Just an answer from a quitter after 35 years smoking and having my dear husband of 35 years die of lung cancer while I watched and cared for him, as I had another cigarette!
Believe me when I say I know exactly what you're going through and I know exactly what I'm talking about!!
Doesn't matter what you do, how you do it or who tells you what to do. None of it will work until you quit saying "I'm gonna TRY to quit smoking AGAIN".
When you "try", that leaves you an "out" for when you fail. You can always say, "oh well, I TRIED".
Nothing works until you really make up your mind to. I mean you have absolutely no choice left but to quit and you'll be damned if you don't make it work!!!!
You go into it with the knowledge you are going to want a cig.
You go into it with the knowledge that when you want a cig. you will not dwell on it. If you dwell on it you will make
yourself miserable.
The urge passes in less than a minute if you allow it. If you don't, then it will last all day! And you're doing it to yourself.
Like with any addiction....drugs....alcohol, etc. You have to make a lifestyle change. You can't continue the same ole, same ole and expect to succeed.
If you are an alcoholic, you don't go into a bar and expect to not drink!!!! You don't hang out with the same drinking buddies and expect to not want to drink.
You shower, shower, shower, shower!!!!!!
You wash EVERYTHING you wear, even it it was clean in the drawers or hanging in the closet. The smoke in the house clings to everything, clean or dirty!!
You shampoo the carpets, furniture, inside of the car.
You shower, shower, shower. You will stink for about 3-4 days. Drink lots of water. You try all different deodorants.....nothing helps. Shower, shower, shower.
If you used to light up when on the phone, do NOT talk on the phone only if you absolutely HAVE to for about 2 weeks.
Tell your friends ahead of time. After a meal can be rough. Plan ahead of time to do something after a meal to take the place of that cig. Maybe a jog, walk, read your bible for 15 minutes......something different.
Do NOT have time on your hands. With all the scrubbing you have to do, you should drop into bed exhausted and every minute of the day should be filled.
You may not notice the smell of smoke in your house or car. Believe me, it's there and it's telling your subconscious that you want that cigarette. Thus, the urge will come. That is why you have to begin new....fresh. You can't "cover up the smell with sprays.
I'm telling you. After 35 years of trying to quit using everything at my disposal to succeed and failing, the above strategies were the only thing that worked for me and they stand to reason. But even still, these won't work unless you've made your mind up that there is no going back.
Also, the urges subside tremendously after 3 days. They still come but not like the first 3 days. Live one hour at a time, then one day at a time. Then know for the rest of your life, there will be times when the urges hit and you just have to laugh at yourself and say, "not on your life!!!" The urge passes quickly and you go about your life.
Always remember: ONE CIGARETTE IS TOO MANY, AND 1000 CIG. ARE NOT ENOUGH! Never, never, never, out of curiosity do you pick up another cigarette as long as you live thinking you can "put it back down again". It doesn't work that way. That one cigarette will never be enough, I promise you. It's a wicked joke to make you think you can just try one.
I'm telling you, though, you absolutely cannot hang around those who smoke. If they cannot understand that then they are not your friend. Stay away from all smoke!
Cold turkey is the only method. Any of those patches, gum and pills just keep the nicotine in your system longer and you still have that physical addiction to quit and it won't work.
Good luck, remember to pray and shower, shower, shower!!
Smile
I am an RN