Confession - I never quit nicotine.

[pewep]

Hey guys, I just wanted to air this out because BHW is like my personal catholic priest that I can tell my darkest, craziest shit to and get absolved. You heard that right, this is where I go to church.

I never quit nicotine. It's the one drug I haven't been able to shake off. It's WAY fucking harder than even alcohol.

I got into smoking actually kind of late - when I was 21. After finally being legally able to drink, I'd go to a hookah bar and just chill out. Those first months were bliss to be honest and like an idiot I thought I was immune to getting addicted. I don't remember when it was exactly, but I woke up one day and I just knew I needed to smoke. I've been hooked since.

Eventually I quit smoking - even ecigs make my lungs hurt really badly and started dipping because it's actually less harmful to your overall health including tooth loss (yes, can source this fact). Also, dipping allowed me to successfully hide my habit from my parents and friends. This of course made the habit worse - because I was taking in a higher amount of nicotine. Finally, I quit that and now I'm on nicotine gum and have been for months. But I have absolutely no intention or willpower left to fight nicotine.

Has anyone here successfully quit smoking? How long did it take before you could feel normal again? What really gets me is that I'm already genetically pre-disposed to anger issues (look at my dad lol), combine that with celibacy and a little bit of sleep deprivation when I'm doing projects and I can turn into a total, total asshole.

But thanks to meditation, I can see when I'm going off the rails and really try to cool it...but it's like I keep fighting my thoughts 100X a minute trying to keep a cool head. It's exhausting. I hate feeling angry and just love being nice and peaceful. Nicotine sunk it's teeth DEEP into me and is refusing to let go...but I want to be free. Any tips please?

 

[AryabhattZero]

Change one addiction to another.
I switch smoking with mastrubation with eating, they have all made me shit.

But I think mastrubation is controllable (for me)

Once you stop doing a habit for 28 days you no longer feel to do it (I was able to stop constant smoking [cig] because of this, I still smoke weed 1-2 a month though).

 

[MR9]

Just another chain smoker here, tried countless times to quit it never happens. My dad failed too and I am his son after all. At this point I have accepted the harm it does to my body ... Sorry it doesn't help OP, I hope you can do it. Best of luck

 

[pewep]

Change one addiction to another.
I switch smoking with mastrubation with eating, they have all made me shit.

But I think mastrubation is controllable (for me)

Once you stop doing a habit for 28 days you no longer feel to do it (I was able to stop constant smoking [cig] because of this, I still smoke weed 1-2 a month though).

Yeah that's how I was able to bit alcohol dude: I stopped drinking alcohol and started taking caffeine regularly.

I'm definitely not going to masturbate because of my religious obligations, but I'm struggling to come up with something I can substitute nicotine for (not another goddamn drug please)...even just for the initial couple of days when it's really, really rough.

I remember when I was in jail I eventually stabilized after a few weeks...but the first thing I did when I got out and had some private time was to get a cigarette. God that fucking felt good - just chilling by the bus stop, free from bullshit, not a care in the world. I must have lost 10 years of stress in 3 minutes.

 

[pewep]

Just another chain smoker here, tried countless times to quit it never happens. My dad failed too and I am his son after all. At this point I have accepted the harm it does to my body ... Sorry it doesn't help OP, I hope you can do it. Best of luck

I feel you bro, I know this sounds fucked up but this is actually solid advice if you research it:

Switch to dipping tobacco. It will extend your lifespan. Smoking is SIGNIFICANTLY more deadly than dipping - and trust me dip will tickle your receptors in all the right ways. Or try ecigs - those hurt my lungs more than smoking, oddly enough, so I couldn't stick with it.

 

[MR9]

I feel you bro, I know this sounds fucked up but this is actually solid advice if you research it:

Switch to dipping tobacco. It will extend your lifespan. Smoking is SIGNIFICANTLY more deadly than dipping - and trust me dip will tickle your receptors in all the right ways. Or try ecigs - those hurt my lungs more than smoking, oddly enough, so I couldn't stick with it.

I tried e-cigs, premium e-liquids arent available around my place yet, those I found tasted freaking horrible. And yeah hurt my lungs too, tried 3 days, gave the vap to a friend and went back to smoking, man did I miss em !

