Freedom’s guide to quitting nicotine.

[freedom4ever]

NYCdeisel wrote:
Im so glad i dont smoke cigarettes, i can see how difficult it really is, and that most people who fail at quitting probably have the wrong mindset for the sudden change.
Anyway, my mother has been smoking for many many years(not sure how many), and now has something like bronchitis( orsome lung infection) and says it actually hurts to smoke cigs, and she hasnt had one in over 2 days now! I thought great, maybe she actually has a shot if she gives it a try, so i said 'hey since you already stopped, why dont you just quit smoking?'(i bet i make it sound too easy). So she says 'i dont want to' and then tells me to go away and bother someone else. Im honestly really worried about her, i think she might have already accepted that she will be a smoker for ever.
If you have any advice or anything it would be greatly appreciated, though im not looking for anything specific here, just thought id share my little story.
__________________

First thing for you to know is that nicotine smokers can't/won't be told. That's not how smokers roll. You can keep telling your mum, you can even approach it so that she knows you care about her and are worried, but she will just think she is being guilt tripped. Nicotine is a very manipulative drug and can make you think some strange things to justify consuming it, but telling her this will make her more defensive.

You are way better off taking an 'I don't care' attitude to her habit. Always sympathise and listen if she tries to talk to you about it and when she does, tell her a friend of yours found a guide really helpful, maybe she should read it, there's no pressure, it just makes you think about smoking differently. Then show her my guide!

I'm sorry her health is suffering. It may be enough to inspire her sooner than you realise, but please refrain from applying any pressure on her. I know how much you care for her and so it's hard, but the more you push, the more she will resist. It is is not a deliberate attempt on her part to disagree with you, it is the drug's influence.

Ultimately it is out of your control. She is an adult and must make her own decisions just as you must. I hope it works out for you both.

[kerenski]

damn girl... you're really insightful, beginning to like you more with every post

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by kerenski

damn girl... you're really insightful, beginning to like you more with every post

*curtsies* Why thank you.

[myles117]

do we need to start a freedom fan club? How funny would that be

[mwtokin']

Just wondering but whats your CO number now that you quit? Sorry if this has been answered before.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by myles117

do we need to start a freedom fan club? How funny would that be

Not funny. Awesome and proper.

Myles, did you frighten kerenski?

Originally Posted by mwtokin'

Just wondering but whats your CO number now that you quit? Sorry if this has been answered before.

It hasn't really been answered. I haven't been back to have it measured since about three months after I quit. At that point my reading still wavered between 1-3, which is that of a non smoker. I must assume that I am still taking in some carcinogens when I smoke bud spliffs, but it is significantly less than with cigs.

[myles117]

what can I say, Im very protective

nahhh, that post was deleted when I came in here. I would neva frighten anybodyyyyyyy.

[freedom4ever]

Glad to hear it Myles and you be as protective as you like, I love it.

[myles117]

Im more into being protective in person over the comp it just sounds funny

[Tim t'Enchanter]

Great thread Freedom! I'm one of those strange smokers who can take 'em or leave 'em.
My mother is a heavy smoker, and smoked around me my entire childhood, as well as most of the extended family (four out of five uncles, two out of four aunts, both grandmothers), is it any wonder I started? I smoked the first one at fourteen, and by sixteen I was up to around ten a day. When I left for college it became 20. Then I met the lady who would later become my wife, she didn't smoke and so I attempted to quit for her sake. As you can imagine that didn't happen, when I was with friends in the pub or relaxing at home the temptation became too great and I lit up, after all, I was young, healthy, and happy, so why shouldn't I indulge myself? However, work and lifestyle changes over the next few years meant that most of my 'smoking buddies' weren't around anymore, so that when the tobacco ban arrived in 2004, I was quite happy not to smoke. Like Myles, I still buy the occasional pack, last weekend at a concert for instance. I don't smoke at home or in the car, so it's outside or nothing when I do feel like a fag (cigarette not homosexual lol).
Glad you've been able to stay off them so long Freedom, congrats!

[NYCdeisel]

My mother finally quit smoking, i told my mom what to expect after quitting. She said she felt like she has gained weight latly, i said it could be due to quitting since smokers tend to stay thin easier. She also noticed her lungs dont hurt in the morning and she can exercise easier without smokey lungs. Now i just have to help my dad, i told him nicotine cravings are short and all you have to do is watch the time

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by Tim t'Enchanter

Great thread Freedom! I'm one of those strange smokers who can take 'em or leave 'em.
My mother is a heavy smoker, and smoked around me my entire childhood, as well as most of the extended family (four out of five uncles, two out of four aunts, both grandmothers), is it any wonder I started? I smoked the first one at fourteen, and by sixteen I was up to around ten a day. When I left for college it became 20. Then I met the lady who would later become my wife, she didn't smoke and so I attempted to quit for her sake. As you can imagine that didn't happen, when I was with friends in the pub or relaxing at home the temptation became too great and I lit up, after all, I was young, healthy, and happy, so why shouldn't I indulge myself? However, work and lifestyle changes over the next few years meant that most of my 'smoking buddies' weren't around anymore, so that when the tobacco ban arrived in 2004, I was quite happy not to smoke. Like Myles, I still buy the occasional pack, last weekend at a concert for instance. I don't smoke at home or in the car, so it's outside or nothing when I do feel like a fag (cigarette not homosexual lol).
Glad you've been able to stay off them so long Freedom, congrats!

lol, i've had to resist the urge to use that term 'fag' throughout this entire guide!! haha, I always called cigs,fags. But I knew that could well be misenterpreted here. Thanks for taking the time to check it out man.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by NYCdeisel

My mother finally quit smoking, i told my mom what to expect after quitting. She said she felt like she has gained weight latly, i said it could be due to quitting since smokers tend to stay thin easier. She also noticed her lungs dont hurt in the morning and she can exercise easier without smokey lungs. Now i just have to help my dad, i told him nicotine cravings are short and all you have to do is watch the time

Dude that is so cool! Well done her! Tell her the weight gain is a secondary issue. As long as it doesn't get too out of hand, tell her not to worry, she can deal with it in a month or two when she's over her nicotine addiction. She will have to learn how to manage her diet in a completely new way, this doesn't have to be anything other than a positive thing, but she needn't put pressure on herself to deal with it now. Don't let her beat herself up about it. Tell her repeatedly how great she looks since she quit.

Luck to your dad.

[The Cannabis]

My trick for stopping smoking was to just smoke more weed than ciggs. It worked.

Oh guess this is my 1,000 post.

Yay

[noregrets7]

i guit smoking like 2 years ago, ten like last week i was drunk with some friends and wound up having one, i guess its because ive had to stop smoking bud for this damn drugtest but yea qutiing nicotine is the hardest thing ive ever done, good luck to anyone trying