Quitting With Cryptogee - Become A Nonsmoker Part 2
Welcome to part 2 of Quitting With Cryptogee - Become A Nonsmoker. In the first part we looked at techniques to help you overcome your physical cravings and how to determine the difference between those and your psychological cravings.
Now let's dive straight in and look at other techniques that will help you along your journey of becoming a nonsmoker.
Replace Oral Fixation
I'm sure Sigmund Freud would have had a field day with smokers. He would somehow have linked the habit back to the penis and/or the father. The fact remains is smoking is an oral habit, you stick the thing in your mouth and suck on it and inhale its burnt odours (hmm when you put it like that it is quite symbolically phallic!).
The point is you may find you need to replace that phallic symbolism with something else, however, do not replace it with another tube like object, as I've seen some people do. Rather get some really strong mouthwash and/or always have a bottle of water handy.
The mouthwash will leave a taste in your mouth that is completely antithetical to smoking, and the water will provide you with that momentary 'hit'.
It seems simple, but trust me, it works.
Light To Medium Smokers Should Avoid Vapes & Nicotine Patches
I'm only going to speak for the light to medium smokers here, because that's what I considered myself. Even though I was smoking about 5-10 joints a day, they contained probably around six cigarettes, as I used the (rolling tobacco) equivalent of around half a ciggy in each one.
So maybe if you're a heavy smoker this is bad advice, I simply don't know.
For the rest of you who smoke under 10 a day, I would strongly advise that you don't swap one addiction for another. This is because you are not really giving up, sure vaping may be healthier (we don't know yet, it's such a new activity) and patches probably are healthier.
The fact is if for some reason your vape has run out of batteries and you can't charge, or you've forgotten your patches, you're much more likely to reach for a ciggy to keep you going.
Just cold-turkey it, it's only 3 days, and if your reason for giving up is strong enough, you'll be able to get through those days without having to resort to another source of that super addictive drug.
Seek Support When The Cravings Get Too Much
I live in the UK and we have something called the National Stop Smoking Helpline. So the other day when England were about to play their game in the World Cup, I knew I was going to be at a friend's house with a bunch of people who would be smoking cigarettes and joints.
I could feel that I was definitely going to give in and ask for a puff or two, I could feel myself rationalising why it would be fine to have a quick crafty puff.
However I knew that I did not want to do this, as it would put me through another 72 hours of hell, and I would feel really crappy afterwards for giving in.
I was going out of my mind, I really wanted to go and socialise with my friends and watch the football together, but I didn't want to smoke.
So I called the helpline and spent 15 minutes chatting to a lovely lady called Donna, who talked me through it. She gave me the mouthwash advice (told me to put it in the fridge to get an even sharper taste!).
There's an old saying; A problem shared is a problem halved. After just a few minutes of talking to her I felt better, plus it was almost like I was telling my subconscious; 'look, I'm really serious about this non-smoking thing, so you'd better get on board with it.'
If you don't have an equivalent in your country, then tell some of your nonsmoking friends that you may have to call them for support from time to time, or even just to hang out with them. They're your friends, they'll help you through it!
Last But Not Least Plan Your Exit!!
This one is so simple yet so effective, I have left it to the end because after reading articles such as this, it is easy to get all fired up and think; 'right that's it, I'm giving up right now!'
It is best if you plan it, think about your life for the next 2-3 weeks, have you got certain social engagements coming up, or perhaps you know you'll be particularly stressed at work or home?
Don't give up in one of these periods, rather say to yourself I will give up the week after next, or on a certain date.
Then what you can do to strengthen this is to slowly back away from your Pavlovian habits. So instead of immediately lighting up when you finish a meal, wait a few minutes. Same for when you have a drink, see your friend or whatever.
This will help with your psychological cravings when you finally do give up.
Just remember you are bigger than cigarettes, literally, they are tiny little things, you're massive compared to them! :-)
Good luck, though you won't need it because you're super strong!!!
ARE YOU FINDING IT HARD TO QUIT SMOKING; WHAT IS MOTIVATING YOU TO DO SO? OR MAYBE YOU'RE A HEAVY SMOKER THAT FEELS THEY CAN'T STOP? AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!
Title Image: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Hahaha.....These words are the real gems. One who wants to quit smoking may follow these words.
In my 2 cents opinion it's our will which enforce us to do some thing either good or bad. If we control over will all the things get easier. All the best to the people who are trying to quit smoking. and thanks @cryptogee for sharing nice tips to quit smoking
Yes indeed willpower, it's like a muscle though, you have to exercise it to get stronger!
Cg
Well said. It is like a muscle. The more you exercise the better it is. Let's wish that all smokers use muscle power :p oops sorry I mean will power to quit smoking.
Im gonna start after this funeral for my aunt. Dont wanna backslide!! Great info.
Thanks for sharing.
Joy
So sorry to hear about your aunt :-(.
Yes definitely start after this sad event, make a date in your diary and start putting the pieces into place.
You can do it!!! :-D
Cg
K
totally! the tiny cigarette can potentially wreak havoc in your lives. Besides, there's emotional and financial cost of puffing a pack a day. although we cannot always be rational, using the helpline to share the burden of quitting is a great way to start. Awesome job!
I'm a heavy smoker, my Doctor wants me to quit. I'm not sure if it is what I want to do at this time. I know that if i'm not motivated to quit, any attempt is destined to fail.
I did ask her if I could switch to vaping. She told me not to do that, she has seen people get very ill from contaminated vaping liquid.
If your doctor wants you to, then it is for a specific health reason, use that as your motivation.
Plus have a sporty goal in mind, maybe not running a marathon, but something you find difficult or impossible now because of your smoking.
If I were you, I would make a date in my diary and then on that day, try not to smoke for an hour later than you would normally.
Then make another date, maybe the next week and take that to two hours.
You are going to need lots of support, speak to nonsmokers and keep chatting with your doctor.
Each time you take a drag, think about the 250 different carcinogenic chemicals in each lung full. Start to exercise more because that is a natural way to stop smoking.
You CAN do it!
Cg
Thank you for the suggestions. I will think of something to do to celebrate. The smoking hasn't really affected my ability to do sporty things.
Thanks once more.
If we are so determined enough, their is nothing we cannot achieve,but no matter how determined one is, keeping out with friends that are still involved in what you are trying to stop will always end you in it.
I wish we have such an helpline here in Nigeria too, but, speaking wit right friends can do the wonders too.
Thanks so much dear.
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I have been needing to quit for years. The best I did was two weeks but I broke down and smoked again. Maybe I will try the mouthwash thing next time.
" I was smoking about 5-10 joints a day, they contained probably around six cigarettes [...]." I never really mixed the two. It isn't the custom here so even though I have smoked tobacco for years the concept seems alien. I have wondered if that would be a good way to ease yourself off, though. Start with half weed and half tobacco then cut the tobacco back, you get the idea. It probably wouldn't work but it would be fun trying lol.
I have been cutting it down but even with good parts I end up just catching up again, smoke maybe 3 the whole day and between 10pm and 1am I finish the pack. I think cold turkey and mouth wash will need to be the solution for me since I am sooooo good at convincing myself to just have one and then I will totally take a long break between but the break never comes.
My biggest problem is drinking. My impulse control is almost non existant anyway. Throw in a couple beers and I've got a devil on both shoulders telling me to have a smoke.