About Dick Richardson Expertise Happy to answer questions about how to quit smoking. Before submitting a question it would be helpful to know whether you are male or female, your age, how long you have been smoking, your occupation and how many packs a day you smoke.
Experience I gave up smoking cigarettes, two packs a day for 23 years, on May 17, 1978. Since giving up smoking I have not had one cigarette or desired to have a cigarette.
Expert: Dick Richardson Date: 4/3/2001 Subject: Best way to quit!
Question Dear Dick,
Hello and good day.
I'm a 35-year old male and have been a smoker for almost 15 years. On the average I smoke between one to one& a half pack(s)per day. I'm convinced that i have to quit sooner or later, the problem is i really enjoy it. If i'm bored, smoking really kills this feeling, and if i'm upset, i feel that i should light up. Furthermore, if i'm happy, i feel happier when i light up! You know Dick, i think my problem is the habit more than the addiction since sometimes i go for hours without smoking. Yes, i do feel the urge to smoke, but it's not really that bad.
I'm an Engineer, and i noticed that i smoke most when i'm Designing or analyzing a structure, but i feel like smoking the most when i wake up in the morning(with the morning cup of coffee).
So, what do you think is the best way to kick this nasty habit?
Thanking you in advance, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Answer The best way to kick the nasty habit is to have a reason for wanting to quit. Not just any reason but a reason from deep within you. You state that you are convinced that you have to quit sooner or later, however you write nothing to indicate why you have this belief in the inevitability of quitting. Smoking is something you enjoy and something that makes you happier at certain times. Smoking relieves your boredom and quiets your mood.
Why give it up?
Years ago I read that the cost of anything "may be measured by what you have to give up to get it". In that vein of thinking maybe the following will get you to take a different look at that old evil weed:
(1) I was tired of nicotine stained fingers and palms,
(2) I was tired of burn holes in my white shirts,
(3) I was tired of the early morning cough,
(4) I was tired of the nagging by my wife,
(5) I was tired of my children having to suffer the ever present smoke in the house and car,
(6) I wondered if my thinking might be a little clearer when it came to business decisions if I didn't always have to reach for a smoke when tense,
(7) I wondered what it would be like for a life long
skinny guy to weigh 200 pounds and be a "big guy",
(8) I wondered what it would be like not to reach for a
smoke every 20 minutes or so (2 pack a day man).
All of the above came into mind one day in May 1978. Within two weeks I threw out a half pack of cigarettes and have not had one since.
You may not have any of the numbered situations, however I am sure you can list a few of your own. The cost of my 8 situations could only be met one way, giving up the weed. I didn't tell myself to quit. I planted the solution into my subconscious and my system took over the job of quitting.
After 23 years I needed some support and it came in the form of a box of "Good n Plenty" candy. About 2 boxes a day for 3 months did the trick. Each and everytime the urge to reach for the weed came up I reached for one piece of "Good n Plenty". The people at my local 7-11 store started calling me the "Good n Plenty" man. I didn't care, it was fun kicking the habit and the nicotine addiction.
You are too young to scare with the horror stories of smoking and other peoples reasons for you to quit haven't and won't work. You can stop for their reasons but you will always want another cigarette.
Find your own reason, get some support and you are home free for the rest of your life.
It has now been 23 years of smoke free for me after 23 years of smoking and even though the urge was there for the first 3 months, mentally I have never wanted another one since the day I quit.
Should you care to correspond further please feel free. Good luck to you and God Bless. Dick Richardson
