Freedom’s guide to quitting nicotine.

[crashy420]

I just stoped smoking cigs, when ever I get the urge I will read your guide. It is pretty hard to quit smoking in las vegas since it seems like every where I go everyone smokes. So i hope to be sucessfull so far it has been around a week. Thanks for the info and the inspiration to quit

[kms brown]

Hey freedom. So I quit again, its day 3, I quit because i was sick last week, got over, and now im sick again. Im sick of being sick lol.

Anyway, my mouth is turning into the titanic. I have what appears to be a cold sore on the inside of my lip, but it doesnt hurt, its just beat up skin. My gums bleed when i brush, so i scrub more vigorously and use mouth wash. Little shreds of skin are comming off the roof of my mouth and the skin under my tongue is getting pretty beat up.

Is that a normal reaction? Or should i see a doctor?

This didnt happen last time i quit (lol oxymoron) but i also wasnt as heavily addicted either.

I also had to quit smoking weed during my quitting process. Cigs were part of the ritual and helped cope with the come down so It was a neccisary action.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by The zebra fish

Good guide, freedom. I myself made the choice to quit again last month. I was a smoker for 2 1/2 years. I tried to quit once, and made it two months without a cigarette. Then I broke down, and smoked one with a friend....then one more the next day...then bought a pack the next day.

I got so tired of not being able to run straight for 5 minutes without wheezing and coughing, and made the choice to quit again. Sometimes I still get the urge to light one up, but I'm going strong.


Always remember blades, the first two days are the worst. It only gets easier from then on.

Thanks for looking and contributing zebra fish. It was a constant surprise to me how far down the line your addiction could still catch you out. Even now, occasionally my brain will say 'I bet you could have just one'.... It's a good thing my conscious mind knows this isn't true.

Keep strong man, you've done a very cool thing.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by NYCdeisel

I believe what freedom said earlier to be true, your either at full blown addiction or your a strict NON smoker. The same thing happened to my dads friend whn they started hanging out, my dad was always smoking, friend asked to leave him one cig, nextr day it was 2 cigs, and so on....I think the worst thing is trying to be around people who are smoking when you want to quit really

Thanks for reading my guide man.

That aspect is like anything else. It's only difficult if you let your brain tell you it is. Being with someone else who smokes doesn't have to mean it results in you smoking too. I'm not denying how hard it is, but it's no different to saying "I really need a cig after a meal, in the end that made me crack".
If you have made a conscious decision to become an non smoker, then it makes no difference who is smoking around you. It was always gonna happen, you can't stop other people smoking, so think in advance about how you will cope when it happens.

I can actually really enjoy the smell of someone else cig now, it doesn't bother me and it doesn't make me wanna smoke.

Look at the people smoking around you. As soon as you quit, you will start noticing differences between the way a smoker looks and the way you do. An executive smoker will look older than their years, have a gray tinge to their skin, and yeah you looked like that when you smoked too, and so did I , It's just that when we smoke, we can ignore it pretty effectively in order to justify keeping smoking.

There are varying degrees of smokers, but anyone who consistently goes back to the drug is addicted and must choose whether or not they wanna deal with it.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by crashy420

I just stoped smoking cigs, when ever I get the urge I will read your guide. It is pretty hard to quit smoking in las vegas since it seems like every where I go everyone smokes. So i hope to be sucessfull so far it has been around a week. Thanks for the info and the inspiration to quit

You're very welcome man, that shit makes me happy.

If everyone in Vegas smokes, do you really wanna follow the herd? Be the first Las Vegasan (?) to be a smug non smoker. Individuality ftw!

BTW, it is a side affect that everyone will seem to be smoking. It's all relative, talk to Einstein. If your girlfriend suddenly told you she was pregnant, you would be seeing babies and children everywhere.

Shoot me a pm if I can help dude, you're doing great.

Remember blades, your brain is just waiting to fuck you over with this stuff! If you feel like picking up a cig, just when you think you're doing great, take 5 mins to think about what you are doing, 'cos in five mins I bet you talk yourself out of it.

[myles117]

Originally Posted by freedom4ever

Hey bright eyes. Don't bodge them with nicotine!

That’s ok man and it’s probably a sign that you won’t keep repeating this cycle forever. I could never understand how someone could smoke a bit then not have another one for a month! For me, it was every five minutes or nothing!! Lol. But you know me, everything in excess.


So, in order to understand why being around smokers makes you cave, you need to think about what in those moments is tempting you.
Is it the smell? In which case, why not just enjoy the smell of the other person’s cig.
Is it envy? They’re smoking and getting that buzz, you want it too….
Think about the thought process you go through in those moments. What does your brain tell you, to justify you having a smoke after a month of not going near them?

Is it possible that this is your addiction?

