How To REALLY STOP SMOKING
76I was a Certified Smoker
Back in my college days, when I was still somehow immature, exploring and enjoying my youth, I was a heavy smoker. I can smoke up from 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes a day. Every morning, I come to a store nearby our dormitory and without any word, the vendor, just by merely using his preconception and instinct, will automatically hand me two packs of cigarettes. I was a regular customer.
I smoke in the campus; I smoke in the restaurants; in the bus terminal; in our dormitory; in the toilet. I smoke everywhere all the time. It was like cigarette smoking really does somehow quench my appetite. I smoke before breakfast and before laying in bed at night. I just loved smoking.
Whenever I realize I’m not having any butt on my mouth, I feel very uneasy and will desperately grab for another one out of immense craving frenzy.
I am an addict. I am so addicted that I even tried mastering some of the tricks from French inhales to Smoke rings. My friends can testify on this.
By the way, some of them are still smoking addicts up to now.
Failed Attemps
Totally stopping it was never easy. It’s an impossible mission. You know those motivations on TV, on ads, internet, and magazines, and others? I’ve seen all of them but never really have given them much attention. They never have made any impact on me anyway. They tell you to stop smoking because you’ll someday acquire lung diseases such as cancer and all those stuff. I wasn’t moved at all. I wasn’t moved by all of those discouragements. No effects, no discouragements, nothing. I am speaking here from a smoker’s perspective, and I’m confident that fellow smokers will agree with me on my above statements.
Just in case you are thinking that letting a smoker know he’s risking his body from too much smoking, he’s going to think twice. You’re wrong. We never care. I never cared.
The addiction has already been flowing in our veins. Stopping just can’t be possible. I remember how many times I have thought of stopping it and have failed. I couldn’t resist the temptation. The more I resist it, the stronger the urge was. I thought I would do anything just to inhale one more smoke. I thought there’s really nothing that could stop it.
But anyway, that was a long time ago. I no longer smoke. And instead of giving you another list of mumbo jumbo, I’ve decided to just share with you what I exactly did to stop myself from further smoking those filthy butts.
Hey smoker! You better stick to what I’m going to say! If you think you can’t stop yourself from smoking, you’re wrong! You could. I did.
Let’s get over it.
Additional Tips:
When you've decided when to stop, consume all the cigarettes you possibly could the day before. Remember there's no going back. I usually take up 2 to 3 packs a day but on that day prior to my quit date, I consumed almost 5 packs. LoL!
Staying committed is the hardest of the four. The secret is to make yourself always busy with something else. Keep your mind always preoccupied. The danger is really when you’re not doing or thinking anything.
If you feel you’re craving is again kicking in, jog. Jog yourself on the street. Call your friends and play your usual athletic sports. Try boxing or martial arts. Ridding yourself from your old addiction can really frustrate and make you angry at times, so why not try hitting some punching bags?
Work out in the gym. Lift some weights. Some men effectively have diverted their smoking addiction to working out in the gym. They’re happier than they once were. They’ve got sexier bodies too.
So, How Do I Ultimately Stop Smoking?
- You have to Really Want to Stop. You really have to want it. If you don’t, believe me you couldn’t. If you think you don’t want to stop, then read no more. If your wanting isn’t that strong enough, it’ll be a futile mission.
- The Decision has to be Made. If you really want to stop but can’t decide yet, give yourself time to think it over. Think it over tonight, and give yourself until tomorrow to decide. Pick your preferred date of implementation. If you don’t, then smoke all you want for the rest of your life and enjoy expediting your demise.
- Implementation has to be Abrupt. The decision has been made. The date has been set. How do you do it? Do you have to slowly decrease your consumption? No. Long gradual decrease of smoking until it ceases is ridiculous. It won’t work. You have to stop immediately completely, right at your set preferred date of implementation. One more cigarette upon implementation isn't a wise thing to do. If you can't control it, believe me you will utterly fail.
