So I'd like to know if any of you know or have successfully made use of non-mainsream material that caught your attention and stuck with you through your trip out of smoking?
The secret for me was not to "give up smoking" because then you are psychologically giving something away for nothing in return - your subconscious mind does not like that. So don't try to give up smoking. Just stop smoking temporarily.
So each time the urge came up to smoke I said I would defer the decision for a few minutes and make the decision about having a cigarette a little bit later. So I never stopped forever I just "stopped for a short while". So far the decision to have a cigarette has been deferred for about 15 years.
I also made the decision to smoke a tangible choice between all the good things I would get from not smoking, and the things I would get from smoking. "I choose to be healthy and have clear lungs and not die young, instead of choosing to have this cigarette". As opposed to "I'm going to deprive myself of a cigarette that I really want, for nothing good in return."
There is one special book that I highly recommend . Allen Carrs - easy way to stop smoking. http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/06154...
It just works. But you need to be persistent with the decision.
Best way to get off smoking is to start vaping. Get two high drain 18650 batteries, a quality charger, a dripping atomizer and a mechanical or regulated device.
Actually vaping can be much more fulfilling than smoking, whether you are looking for a nice flavor or a nicotine high.
Building and wicking coils yourself, mixing glycerin with flavoring to produce your own blend, as well as maintaining your equipment clean, are part of keeping your mind interested and occupied when it comes to getting your fix which in my opinion is key.
Nicotine absorption is much more efficient and you end up ingesting less of it when you find your sweet spot.
Then you must replace smoking with vaping in activities that are linked with the smoking addiction, (like when waking up, or during coffee, or after lunch, or after sex, when having a drink, etc.)
Then before you know it, you won't be craving cigarettes any more as the psychological addiction would have been cured. After that you can either continue vaping or slowly stop vaping as well. Some people keep vaping just flavoring and drop the nicotine completely.
If you stop vaping, keep your vaping equipment around, because triggering a smoking habit in the future due to unforeseen events, is highly probable.
That's anecdotal information of course, but works for me and a lot of other people it seems.
Those kind of 'accidents' were the trigger to start smoking again in all previous attempts to give up smoking. I genuinely prefer vaping now. I am in no hurry to give that up either as it's not particularly bad for you (comparatively).
I still love the smell of a cigarette but have zero desire to light one up. I'm not sure what would happen if I tried to stop vaping, whether I would go through the nausea/vomiting to start smoking tobacco again. (I know it sounds crazy, but nicotine is a powerful drug.)
I mix my own juice and build coils, and it costs about 80 cents a day instead of the $3 I would pay for my previous half-pack of cigarettes a day.
Note: I have no dog in this fight. I don't smoke or vape, and I never have. I'm just pointing out that even if your friend doesn't quit, it's possible to get the nicotine without the cancer.
While that is certainly possible, I'd rather wait for some longer term research before making such claims.
http://www.ccjm.org/cgi/doi/10.3949/ccjm.82a.14054
>ABSTRACT
>Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)—devices that generate a nicotine vapor that can be inhaled by the user in a fashion that mimics the experience of smoking—are increasing in popularity, and many people seem to view them as reasonable alternatives to nicotine replacement therapy to help them refrain from smoking. Physicians should not encourage such a view. E-cigarettes are unregulated nicotine delivery systems that have never been subjected to any kind of testing of safety or of efficacy as nicotine replacement therapy. Moreover, for young people who have never smoked, these devices could potentially serve as a gateway drug.
Nice side effect was that I quit smoking during this time, and don't actually want to continue now.
I had cravings several times during this 10 days, but I had too much stuff to distract myself with, because I packed my vacation with as much activity as possible -- road trip, visited 5 countries, spent time on beaches and in the mountains, etc...
There are few reasons for which vacation is needed for quitting:
- much less stress when on vacation, so less reasons to smoke (for me smoking was in some regard for dealing with stress).