Have you made a conscious decision to try and quit? ‘Cos if ya wanna, ya gotta.

Sorry to launch loads of q’s at you! I promise establishing the answers are an important part in working out why we behave the way we do.

I posted my prob then didnt subscribe before leaving. Sorry to have not read your answer till now. I appreciate the response alot.

When Im sround other smokers its def the smell that triggers the urge to smoke one. But the smell is only pulling me to have one because it is linked to the feeling of nicotine in my mind. My brain isn't screaming at me to smoke a cig but there is a feeling of want thats def there.

I told myself Im quitting a few times. Most of my smoking past has been one main drag of heaviest use (ten a day, I know it aint as bad as some) but the last year has been on and off. When I do, I barely finish a pack before they get stale.

My brain is nuts!!! Thats the answer Thanks for takin da time. I rlly doappreciate it alottt

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by kms brown

Hey freedom. So I quit again, its day 3, I quit because i was sick last week, got over, and now im sick again. Im sick of being sick lol.

Anyway, my mouth is turning into the titanic. I have what appears to be a cold sore on the inside of my lip, but it doesnt hurt, its just beat up skin. My gums bleed when i brush, so i scrub more vigorously and use mouth wash. Little shreds of skin are comming off the roof of my mouth and the skin under my tongue is getting pretty beat up.

Is that a normal reaction? Or should i see a doctor?

This didnt happen last time i quit (lol oxymoron) but i also wasnt as heavily addicted either.

I also had to quit smoking weed during my quitting process. Cigs were part of the ritual and helped cope with the come down so It was a neccisary action.

Being ill blows dude, but it's a good time to quit. and look at it this way, you won't get ill anything like as much when you're an established non smoker.

Yeah man, the mouth issues are normal, but you gotta leave it alone or you're gonna make it really sore. If your gums bleed do not brush harder! We all have a tendency to keep 'tongueing' ulcers, but when your quitting nicotine your mouth does become the focus of attention.
Distract your self with drinks through straws and gum if necessary.
Without looking at your mouth and not being a doctor and not knowing more about your circumstances, I can't say for sure that what you are experiencing is down to the quitting, if you are concerned, then phone your doctor for a chat and don't forget to mention that you are in the process of quitting.
Having said that, my mouth felt like crap for at least the first week of quitting. At least you don't feel like smoking huh?

So day three, you're doing GREAT! Stay strong man, focus on the fact that you are gonna be feeling like a waaaay healthier person soon. Shout if you need help.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by myles117

I posted my prob then didnt subscribe before leaving. Sorry to have not read your answer till now. I appreciate the response alot.

When Im sround other smokers its def the smell that triggers the urge to smoke one. But the smell is only pulling me to have one because it is linked to the feeling of nicotine in my mind. My brain isn't screaming at me to smoke a cig but there is a feeling of want thats def there.

I told myself Im quitting a few times. Most of my smoking past has been one main drag of heaviest use (ten a day, I know it aint as bad as some) but the last year has been on and off. When I do, I barely finish a pack before they get stale.

My brain is nuts!!! Thats the answer Thanks for takin da time. I rlly doappreciate it alottt

As if there's anything I wouldn't do for ya!!

I didn't want you to feel interrogated, hated firing all those q's at ya! It wouldn't have mattered if from there you'd workshopped it on your own, so I didn't feel ignored.

Ya know, There aren't many people I would recommend this to, but if I were you, I would set a quit date (yeah, you're gonna have to read the guide again ) for sometime before you go to college, then in the two days before your quit day, smoke like a fooking trooper. Smoke like your life depends on it. Get twenty down you both days if you can. It seems as though your nutty (your word, not mine ) brain has found a way of maintaining your habit while convincing you that because you don't have that many, it ain't that bad. If you smoke until you feel like fag ash lil, I bet you'll feel more motivated to stick with the quit.
You're still young too man, it may be that you need a bit of a health scare to motivate you! So far, I bet you haven't seen too many negative effects to smoking, but trust Freedom, they're all just round the corner.

The fact that you have given some thought to all this means that the mechanical process of quitting has begun. Don't resist it. And I'm always here if you need encouragement or help.

[myles117]

I've been going 1 month strong so far. Im gunna try and keep it going. I haven wanted one at all but havent had the pleasure of being wit friends when they are smoking. I just keep my distance as to keep my nose oudda it.

The process has def begun for sure. I'll def come to you for help if needed

[QuantumStorm]

Mad props/rep for you for posting this guide. I picked up cigarettes (and green) in college as a social activity and something that I came to really enjoy. Now that i've graduated i'm looking to cut out cigarettes from my life. At the moment i'm smoking some electronic cigarettes that are basically nicotine vaporizers (think of it as a weed vape in the shape of a cigarette). Do you happen to know what effects just straight nicotine has on the body? I would like to quit. Its just been hard.