Will definitely look into dipping, Thanks for the tip

 

[pewep]

I tried e-cigs, premium e-liquids arent available around my place yet, those I found tasted freaking horrible. And yeah hurt my lungs too, tried 3 days, gave the vap to a friend and went back to smoking, man did I miss em !

Will definitely look into dipping, Thanks for the tip

Sure man. To be honest, nicotine gum is also pretty decent and (of course) much less harmful than dip. Actually I haven't had any cravings for smoking or dip since I tried them. Of course I load up with 4 of them at a time (4 mgs) and a cup of coffee to get a good buzz hehe, but it might help you dude.

 

[MR9]

Sure man. To be honest, nicotine gum is also pretty decent and (of course) much less harmful than dip. Actually I haven't had any cravings for smoking or dip since I tried them. Of course I load up with 4 of them at a time (4 mgs) and a cup of coffee to get a good buzz hehe, but it might help you dude.

Thanks. Something is different about the cigs though, I don't know if it makes any sense, there is something with inhaling smoke from that burning stick between my fingers .. I never got the same feeling from anything else. Is it a phycological thing? probably. I'll see if I can find nicotine gums this Sunday at local shops .. I tried patches before, it definitely helps with the craving but the feeling is different.

 

[pewep]

Thanks. Something is different about the cigs though, I don't know if it makes any sense, there is something with inhaling smoke from that burning stick between my fingers .. I never got the same feeling from anything else. Is it a phycological thing? probably. I'll see if I can find nicotine gums this Sunday at local shops .. I tried patches before, it definitely helps with the craving but the feeling is different.

I 100% empathize with you on that.

Check this bro: you know what's kinda fucked up is when I quit dipping, the thing I missed most was the burning sensation in my gums which signaled that the buzz was about to come. The one thing that was most harmful about the habit was the one I missed the most. Lol. I can understand how having something between the fingers is kind of the same - I personally didn't miss that about cigs, but I think it's kind of the same. Honestly, I think that's mostly because you took a lower dose than you were used to. The nicotine delivered in a cigarette or dip is actually an order of magnitude higher than patches or gum, so I found myself having to up my dose significantly just to push back the cravings completely - then work my way around that. I think you might be surprised when you are not feeling any cravings at all, you can work through a lot of psychological traps.

Another trick you can try is this hehe: don't smoke for 1-2 days and really build up the craving then do patches or gum. The immediate relief you feel will also help to wire a new (less destructive) habit, that did it for me. I actually switched from dipping kind of by luck. I couldn't find anyone around town who had dip when I was traveling and was practically clawing on the walls after a week. I said fuck it and tried gum and it did wonders. Now I find the smell of tobacco (nevermind the taste) completely repulsive.

 

[Victory City]

Well when my "friends" told me to smoke with them I agree and I was like 16 and I was doing it for like 2 years couldn't stop. Can't stop till today

 

[pewep]

Well when my "friends" told me to smoke with them I agree and I was like 16 and I was doing it for like 2 years couldn't stop. Can't stop till today

Sorry to hear, man. You should try another nicotine delivery method - smoking is the worst way. It's not quitting, but it's better than nothing imo (I ain't a doctor, so don't take this advice as anything but a random dude on the internet talking).

 

[Greengolegend]

Started smoking from age 9 till age 16. I am now 19 and I only smoke half a cig on new years eve

 

[JV1999]

There's nothing wrong with nicotine gum, I think. As long as its pure nicotine without the cancerous stuff added.

When writing an article, I had to research ecigs, and some researchers said that nicotine is actually harmless (except for the addiction effect).

I don't see any problem with staying on nicotine gum. But it does tax your liver.

 

[neurosismro]

I have started since 17, 6 years now never thought to quit actually and I still don't.
I don't remember the last time when I didn't smoke for a day.

 

[HallLiz]

This post is making me want a smokea cig.

Quitting is one tough bitch. I can't make more than 3 weeks, it's as far as I've gotten. Chewing regular gum helps slow me down but I get so mad I start chewing like cow.