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And finally, Stay Committed. You’ve stopped smoking and that has to remain for a day, for a week, for a month, for a year. There’s no coming back. If you’ve already stopped for about 8 months or so, you’ll never want to go back anyway. Unless otherwise if you’re crazy.
Confession (Yes, I have one!)
After more than a year of not smoking, I’ve become curious that if ever I’ll smoke again, will it be the same like the way it was? Would it feel like the way it was?
I went to a store nearby; grabbed one stick; lits it up; inhaled it. I coughed like a young man having his first time. My throat wasn’t used to it anymore. The smoke felt itchy inside. Smoking has finally become estranged to me.
I then no longer tried it again.
If you’re not concerned with your health, be at least with your loved ones.
What drove me to really want to stop is when I saw my girlfriend (who’s now my wife) struggled with her breathing that I had to take her to the doctor. I have awakened the asthma in her that actually should have long lost since her childhood.
The doctor told me that if I really want to keep her, and stay with her, I’ll have to sacrifice my smoking. Otherwise, continuous exposure to cigarette smoke will eventually give her health risks that we’ll surely regret.
I was so sorry. That was the day I decided I had to stop. I loved my girl more than those silly filthy sticks.
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Very inspiring hub. I know that many fellow hubbers had written about this topic. We only need an act and I believe that we can stop smoking if we try from the bottom of heart. Thanks for writing and share with us. Well done and rated up!
Prasetio
Very useful. It's a habit that isn't easy to break and NO 1 is the most important - Having the will. (not doing it for others.)
Nice of you to share your experience.
Excellent tips on quitting smoking. Doing it for yourself is the biggest reason to stop.
If doing it for others is the incentive you need, then use it. That is how I quit after smoking for years and it was not easy but remember it is a habit and replace it with a new one that you enjoy. If it is food though make sure it is a no fat or low fat one. I used no fat sherbet ice cream in tiny cones and I had many a day! Will be smoke free 10 years in July! Great hub.
Thank you. I do believe that I am ready to quit, but I often think that and then I fall off the proverbial wagon. I really hope that this time will be different. I enjoyed the hub and reading everyones different accounts, struggles and successes help me.
Very honest and good advice from ex-smoker. It really is a hard habit to give up!
Thanks for SHARING.
Oh, and sorry it took a while to get back to you, I've been catching up with comments ever since the SHARING hub spread the love between hubbers lol, traffic went a bit wild! Just about caught up now ... well, almost :-) lol
Wanting to quit smoking is a very helpful tip. I know it is bad to smoke but someone has to want to quit first.
Yea, the SHARING is working well for everyone that has got involved, but that first few days left me with over 100 comments to return! lol However, I was determined and got caught up eventually ... may the SHARING continue :-)
There is no way that this hub would affect your Adsense account, so look elsewhere, I would imagine that you just need some more hubs, though frankly I have no idea how Adsense 'values' their account opening procedure.
I already had an Adsense account because I had used them to advertise (hint) and having wanted to give them money for clicks (on other projects) I guess they could hardly refuse my application when I opened with HubPages.
Good hub, all ex smokers get to the 'wonder what' part, and mostly stub it out and stay smoke free, however do not think that gives you the ability to 'just try one' when you are at a party of down the 'pub' having a beer, it's easier to get re addicted than it will ever be to stop again.
I stopped for 13 years.... then one cigar and all was lost.
Still trying to find that day when I WANT to stop again.
Cheers,
John
PS also helps to stop doing high stress work! - not mastered that yet either.
Asthma Tip: Buy and carry liquid magnesium with you so that should your wife ever start having an attack, one squire into the mouth will normally stop it.
If she takes liquid magnesium every day, she will probably not have any more asthma attacks, but that does not mean you can start smoking again!
John

















Michele Travis Level 7 Commenter 4 months ago
That was a wonderful hub. You love your wife so much you are able to give up something your body craves. A lot of people cannot do that. I smoked, but do not now. It is hard to stop, but not imppossible.