Stop Smoking Blog

By CALCIFER on Nov 20, 2009 | Reply

toothpicks!!

sounds weird i know, but i’m trying to quit as well, and playing with toothpicks kinda gets your mind off cigarettes. maybe it’ll work for you. good luck!
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me! :d

By tamara b on Nov 20, 2009 | Reply

have you tried a pencil or pen and gum and hard candy
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By john r on Nov 20, 2009 | Reply

Hi Sebastian..

not odd at all.. that hand to mouth thing is legendary.. well do yourself a favor and don’t chew on your finger nails, as some folks do.. actually a lot of folks find things to much on.. usually low calorie health stuff like carrot sticks, sunflower seeds, or salted in the shell peanut (watch your keyboard for crud on the peanuts, voice of experience).. others dry smoke a soda straw..in time of course you out grow your need to do that stuff..

you may want consider also joining a support group for answers to thees and other questions, especially in your early quit.. i know that has been the biggest factor in quitting for me.. i am a member of nicotine anonymous, and attend meetings both on line, and locally… on line meetings are as close as your computer, and you can attend before actually attempting a quit.. good luck!!!

Nicotine Anonymous is a Non-Profit 12 Step Fellowship of men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives. Nicotine Anonymous welcomes all those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction, including those using cessation programs and nicotine withdrawal aids. The primary purpose of Nicotine Anonymous is to help all those who would like to cease using tobacco and nicotine products in any form. The Fellowship offers group support and recovery using the 12 Steps as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve abstinence from nicotine.
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check out this site for more info, as well as local meetings
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/

check out this site for several daily online voice meetings
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/voicesofnicotinerecovery/

By gary m on Nov 20, 2009 | Reply

It doesn’t sound odd at all….in fact it is quite normal. The best thing I did was carry a bottle of water with me and every time the urge to smoke came on I drank from the bottle and that helped the hand to mouth fixation as well as take care of the craving. Water is good for flushing out the body.
There is a lot of hand to mouth fixation going on. Heck, I smoked at least 3 packs a day and you figure 10 hits per cig that is at least 600 times a day my hand goes to my mouth, not counting how many times my hand goes into my pocket for cigarettes or lighter.
Its a very uncomfortable feeling you go through, but it does pass in time. That’s why a lot of addicts eat a lot as they are substituting food for the cigarette and in the process put on weight. Notice I said addict. This is not a bad habit but a true mood altering drug addiction of nicotine.

Come to where I found help and that is Nicotine Anonymous. I spent over 15 years trying to quit and failed miserably but found my answers in the rooms of Nicotine Anonymous.

Check out the sources below and see if you can find the help I found

Gary M
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http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org You can check for f2f meetings and other information that is quite helpful

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/voicesofnicotineanonymous/ Online meetings and posting board.

By MK on Nov 20, 2009 | Reply

Physical movement seems to be your "personal trigger". Other triggers to watch out for are when you drink coffee, when you drink wine or beer, after lunch or after dinner, when you talk on the phone, when you are driving, when you are with other smokers, when you are watching TV, when you are waiting for a bus or a train, after an argument, when you feel anxious or stressed, etc. UNLEARN OLD BEHAVIOUR. Because both nicotine and your smoking routine have a physical effect on your body, it can feel beyond your control to change your behaviour, That’s why it is important to be aware. It helps to talk to your doctor about your smoking triggers. See if NRP and quit smoking support groups can help you get cigarettes out of your life.

I kept on smoking for 25 years and couldn’t quit it due to several " personal triggers" in my life, I left smoking cold-turkey but what I needed immediately after that was to join a quit smoking support group where people (ex-smokers) helped me maintain my quit intact.

I am an active member in an online yahoo health group kickbutts-nosmoking, its free, there are no quit-meters sold over there and no conditions, you’ve got perfect freedom even if you want to continue with your smoking. Its your business man.

Try: http://www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/kickbutts-nosmoking/

MK
Smokefree 1 year+
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