- often smoking is for stimulation and out of boredom, less need for that if having fun on vacation
- often smoking is associated with daily habits (morning coffee with cigarette for me), and on vacation you break out of daily routine, and can skip that
- being physically active (trekking, cycling) during quitting is cool because you start feeling effects of quitting on your endurance immediately (after few days of non-smoking), so it's a good motivation
- even better would to go hiking/camping far from any sources of cigarettes, I did not do it this time, but would do in future if i would relapse into smoking
The reason I wanted to quit so much was I felt enslaved; when getting to a place for dinner for example, the first thing I did was check where I could buy cigarettes and at what time the tobacco shops would close, so that I would not be short on the drug -- although I also carried at leat two new packs with me at all times. It was cazy.
The hard part is the first week, which is quite horrible, but after that it gets easier.
That said, I had started smoking relatively late (at 23). In my eperience, people who started young (16 or younger) can never really quit. They sometimes stop for extended periods of time (5 years maybe) and then invariably start again...
Anyway, when I was smoking tobacco every day (albeit only 1 pack a week) I took LSD for the first time at a very small dose (probably around 90µg) with a close friend. I wasn't doing it for any real reason except to see what it was like. Strange enough though afterwards I had no intention at all of continuing smoking tobacco and I now get extremely nauseous at the slightest smell of tobacco.
You can find quite a lot of information on psychedelic therapy although a lot of research was halted after those drugs became stigmatised and illegal. There is a sort of psychedelic research renaissance occurring and there's been quite a few new studies on their usefulness.
I'm not sure that is a good technique but it did work for me.
edit: inspired by this episode of he-man, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnmMyqffSQU
Personally I like the act of smoking, just don't like everything else that goes along with it. I found these things called Beedies (it's kind of an Indian Cigarillo), they make an herbal version.
no nasty chemicals and they don't taste half-bad (slightly harsh). They have a campfire smoke smell, so interestingly enough non-smokers compliment me on it.
If I ever have (had) an urge I just puff on one of those. I stopped inhaling a long time ago so my lungs feel fine. Now I just smoke them because as I said I enjoy smoking (and most of my friends still smoke).
You can usually find them at head shops or online as well. The brand is SoeX Herbal, just make sure to get the herbal ones or you will be getting Tobacco. http://www.soex.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=84...
Edit: Forgot to mention, a pack costs between 4-6 bucks, and they keep decently in the freezer.
I smoke at most once a month so I don't care
Edit: That said you don't have any chemical urges using them, just the mental enjoyment of a good smoke. I find I still get a slight urge when I'm drinking with friends (5+ years quit)
The trick is to avoid the "F* it" mentality. After yet another failed attempt, it's easy to say f* it and go back to smoker mode instead of staying in quitting mode.
Quitting is not something that just happens. It takes years to quit. Nicotine rewires your brain to the point where you identify as a smoker. Deprogramming that is a lot of effort. Therefore quit as often as you need to. As long as you do it sincerely, eventually it sticks.
Allen Carr's book is also very nice. It is a mild hypnosis, repeating the same four things over and over again until they become as ingrained as the habit, so read it cover to cover and don't stop half way through
Also, every time you smoke, focus on the bad things about smoking - the smell, the taste, the cancer.....
Good luck.
But: I did give myself some "escape hatches", i.e. I decided I'd still have a few cigarettes in the case of wedding and bachelor parties, of which I had a couple coming up in the following six months. I knew those would be really hard spots to go through, so I just made them into goals, "I will go this three months without a smoke, then when we go party hard and I'll have as much as I want".
By the time you get to the third or fourth time, you have lost the habit enough that it doesn't matter anymore.
£DIT: but honestly, I believe most of the clichéd advise is probably correct, and that you can effectively quit only if you want to quit. Most people who try don't really want to.
For example, if someone wants to quit cigarettes, they could figure out how many they smoke per day. Now, this week, could they smoke only N-1 per day? Next week, could they smoke only N-2 per day?
Maybe it seems excruciatingly slow, but is it really? Plan it out. Get a calendar and hang it somewhere prominent and write down what is supposed to be taking place each week.
Slow and steady can accomplish anything. No heroics necessary. Just be relentless.
