NWR: Quitting smoking
Looking for advice from anyone who has quit smoking and/or has supported someone in quitting.
DH disclosed to me last night that he is planning to go "cold turkey" starting after work on Friday. But he's very concerned about the potential changes to his personality, amongst other things. I am looking to be as supportive as possible without disturbing the process.
Backstory:
DH has smoked for twelve years. He knows his triggers, but his chemical addiction is very strong. He's already reduced his consumption by a pack and a half a day (now down to 3/4 pack a day). He's had previous failed attempts with Chantix, nicorette gum/patch, and e-cigs.
I'm due in December, and he wants to quit not only for his health, but obviously for me and the baby.
Thanks for sharing any experiences and advice!
Re: NWR: Quitting smoking
I recently quit smoking cold turkey and it's hard because my BF and all of his friends are smokers. Granted, I cut down a ton before I quit but still, it was a habit for me to have a cig before work, omw to work, omw home from work and smoke at home while having my evening cocktail. I think my job helped too with me quitting since they started a $50/month premium increase on health insurance for smokers. I NEVER smoked at work just for the fact that I work in healthcare (non-clinical) but still, I would feel bad smoking a cigarette and then seeing a patient who's battling lung cancer.
I agree with what PP's said in regards to calculating how much money he would save, and buying something nice. Also what helps for me is that when I feel like I "need" a cigarette I take a walk instead, or do something with my hands.
My H and I are currently trying to quit. We just started 2 weeks ago and are actually having a lot of success with the e-cigs that we've found. I haven't had a "real" smoke in a 4 or 5 days. We've ordered 0% nic fluid for them and hopefully we'll be done soon.
We've tried to quit cold turkey before and it just didn't work for us. We'd keep making excuses about why it's ok to have one here and there.
I know I would get bitchy for the first few days after quitting, but that would pass.
Maybe it was a mental thing then, I guess? Either way I stopped which was my intended goal.
@weezy56 - Yeah, I know the cartridge style ones you can do the same, we didn't care for those as much as we do the ones with liquid. We find it's a smoother "smoke" and tastes/smells better. We also use crazy flavors. H is hooked on vanilla, I've been using pomegranate.
H is also just kind of hooked on using the thing in general, even with the 0%, but he was always a big fan of our hookah, so I think it's similar for him but without the nicotine/smoke.
It really is very tasty. We've ordered a bunch of flavors to try.
ETA: H ran out of fluid during the day yesterday (his refill was at home) and so he bought a pack of smokes. After 2 weeks of the e-cigs I didn't even like the smell of it, so I'm hoping as more time goes by I continue to feel that way.
Yes, my H is still enjoying the smoking aspect of the e-cig. It doesn't mean he's replaced his addiction.
I'm still using a % of nicotine, but I find myself smoking less - I don't go out to have a smoke 3 or 4 times during my work day anymore. So it is working to quit smoking. How is it irresponsible to share my experience? I wasn't saying yes, do this. I was giving my experience, just like Weezy did.
And nicotine is no worse than people who have a caffeine addiction. The problem with cigarettes is the smoke, the tar and carcinogens that come from that. If I or my H want to be addicted to nicotine/non-nicotine vapor, I'd say that's a lot better than actual cigarette smoking.
I guess hooked is maybe the wrong word to use when talking about addiction, he just really likes the vanilla flavor, it's far more enjoyable the cigarette smell/taste.
Yes, I know nicotine is a drug and that is an addiction, it is also one of, if not the only drugs that actually has a calming effect and allows a person to focus. My point in comparing to caffeine is that though yes, it is a drug and is addicting, it is no more harmful to the system than caffeine, so even if you are still "addicted" to the act of smoking with or without a % of nicotine it does not have the same harmful effects of smoking an actual cigarette.
Ok, I guess I did imply support of using e-cigs and I stand by that. We have had good luck removing the nicotine addiction, even if we do still enjoy the physical act of smoking, that works for us. I know that for me, more of my smoking is lifestyle habit as a opposed to nicotine habit. I have triggers that make me want to smoke - drinking, coffee, in the car, on the phone. In the past when I've tried to quit (and I've tried several times), after about 3 days, I no longer crave the nicotine. I crave the lifestyle as noted above.
Maybe I did come off like I was taking it personally, but that was not my intention. Was just trying to explain myself. Clearly not very well (and maybe still not well).
Just because you think it's a bad idea though, doesn't mean that it is. I see your point that it still allows you to smoke, but I think for some people, it's the right option.
I'm not sure what addiction you mean by trading one for another. Which may be part of the confusion.
If you are referring to trading cigarettes for e-cigs: that is why I brought up caffeine vs. nicotine. The addiction to e-cigs/nicotine vapor is less harmful than cigarettes.
And yes, e-cigs can be used as a cessation program and it seems to be working for us.
When did I say I wasn't still addicted to the e-cig? I never once said I no longer have a nicotine addiction. As far as my H goes, enjoying the use of the e-cig, particularly with 0% nicotine, is not an addiction. You could equate that to someone who doesn't drink anymore, but still likes the occasional non-alcoholic beer. Or is it because I used the word hooked? I got hooked on watching Big Bang Theory - does that mean I'm now addicted?
I'm not confused and I'm not talking to myself. I haven't been trying to talk to the OPs point at all in my last several posts have been trying to clarify what I was saying, from MY personal experience.
Yes, I believe that the addiction to e-cigs is less harmful than real cigarettes. Which regardless of the caffeine example, is the bottom line.
I'm back on Wellbutrin for anxiety and now I have no interest in cigarettes whether I'm surrounded by smoking friends or drunk. I'm not saying that if you took Wellbutrin you would magically be cured, but along with some hard work, I was able to quit.
I've never smoked, but I did struggle with an addiction for about 10 years. Most of those years were spent trying to stop, and slipping up once in a while, and so on. Some of those slips were easy to get past and brush off. Others flew me full circle back into the behavior, and the addiction was usually stronger than before. I haven't engaged in this behavior in over 2.5 years now, so it's finally at the point where I feel "over it".
What helped me most was distraction and encouragement. Keeping myself busy, keeping my hands busy. Being aware of my triggers was a big help too. I had an "emergency box" that I would go too if I had the urge to do something. It had a bunch of stuff, including a list of distractions (which are hard to think of in the moment), crayons and paper, play-doh, a stress ball, and a list of numbers to call if I needed support. It was really helpful in the early stages. I've also been in therapy for a while, which has helped me identify and cope with the emotional reasons behind why I want to do the behavior. It's helped tremendously.
What didn't help is when people would nag me, try to babysit me if I didn't request their help, or reprimand me if I had a relapse. It ended up making everything worse.
I realize that my addiction was very different than cigarettes, but hopefully some of this advice is helpful. I wish your husband the best of luck!
@Mrsmack10612 was sharing her EXPERIENCE on how she and her husband have been trying to end their addiction. E-cigs aren't the answer for everyone, either it taking a prescription pill, but many do it and RELY on them.
You are not allowed to say what can and can not work for each individual adult.