There are essentially two types of nicotine dependent folk: those who are able to quit with a bit of determination and possibly some medication support over a few months, and those who struggle intensely and may benefit from multiple supportive medications over a period of 1 to 3 years.

I was the former type of smoker. Even so, I “quit” multiple times before I finally stopped 2+ years ago.

When I did stop, I used a trick I learned from a colleague who specializes in hypnosis. I set a quit date about a month away. Then, each new pack of cigarettes I purchased immediately got a skull and crossbones drawn on the front and back using a sharpie. Then I also wrote my quit date on front and back.

Every time I went to light up, there was that damn skull mocking me. Without attempting to taper I dropped from 1+ PPD to about half-a-pack. At 11:35 PM on my quit date I lit my last cigarette.

I wish you fortitude in your endeavor and hope that this comment finds you already smoke free.

As for chatting, sure. I’m extremely busy until Monday with this event we’re attending at work but I’ll shoot you an email after that.

Thanks for the encouragement, I have spent the weekend catching up with the family and some friends and have so far managed to avoid it.

I was using one of the inhalers which was working quite well but now I am on gum as I couldn’t get a refill last night.

Kinda feel like you are doing drugs when using the inhaler but I think it’s a good thing as it adds weight to what I am trying to do.

I will try and keep a diary of my efforts, I only just got back from London and my site has been down due to fires and stuff at the data center it is hosted at.

@Nils I am loving the idea of a social web / stopping smoking thing, we should have a chat about that…

They say quitting is contagious – socially – and that seems to be the case.

It is expensive, but not more so than smoking a pack a day. The past few days I’ve been lighting fags as a reflex, only to put them out after a drag or two. Maybe a bit of added motivation will do the trick finally. Let us know how it goes. We’ll set up a quitters’ wiki or something :)

I love smoking, I really do, but I finally gave it up using Chantix (or Champix in some parts of the world)–going cold turkey never worked for me. I went from at least a pack a day to none in a really short time.

Chantix does have some side effects that can make taking it not the right choice for some people, and it’s expensive if your insurance doesn’t cover it.

But it works for nearly half the people who take it, which is a fantastic number for a smoking cessation product.

Whatever happens, good luck! It’s not easy no matter what route you take, but it does get easier and easier over time.

I know i’ll die – some time at least- but like this? Nah, I just gave up. Hope I’ll be able to escape the addiction. And you’re right: it probably even isn’t that hard.

Cheers

They just went to re-classify cannabis in this country once again but fail to “classify” smoking as one of the most poisonous habbits we as humans partake in.

Go figure!

Smoking is great, nicotine agrees with me. Makes me feel all sharp and great. I used to love smoking.

I love my family more.

You know what else though I think the pervasive PR about how hard it is to quit might be connected to the tobacco industry. And you know what else? THOSE FUCKERS DON”T EVEN SMOKE.