because you probably will. Buy some toothpicks and get ready to eat a lot. Start exercising and drink water like crazy When the urge to smoke gets to be too much, do something else...go for a run, have another drink, pick up a book, go outside...anything.

For me, the first few days were physically hard, and I coughed up some fucked-up shit for a week, but the lasting mental urge was much tougher to deal with, and I still want to smoke on occasion. all the time.

To be fair, I was really helped out by smoking getting banned in NYC bars a few months after I stopped. You might want to avoid smokey bars for a while if that's not the case where you live.

Wait until you get really sick, chest cold, flu, whatever, then stop and just don't start again when you get healthy. You're going to feel like shit anyway, but it will help your throat heal, and the nicotine will probably get out of your system by the time you feel well again.

I quit that way and didn't have any for a month or two. Since then, I can still smoke one occasionally, or even a whole pack if I'm having a night out, but I don't feel the craving day-to-day, and never feel the need to go buy a pack.

It also helps if you live in a state that hates smokers. Taxes went up in Wisconsin a few days ago, it's around $6 per pack before sales tax, even for offbrands. The gas station Iby my house has Newports at $8.30 after tax.

The haz thing? I was bored, couldn't think of a title. Anyway thanks for the advice. Some things along those lines that I think will help, I moved back to college recently and this year I live up a giant goddamn hill from my classes. Not fun after you've finished smoking. Haha maybe I should go to Maryland or New Jersey, when I've been to those places in the past few months cigs were like $7 for USA Golds. I thought that the 5 I'd been used to paying for camels was a lot, but I digress. Anyway, thank you all for the tips.

Move to Northeastern Ohio, we don't have hills here.

When i quit the first time my biggest urge to overcome was the oral fixation i had with smoking. Don't laugh assholes.

What i did was cut a straw to the length of a cigarette and always kept it with me. I usually chewed on the straw and sometimes even pulled on it like i was smoking a cigarette. That helped a lot with the psychological part of it. The Physiological part, basically the withdrawal symptoms for the first two weeks were the worst. After that it got a little bit easier with time.

I still quite often had the urge to smoke, so i started again.

Don't quit quitting. Hardly anyone quits forever the first time, or like me the first twenty times. Eventually I got to the point where I realized that "just one" for even the most insanely justifiable stress or anger episode would definitely mean resuming the full-on smoking habit. I haven't had one for around 4 years now, fingers crossed. No cravings anywhere near like they were in the first year, now it's just the quick passing "that would taste nice" thought. I used the gum, but not like suggested. I just tried to always keep some in my pocket & would only pop a piece if I got a craving. The stuff is nasty, I found that using half a piece mixed with a regular piece of gum usually did the trick well enough without the godawful taste/wierd sensation. The gum would always kill the craving, but the tough thing was #1 remembering to have some handy & #2 getting past the "I don't want the goddamn fucking gum, I want a goddamn fucking cigarette. fuck." It's not easy, but it's seriously worth it.

agreed. if you really want to quit you will do it. im not a smoker but my best mate just gave up over a month ago, she tried before but they were half-hearted attempts. she's also going to new york later in the year so every week she puts away the price of ciggies away and it keeps her motivated
best of luck with it though rabies47

And stay out of smoke filled places,
clean all of your clothes and home so they don't smell like smoke,
change up you smoking associated habits for example if it was a cig with/after coffee switch to tea.

I have to heartily disagree with the whole "if you really want to quit, you'll quit" line.

Like IDGAS, I quit six years ago. I didn't want to quit, but I knew I needed to quit. It was the third time I had done so, and even though I still enjoyed all of every cigarette I lit for myself, I knew I had to put the cancer-sticks down by the time I was 30 or I probably never would.

The flip side is all of the people desperate to quit but who are more addicted to it than Mr. and Ms. "I wanted to so I did!" over there. They don't enjoy their cigarettes, and instead feel chained to them.

I have no helpful advice, I'm afraid, as every time I quit it was cold turkey. What I will suggest is that you not "bargain" with yourself. Don't do the stupid "wrap your cigs in rubber bands" trick, don't tell yourself "I'll finish this pack" or "this is the last one," get to a point where you no longer have cigarettes and start then.

Try Champix it is a drug that was first given to people suffering depression and anxiety they found that the side effects were smokers were not only not getting a hit from there smokes but were not feeling the urge th have a smoke, this is because the drug blocks the receptors which cause people to crave nicotine, the course lasts 12 weeks and when finished so is your addiction , this doesnt mean you'll not want a ciggie now and again as once an addict but the drug sees you through the worst of the craving , the rest of your life will be down to you saying no, what ever you choose good luck i've been off them two year and there are still days I wake up and miss them like a first love,

Ps Champix might not be the brand name used in the us so look em up on the net.

I agree. I quit over a year ago and I never liked smoking. I always wanted to quit. But it took getting pregnant to make me do it. And I still crave them. I think they are nasty now. but every now and again I want one so bad and can't stop thinking about it. Some people can't quit just cause "they want to."

I'm fine with not smoking as long as I'm not around smokers. But, every weekend I play in a pool league, and about 75% of the other players smoke. The state just passed a "no smoking in bars" type law, so those who want a smoke have to go outside, and that has cut down on the numbers a bit. But it is so much a social aspect of the evening: someone puts on a shitty song, people who want to talk go outside, and many people light up. And when that happens, I get a serious craving. I usually just have one a week, but I don't see that as an accomplishment.

Yeah, that is just about as stupid as it gets.