 

[cheva]

iv quit a few times but somehow it keeps climbing back into my hands. @AryabhattZero advice was correct, its easier to give up a habit if you replace it with another habit. Though 28 days is no rule, everyone is different.

 

[Jomasdf]

I was using a kind of tobaco we have here in Sweden which is much stronger than our cigarettes (it's also usable pretty much 24/7). Used it for about six years. Seven months ago I stoped and has been free from it ever since.

I don't think replacing an adiction with something else (like nicotine gum) is a great idea. It just shows that once resolution to quit isn't that strong and the risk of relapsing is high.

First I found the resolution to really wanting to quit, then trashed the stock I had at home and just pushed through.

Online confessions like these are great though. Whenever you feel a bit "weak", seek out a bit of comfort from others.

 

[thehoots]

Thanks. Something is different about the cigs though, I don't know if it makes any sense, there is something with inhaling smoke from that burning stick between my fingers .. I never got the same feeling from anything else. Is it a phycological thing? probably. I'll see if I can find nicotine gums this Sunday at local shops .. I tried patches before, it definitely helps with the craving but the feeling is different.

***too long; did not read:

You nailed it; the symptom you're describing is most certainly a psychological effect. We are all, for the most part, creatures of habit. It may help you to distract your habit with various sources - something to entertain, something to increase knowledge and/or insight, something to develop a habit on. If I can smoke for ten years, quit, tolerate the presence of cigarette touting individuals - you can do it, too!

***

To habitually hold a "nicotine stick", bring it back and forth, from the mouth, as you inhale and exhale for a lengthy period of your life? To do otherwise, your mind will shout, "something's not right! this is not routine!".

It is similar to the story of circus elephants - being captured and bound by chain until the will to break free is lost so that a simple rope can be used instead of a chain. The elephant feels no difference, other than being bound by the feet. Why? Because the elephant tried before and "gave up", it cannot differentiate between the sensation of being bound compared to the physical properties of what exactly is causing the bind.

You are that elephant bound by rope and you know you're bound by something simple. Such a mental environment can be cumbersome and it'll wear you down as the psychological and physical dependency sinks its teeth deeper and deeper.

I have enjoyed cigarettes for more than a decade. Physically and mentally, I can see the detrimental effect(s) take hold; it took nothing to irritate and aggravate me, as well as, leaving me short in breath - smoking cigarettes was one of the highlights of the day. Good heavens! A cigarette and a nice cup of coffee, well, just pure bliss to me, at least, in that moment of time.

So, how did I manage to free my elephant-self and trample those in the circus triumphantly? Pleasant distractions!

In the early moments of attempting to quit, I would distract myself with games or reading material. Think deeply for a moment and you'll realize that nicotine, in any form, is a source of distraction, or rather, a unnecessary act with no great benefit in the long term.

This may sound ridiculous, but playing Grand Theft Auto 3 on my Android smartphone did the brunt of distracting me from a unhealthy distraction. I would play for ten minutes, or so, and do some heinous activities in that time span which always, always ended up in an extravagant police chase. Turn the radio to classic rock, drive on the sidewalk, plow every pedestrian in sight while shooting at others across the street - sick and twisted entertainment!

There are moments where I would surf through the BH forums to distract myself and learn something new while I am at it. I would have moments where I would simply do a short and brief jog; just enough distance to stir up the heartrate and unload natural dopamines to make me feel dandy as cotton candy.

Fight! Dig! Push! Shove! ( Not against people :{P )

Free yourself and reap the sensation of other [hopefully] healthier and beneficial "pleasant distractions"!

EDIT (for additional comments):

If anyone would like to PM me, I am more than willing to provide a source of distraction through conversation or even assist in finding a distraction. I cannot say I am the most interesting individual within this community, but I am a proficient listener and [so to speak] "conversater". I wish you all luck!

 

[JustUs]

Hey guys, I just wanted to air this out because BHW is like my personal catholic priest that I can tell my darkest, craziest shit to and get absolved. You heard that right, this is where I go to church.

I never quit nicotine. It's the one drug I haven't been able to shake off. It's WAY fucking harder than even alcohol.

Any tips please?