[kms brown]

Originally Posted by freedom4ever

Yeah man, the mouth issues are normal, but you gotta leave it alone or you're gonna make it really sore. tendency to keep 'tongueing' ulcers, quitting nicotine your mouth does become the focus of attention.
At least you don't feel like smoking huh?

I kept tongueing the ulcers and they spread and my gums are now swollen making it hard to eat. I set up an appointment with my doctor (found out my most recent ex has oral cold sores and neglected to tell me , hopefully I dodged that bullet, they look more like kanker sores). I was feeling pretty depressed all day and would have killed for a smoke, but i remembered your 6 to 8 minute craving statistic and it helped. After work i went and worked out, sat in the sauna, then tossed a foot ball around with some friends. Depression is gone and so are the cravings. Now im just anxious for my dr's apt.

Thanks again for the guide and help.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by QuantumStorm

Mad props/rep for you for posting this guide. I picked up cigarettes (and green) in college as a social activity and something that I came to really enjoy. Now that i've graduated i'm looking to cut out cigarettes from my life. At the moment i'm smoking some electronic cigarettes that are basically nicotine vaporizers (think of it as a weed vape in the shape of a cigarette). Do you happen to know what effects just straight nicotine has on the body? I would like to quit. Its just been hard.

Hi, thanks for the props!

I've not heard of those electronic cigarettes.. how did you get onto those? So they just have the nicotine and not the tar and other crap?

Nicotine has loads of different effects on the body and mind, I should imagine that the medium you use to consume it makes no difference. *
Nicotine reduces appetite and increases metabolism, it's a stimulant so it raises your blood pressure. It also alters your mood, this, (pinched from Wikipedia) explains part of why the fucker is so addictive:
"
Research suggests that, when smokers wish to achieve a stimulating effect, they take short quick puffs, which produce a low level of blood nicotine.[31] This stimulates nerve transmission. When they wish to relax, they take deep puffs, which produce a high level of blood nicotine, which depresses the passage of nerve impulses, producing a mild sedative effect. At low doses, nicotine potently enhances the actions of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, causing a drug effect typical of those of psychostimulants. At higher doses, nicotine enhances the effect of serotonin and opiate activity, producing a calming, pain-killing effect. Nicotine is unique in comparison to most drugs, as its profile changes from stimulant to sedative/pain killer in increasing dosages and use.
"

I'd be interested to hear more about the technique you are using dude...I guess it's just another form of nicotine replacement? Anyhoo...

And I know it's hard man, it could well be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Never felt so much like a junkie in my life! But remember what I said earlier, nothing that is worth having comes easy. You have complete control over your brain, decide you are going to quit, and quit. It can be that simple if you let it.

* I used lots of nicotine replacement. I asked my counsellor at the time 'Did the fact that I was still taking on nicotine in gum and patches, mean that I wasn't actually curing my addiction', she assured me that our bodies take the nicotine in in a completely different way to cigarettes,
I also suspect that my counsellor was trained to tell me exactly what I needed to hear.

According to Wiki, nicotine, once inhaled will get to your brain in seconds, however it is consumed.
Go figure. there could be something in it, because once I had to give up the gum, it was certainly nothing like giving up cigs!

[QuantumStorm]

Yeah its basically a nicotine vaporizer. I want to quit to save some money and just because its better for me. I'm really high right now and watching south park so writing is hard. Hehehe

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by kms brown

I kept tongueing the ulcers and they spread and my gums are now swollen making it hard to eat. I set up an appointment with my doctor (found out my most recent ex has oral cold sores and neglected to tell me , hopefully I dodged that bullet, they look more like kanker sores). I was feeling pretty depressed all day and would have killed for a smoke, but i remembered your 6 to 8 minute craving statistic and it helped. After work i went and worked out, sat in the sauna, then tossed a foot ball around with some friends. Depression is gone and so are the cravings. Now im just anxious for my dr's apt.

Thanks again for the guide and help.

It was a revelation to me that cravings only lasted a few minutes. I had always just assumed that if I tried to quit I would be lusting after a cig 24/7. Once I found that out I knew I could always last that long, anyone can wait just a few minutes, even me.
You will start to recognise key times throughout the day as craving times, this can go on for a few weeks. Don't forget how much of a change you are going through and you are expecting your body to just keep up. Be ready for these times with either nicotine replacement, fruit a drink or a task to occupy your hands. Make sure what you elect to do to occupy yourself is always a positive thing. You don't want your brain to start resenting what you have chosen to replace nicotine with.

I think a trip to see the doc is a good idea man, quitting cigs is hard enough on the mouth without added complications. Hope you get it sorted.

[freedom4ever]

I'm writing the next part. The benefits. You all deserve to see what you have to look forward to. Trust Freedom, it's AWESOME.