Best wishes to your friend. I often thank my parents for quitting smoking when I was born; if they hadn't, they'd be gone now, or in absolute ruins healthwise.
Quitting is a lifestyle change, much like losing weight. While doing the above, the trick is to gradually change habits. Instead of that cigarette, do Something else. Remember to be forgiving - one day messing up is simply one day messing up, tomorrow is a new day. Same for 10 days.
An additional suggestion is before or during the gradual cutdown on cigarettes, I suggest breaking smallish smoking habits as well. For example, waiting a little longer every day after meals and after waking (two major habit times), going one workbreak a day without a cigarette (I suggest reading or drinking liquid).
And keep in mind that part of the process is learning to be around others that smoke. Smoking can be a social activity and flavors your social life to a point.
Lastly, find something to help with the bits of enjoyment/relaxation the person loses through the day. This is, I think, the true reason an antidepressant helps some people quit. Perhaps developing a relaxation technique (used for anxiety or for things like meditation) would help, or having varied little daily rewards.
Good luck to them, for sure.
There is actually no joy of smoking, the pleasure that you get is not because you are smoking right now, but because you've been smoking before and the body is addicted to have your next one. When you surrender to that addiction and smoke a cigarette you are thinking "what a joy", but actually what happens is "here's a little more nicotine to you, sick brain".
This helped me keep up 2 months no smoking. I later started again, because it really is a fight every day which I lost. I still know exactly what happens when I smoke, though.
https://www.reddit.com/r/electronic_cigarette was a lot of help.
But I really wanted to quit (see my other comment). If you don't actually, you personally want to quit, you can't quit, and no lecturing or examples of people getting sick or even dying around you will change that.
The smell and act of smoking disgusts me when I'm sober but as soon as any booze hits my lips, I instantly want a cigarette.
Any tips for kicking this? I've been doing it on and off for 18 years so time to stop.
Fairly comprehensive list of studies related to the matter, commented in german: http://blog.rursus.de/studienliste/
I think its worth a shot.
Good luck.
"It's a battle every day."
The mentality that the war is never over is an elucidating one for those of us without a substance abuse history.
Even if your friend can't give up nicotine, he/she will be worlds better vaping.
Although people are different and motivation is different for everyone.
There's an old and jaded phrase, "You're unique, just like everyone else." The same can be said about addiction, "You're addicted, just like everyone else." When put in such simple and straightforward terms, the commonality of harmful addictions like smoking shines through. You're not the first person or the only person with a harmful habit. The good news is that we can change our habits. The bad news is that changing a habit takes effort.
The problem is not smoking itself since if only done on rare occasions it can be exceedingly pleasurable, instead, the real problem is the habit of smoking. It's the _repeated_ and _extensive_ exposure to smoke entering your system that eventually kills you. The rates of emphysema and cancer (lung, mouth, throat, stomach, colorectal, ...) due to smoke exposure are extremely high in poor places where people cook their food over open flames or burn wood for heat without adequate ventilation. If you are a habitual tobacco smoker, then you're certainly not the only one killing yourself with smoke, and unlike you, many must endure the smoke to get the food and heat they need to just survive. You have it easy. You have a choice.
The harmful habits are reinforced by the positive feedback of pleasure. Another old and jaded phrase, "Too much of a good thing," comes to mind, but the misguided phrase, "All things in moderation," is dangerous. The trouble with the idea of all things in moderation is some things are simply too addictive to even try, so they pose an irrational risk of addiction. Nicotine is _immensely_ addictive on a chemical basis. In fact, the neurotransmitter receptor often used to measure the addictive qualities of substances is actually named after nicotine:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotinic_acetylcholine_recept...
You may, or may not, understand all the biochemistry involved, but most people can understand the logic of how a simple chemical compound like nicotine can cause a pleasurable response, and the pleasure can lead to a habitual addiction.
If you are already addicted to a pleasurable but harmful habit, a mental trick to solve the problem is to decide to never quit, but also decide to break the _habit_ of pursuing your addiction regularly. You can harness your inner procrastinator to your advantage by simply saying, "Maybe I'll have a smoke later," when the urge hits you. Over time, the beneficial procrastination gets easier and easier. The common "Smoking Cessation" products, both prescribed and over-the-counter, like nicotine patches, gum, and mints may be helpful in your procrastination efforts, but be wary of the all too common problem of replacing one addiction with another.
