Rec | QUITTING SMOKING

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I have a vivid memory of being 18 years old, my parents just moved me across the country into my dorm, and as I watched their car turn a corner away from view, I pulled out a pack of Gauloises and lit up. I was a woman now. I loved smoking, I was never a heavy smoker, but I always wanted to keep it light enough so that it could forever be in my life. Anyway, years later there was a pandemic/heart break/lots of life changes and the idea of long term planning (staying alive/having nice skin) flew out the window for me and cigarettes took a much bigger role in my life and that freaked me out. So I read the same stupid book that everyone does, I rolled my eyes the whole time thinking NO WAY and then I finished the book and was freed. Last page done = no desire for another cigarette again. Probably it’s a form of hypnosis, and an essential element is being ready to say goodbye, but if you ARE ready: The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr is some type of witchcraft. Also, Anthony Hopkins and Angelica Huston blurbed the edition I read, and I thought that was convincing evidence. They probably smoked a lot.

@mackenzie-davis

Jan 21, 2025

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@nokomitsu

Maybe a silly thing to comment but it feels like fate that I see this post today lol. I just decided to give up smoking, and I couldn't have come across this at a better time. I'm glad you quit, fingers crossed I'm next (^-^)

Jan 23, 2025

@you

I often hear this, that you have to be ready to let smoking go, to say goodby. But how do I know I'm ready to say goodby? For you as someone who's reached that point, did you know you were ready before you started reading the book?

Jan 21, 2025

@thrashie

you Hi You, Only you will know. You may have to hit a bottom & experience a level of desperation before you truly feel ready. That could look like an illness, someone commenting that you smell bad, or you noticing your damaged lung capacity. I was a heavy smoker for 10+ years and felt so so desperate at the end because I developed breast tumors & would chain smoke until I felt sick and nauseous. I quit and relapsed at least 10 times, included trying to read this book once. This last time, the thing that worked for me was a nicotine patch and lozenge program provided for free by New York state.

Jan 21, 2025

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LIGHTING A CANDLE INSTEAD OF A MILLION CIGARETTES

It’s been 8 months since my last smoke, the longest I’ve gone in 12 years. Some unconventional tips: - being delusional is effective. I tell myself cigarettes are bad luck. If I smoke one, something bad will happen. - My relationship to cigarettes was spiritual, every single one was a little prayer. To fill the gap, I leaned into woo: candles, tarot, talking to god. - Cigs were my edge, but they numbed me. To keep that rebellion alive, I leaned into things that scared me: fashion choices, challenging long held values, leaning into my queerness, wasting time. - Somatic release. Shake your leg, wring your hands, go to the gym. Also, going to the gym gets a lot easier when you make the conscious choice to not hate on the bros or influencers.. everyone’s trying to find their place. Love > Snark - It only gets easier if you know exactly WHY you want to smoke in the first place, and address the root causes with mindset or lifestyle changes. Quitting cold turkey without change is not enough. Tag: nicotine quit smoking

@zachyyy

2d ago

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The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr

I’ve tried to quit smoking so many times and how it’s recommended to keep taking nicotine through patches or whatever seems so dumb!!!!!! This book is short and you’ll actually quit cold turkey feeling the best you’ve ever felt! I recently smoked again and I asked ChatGPT to act as Alan Carr and talk me out of it and it worked!!! RIP Alan my favourite brit.

@yonearth

Jan 8, 2025

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quitting smoking so it can feel like something again

Ever since I quit nicotine I don't deprive myself of a cigarette when I feel like I really need it. So it hits different, because when my emotional state is low all it takes is a cig break to feel like I'm confronting whatever it is that's weighing me down. This system is fool-proof. Sometimes I think I'm low enough for a cigarette then decide I'm not quite sad enough. So when I do smoke it's because I'm crying & absolutely losing it. Because my smoke breaks are spontaneous, I can't quite plan for them, leading to unfinished packs & a plethora of lighters. Funny enough, each lighter coincides with whatever was making me feel awful that day making it a journal of sorts for my feelings. My fav is the "take me with you" lighter because well.. I really related to that when I bought it. There's also something really protagonist-y about walking into a gas station, eyes puffy & tears streaming down your face & asking for a pack of camel menthols ... oh & a swag lighter.

@scaraba3ida3

Sep 19, 2024

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