I am a smoker, i'm ashamed of it but that's the reality I face. I have tried to stop more times than I can remember.
The more I think about quitting it seems the more I smoke.
I suffer PTSD, PND and Anxiety and I find on my low days I almost chain smoke.
I am allergic to the patches, the spray and mini tabs give me the worst heart burn.
I HAVE seen my doctor and have a wealth of information and have pamphlets coming out my ears on different methods I can use and meds i can take eg champix etc etc etc.
I would like to hear from other mums that have actually given up successfully. What helped you the most.
I have 4 very young children and I fear for them growing up without a mother, I think of all the things I am likely to miss in their lives if I don't stop and stop soon and it scared the crap out of me. (I'm 36, smoked for 15 years now)
Respectfully I'd prefer not to hear suggestions from anyone that has never smoked, never successfully given up or to just use the cold turkey approach. My husband did it that way and I never hear the end of it. Obviously it hasn't worked.
I am desperate to know how REAL people have beaten this wretched addiction.
Sisterhood, I am desperate for your help.
7 Replies
Are you open to hypnosis?
I am a smoker still and in the same boat! I did quit for 4 months using champion but sadly went back during a very stressful time in my life :(
I am going to try hypnosis although with PTSD I suffer my doctor has said it may not work.
Good luck :)
I am currently using champix and it is working. I am 30 & have smoked for 16 years. Have two children, work full time & trying to study. And have split with my husband this year. I also suffer anxiety & depression.
I have been trying to quit since April this year. I first tried patches and it took a long time for them to start working. But then my dr wanted me to stop, as I had been using them for over 3 months & I wasn't confident that I would not stop, so I went on champix. One of my problems is that you need to eat before u take the tablet. I stuggle to eat anything decent in the morning, if I dont im really sick. If I do, im great, no desire to want a smoke at all.
Sometimes I forget to take my tablets for a few days & I will be hanging for a smoke. Then I realise, have my tablet and it will eventually go away.
When having a drink I still love a smoke. But when I have it its gross.
I know if I take the tablets I will be fine to not smoke, but I am still not confident to stop taking champix yet.
I also never had a desire to give up smoking ever. I could never imagine never not smoking.
But now, I can see hope. I just keep trying. And keep remembering to take the tablets.
Good luck to you.
I am 32, have a 4 year old and 2 year old and have been trying to quit for TEN YEARS. I have not got the best self control but I've been on champix since late August and I KNOW I can keep going but it's still hard. I still occasionally want a smoke, when the kids r behaving badly I find it hard to stay calm as I no longer have my smokes as stress relief. I'm getting counselling to learn new relaxation and calming strategies and help me to THINK like a non smoker. I don't have physical cravings but mentally I still want one occasionally. Once you have an addiction u will b addicted for life, just one is enough to start the horrible habit again. I don't go where people smoke, I don't catch up with friends who smoke, I changed all my routines and even gave away my "smoking chair" that sat on the back landing.
Have faith in urself, surround urself with people who believe in you or can pretend to believ in u and call people who know what u r going through when u need a little push to stay strong.
GOOD LUCK & I KNOW U CAN DO IT xox
Hi there, I too am 36 and had been smoking since I was 16! I quit about 7 years ago using champix and it was great, however stupidly took smoking back up about 3 & 1/2 years ago!! 6 months ago tomorrow I went and saw a hypnotist as I was desperate to quit again after trying champix, patches, gum and everything! I am pleased to say hypnotism worked for me as I haven't had a cigarette in 6 months, it's been a lot easier this time too!! Good luck and never stop trying!!
I started by cutting down to 3 a day first (morning, after work, then after dinner). Then once I had that nailed I just reduced it one at a time. In between I would chew chewing gum when I wanted to smoke. I also drank lots of coffee & water, I also gave up drinking alcohol for a bit as I found that was when I wanted to smoke most. The main thing is if you have a bad day, start fresh the next day, don't give up all progress when you slip up. As you have small kids maybe when you feel the need for a smoke grab a kid and have a cuddle and a dance to distract yourself and also reinforce why your quitting. Good luck mumma and feel free to reach out to me if you need too, you will do this!
If you suffer anxiety you are going to find it harder than most people to quit nicotine. Nicotine has a very soothing effect on anxiety which explains why smoking rates amongst mental health patients are so much higher than among the general population. It's self medication. My advice to you based on personal experience is don't try to quit nicotine. Just try to quit smoking. Nicotine on it's own is no more harmful than caffeine. There are a range of alternative ways of taking nicotine that are far less harmful. E.g. Swedish snus and ecigs. I personally use ecigs and I couldn't be happier. I used to smoke forty a day. The trick is to turn your mindset around. You know when you quit that 'just one' will start you on the slippery slope and you'll be back to smoking full time soon so you spend your life constantly telling yourself 'no' and beating yourself up for every failure. Instead congratulate yourself for every success. When I started with the ecig I gave myself permission to smoke whenever I wanted. But I put the smokes in an inconvenient place and a had a rule that I could only get one from the packet at a time. Then I kept the ecig with me at all times. For the first two weeks I was getting used to the ecig. The taste for it takes a while to grow on you and I wasn't really smoking any less. But then suddenly it took hold and I began counting my cigs each day. For about 3 weeks the number dropped by a couple each day. I didn't force it. A couple of times I got stressed and the number went up but then started declining again. It was the most effortless pathway to quitting I've ever tried. And here's the thing. I can do something that would have been inconceivable using other quit methods. I still keep a packet of cigs in the house. If I really do want one I can have one with no fear that it will start me back on the path to full time smoking. It really is 'just one'. That fact alone is a huge thing for me. Having just one doesn't trigger the cravings. It's genuinely something I can have because I want it/enjoy it. Not because I need it. The one problem with ecigs is they are complicated to learn. Those like little cigarette lookalike types are useless. You need decent gear. If you do decide to try them feel free to message me and I'll help out with some advice on how to get started. How ecigs have benefited me and mine is something I can't measure. I hope a lot more smokers discover them. Particularly those with mental health barriers to quitting using standard methods.