Some have claimed that "electronic cigarettes" (e-cigs, vaporizers, vape) are useful for smoking cessation, but I have not personally seen any peer reviewed research results to support such claims. Similar to the proven "Smoking Cessation" products (patch, gum, mints), the e-cigs can provide nicotine in a form other than smoke, but since the nicotine itself is addictive, you still have the same substantial risk of merely replacing one addiction with another. The common claims nicotine infused e-cigs being harmless are pure bullshit -- There is a reason why all the major tobacco companies now have their own brands of e-cigs; they want you to become addicted.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26270431
http://www.ccjm.org/cgi/doi/10.3949/ccjm.82a.14054
>ABSTRACT
>Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)—devices that generate a nicotine vapor that can be inhaled by the user in a fashion that mimics the experience of smoking—are increasing in popularity, and many people seem to view them as reasonable alternatives to nicotine replacement therapy to help them refrain from smoking. Physicians should not encourage such a view. E-cigarettes are unregulated nicotine delivery systems that have never been subjected to any kind of testing of safety or of efficacy as nicotine replacement therapy. Moreover, for young people who have never smoked, these devices could potentially serve as a gateway drug.
The claims of nicotine itself being harmless are also bullshit.
Nicotine itself causes cancer (i.e. it's carcinogenic). You don't need to be a genius or even particularly adept in chemistry to realize how nicotine is carcinogenic due to how it reacts in the body. Without being too fancy or confusing, when Nicotine loses its methyl group, it becomes Nornicotine which when exposed to mild acids (syliva, digestive tract, lungs, or even acids in blood) becomes Nitronornicotine (NNN) which _IS_ classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 Carcinogen.
Smokers die of colorectal cancer, but it's not due to being assholes, instead, it's due to simple chemistry that everyone can understand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Carcinogen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nornicotine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-Nitrosonornicotine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_1_carcinogen
Yes, wikipedia disagrees with me about nicotine being a carcinogen, but wikipedia is dangerously wrong. The above linked pubmed paper is a good place to start reading (references) about the role nicotine plays in carcinogenesis, but there is a lot more research out there if you dig. The tobacco (and e-cig) industry is continuously doing everything it can to prevent nicotine from being properly classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The editing wars on the wikipedia nicotine page between the tobacco industry and health (research) professionals are staggering and notorious. You do not need to be a conspiracy theory kook to see all the blatant corruption and manipulation at work under the guise of fake "neutrality" on wikipedia.
Additionally, since nicotine is an effective appetite suppressant, you can expect to be hungry. Unless you can avoid replacing the satiation pleasure of smoking with satiation pleasure of eating, you will gain weight, possibly a lot of weight. In this overly image conscious world, the very idea of possibly getting fat(er) can be reprehensible enough for some to chose smoking over weight gain -- This is a false dichotomy. Using a fallacy of false choice to justify a continuation of a harmful habit is simply irrational. Human biology has evolved to both crave salts, fats, proteins, and sugars for survival, so the risk of replacing a harmful smoking habit with a harmful eating habit is very significant. Once you learn to harness your inner procrastinator to defer smoking (indefinitely), you may need to also harness it to eat less by deferring eating until later. Also, when you do mistakenly gorge yourself on food, you'll notice something extremely odd, namely, you're still hungry, so you'll eventually learn how eating fails to actually solve the (new) problem of a perceived hunger sensation/craving. Small snacks of low fat cottage cheese (or tofu) and fruit may help, and some healthy salt cured foods like olives and pickles may also help. The goal is to have a small amount of reasonably healthy food that checks off all the required boxes (salts, fats, proteins, and sugars).
Your friend may be (rightfully) skeptical, but one of the know ways to stop smoking is refusing to quit, and surprisingly, the procrastination method works well for breaking or changing all sorts of harmful habits. I wish your friend the best of luck.