I know that you have said that e-cigs hurt you lungs. Never-the-less, this is the best advise I can give:

Ejuice can be made several different ways. The formulation of e-juice will affect the sensation you feel. Look into the mixtures of Glycerine and Propylene Glycol. Propylene Glycol will create more of a throat hit while Glycerine creates more of a lung hit. The hit being where you feel it. These are usually referred to as VG/PG; Glycerine is vegetable derived. I use a 50/50 mix. Because of the 24 mg nicotine mix I use, it can make you cough, even experience vapers.

While nicotine is harmful ( I say that as a licensed pesticide applicator that sprays nicotides ), it is far less harmful than the other 3000 to 8000 compounds in a burning cigarette. There is medical research that supports that claim. There is very little in the way of studies by unbiased sources on e-cigs! There are industry studies, and anti-nicotine group studies, but all are biased to the industry that did the research. Basically it comes down to "We are biased against nicotine so any nicotine use is bad" and we are proponents of e-cigs therefore "E-cigs are less harmful than tobacco. There is a third line that runs along the line of "While VG and PG are approved food additives, there has been no study regarding the inhalation of either" and "Vg/PG are food additives, therefore they are harmless."

My own story is that I smoked most of my life. Often I smoke three pack per day or more of Camel studs. I tried to stop smoking for ten years without success. Via the use of E-cigs I stopped smoking cigarettes. I have not had a cigarette in over 2 years and do not miss them. Healthwise, my lungs are clear on X-rays and I have a greater tolerance for running and other oxygen intense activities.

Based on my experience, I woulds suggest that you find a blend of ejuice and a quality box mod and atomizer (or even the EGO one CT or VT) and use that to begin a smoking cessation program.

 

[TheRumBaron]

I feel you bro! Started smoking when i was 15, been hooked ever since. When i hit the age of 20 i was smoking about 30 cigs a day. So i tried:

Patches: Worked for about two days then started getting some of the most elaborate dreams one can imagine...and i dont mean doing snow white in the castle tower, was more like i need psychiatric help type dreams.

Inhaler: Utter crap, total shite....just did not replace the cigs, the fact that you were doing the same motion but not getting the same feeling as smoking a cig did F all.

Champix: To be fair to this, i have many many friends who used this successfully and who were heavier smokers than me, and they quit cold turkey after the recommended 14 days....for me did not work, however i did not give it a fair chance in the sense i simply did not follow the doctors instructions as i was on other meds and did not like the idea of combining this with them! So worth a try (i believe it is named something else in murica but you can goole it xD)

Gum: I have been using gum since 2013 and with a fair amount of success. I recommend trying Nicorette branded gum as it last longer (effect wise). People are often put off straight away by it because its not entirely similar to normal gum and that is the expectation they go in with. Once you get past that first 2 days of 'this is shite' you begin to really like it. My only problem with it is, it is really dam hard to come off of, and you can get mouth ulcers.

However since using gum, i am physically fitter, returned to gym, got my sense of taste back and genuinely wake up feeling pretty dam fresh. Despite still being expensive, it beats paying the £10 ($12) for a packet of 20 cigs in the UK.
Only downside is whenever i have drink (depsite my username and profile pic, it is not often), i do smoke and that is because mint and beer doesnt go well, nor does pausing your drink to chew gum for 30 mins.


Everyone reacts differently to different methods, its up to you totry different methods and find one that suits you. E-Cigs to me have always been the dumb choice, because you are doing the exact same thing as before. So i would advise looking at methods that break the habit of putting something to your mouth, inhaling then exhaling with pleasure being released....if you know what i mean!?

Good luck bro, whatever you try, best of luck man. Make sure whatever choices you make to quit, make sure they are suited to your personality, lifestyle and your bodies nicotine needs, i.e if you smoke 20 a day, use 4mg gum!

Always here to help, so if you wanna give me a shout just PM me!

All the best!

 

[blogzandstuff]

i smoke and don't want to give up. Get married, have kids, runs several businesses, be constantly called on a mobile, and you'll be glad to smoke.
I go outside , light up and walk off for five minutes of peace, ok so it'll kill me eventually but not before my wife does and it's cheaper