Reply #118: I quit the easy way on September 1st

[many a good man]

I smoked over 30 years and like everyone else the hardest part is the psychological. I highly recommend Allen Carr's book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking because it teaches you to change the way you think about smoking. It has strengthened my resolve to stay quit. I now find it extremely easy now NOT to smoke.

I quit cold turkey, no nicotine substitutes. The first day was unbearably miserable, and the next two were tolerably miserable. The first three weeks I felt antsy but now I'm fine.

When you get the craving you're tempted to smoke thinking that will satisfy it. That's wrong thinking. Smoking is what creates the craving. The stronger the craving the stronger should be your determination NOT to smoke.

Nicotine addiction is like a tapeworm. The only way to kill it is to starve it to death. After three weeks it's dead.

My wife still smokes and I have no problem being around other smokers. I am a happy non-smoker. She is going to quit soon and this the advice I am giving her and anyone else based on my experience:

1) Make the decision that you are going to be a non-smoker.

2) Pick a quit date. It should preferably be the start of a three day weekend or a vacation. Pick a time when you won't have lots of responsibilities or people around.

3) Start taking Zyban (Wellbutrin) about a week before your quit date. It may give you insomnia or make you feel weird for the first few days. If possible start tapering down your nicotine intake as it will make the withdrawal period a little easier.

4) Quit.

To be a happy non-smoker, you have to realize that you're not sacrificing anything. You're not giving up a damn thing. There's not a single god damn thing about smoking that is any good. You just brainwashed yourself into thinking there is. Addiction is slavery. Enjoy your freedom.



Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds.