Keeping My Turkey Cold

[Gattu Joshi]

Hello everyone,

i m on my third day of smoke free journey ……. I think cold turkey means NO NRT’s ………. Even Bupropion and other drugs , no gums and no patches ……. I m not against NRT’s or humans using them ………. Please wite ur pure suggestions regarding NRT’s……..is NRT is a compulsion aspect for kicking this evil habit ?

[Cbdave]

Gday 

my last and most quit .:. I did on zypan. Who cares Once I’d started I just kept going. 
And going. Once I’d run out off time I didn’t run out of tablets. It had about 2 weeks of them left over. Course I kept them… just in case. Threw them out about the 2 year mark!
This was my quit. The wasn’t gunna give it back. I discovered NOPE.

Not One Puff Ever.

I had to fess up I was that addict. One puff and I was back to 20 cigs a day.

Sound corny but it’s True. One puff and you can Chuck all those hours Days months years away.

Promise..::. Promise really. It’s is that good.

[Reciprocity]

Started with patches then forgot to put one on after a shower the next day and never put one on after that. 

They seem to help some people over the worst of the withdrawals in the early days/weeks but sooner or later you gotta go without them so for me, I didn't see the point and just went cold turkey. 

When it comes down to it, you gotta get through based on your own desire and determination to be quit, There's no short cuts and nothing is going to do the hard work for you. It's all up to you!

[Genecanuck]

Hi @Gattu Joshi..... I think that you use whatever is in your tool box to help you quit. NRT can be a good tool to help you get started in your quit but eventually, it is importnat to step down from all NRT. I did use NRT and stopped smoking but I became addicted to the NRT started using it long term. 

 

When I found quittrain.... my friends here remidned me that I still had to do the hard work to get nicotine out of my system and adopt a Not One Puff Ever and Not One Nictotine Patch ever apparoch.

 

If you need NRT to help get you started in your quit, I recommend going for it. BUT... please follow the step down program and plan to stop using the patch or other NRT product. If you do not follow the step down directions, you run the risk of becoming addicted to the NRT.

 

I am looking forward to following your quit. We are all here to support you!

 

Kind Regards.

Edited January 24 by Genecanuck

[Doreensfree]

NRT has helped millions quit this addiction. 
As long as you stick to the directions.  
ive also heard from folks who have ended up addicted to the Gum .

Please be careful you don’t end up like the latter .

All roads lead to Rome , so whatever gets you there is fine 

I also suggest reading the book 

Allen Carr .. The easy way to stop smoking 

This book has helped millions including me .

Make sure you fill your tool box with lots of useful tips 

We know you can do it 

You just need to want it bad enough

[DenaliBlues]

This is a good question, @Gattu Joshi. There are many ways to quit: cold turkey, prescriptions, NRT.  There are people who lean into health/exercise, people who get mental health support, and some find 12-step programs useful. There are many opinions and pros and cons to each approach. In my own view, whatever a person needs to get and stay quit is A-OK! Each of us is different. Nicotine is a very powerful addiction, so I think having different tools is useful - as long as we are truly internalizing NOPE along the way. 

 

I used lozenges and patches for a short time. In my mind, that was preferable to picking up another cigarette in moments where my quit was new and vulnerable. But it was just a bridge. After a while, I felt that NRT prolonged the discomfort of withdrawal for me -  keeping my nicotine receptors activated/hungry. So after a few weeks I quit all NRT as well. 

 

I chose NRT as one part of my quitting toolkit because I was a heavy smoker for 40+ years and had to quit in a hurry, for some unplanned surgery. I built on that as an opportunity to quit once and for all. Withdrawal was grim, but I am so glad I powered through it… coming up on 3 years smoke free soon.

 

Let’s find you your forever freedom, too!! 

[Penguin]

I tried patches and gums at certain points before my final quit, but nothing ever worked for me. I'd be chewing the gum and pocket it in my cheek just to have a cigarette. When I finally quit, it was cold turkey--but a collapsed lung is a strong motivator. I had four days in the hospital to consider the ramifications of what would happen if I kept smoking, and that was enough for me.

[catlover]

I did patches for about 3 weeks, then found I was forgetting to put them on, so carried on without. Other things helped me so much too,  like walking, changing routines, listening to relaxing music, and best of all, I loved treating myself to small items weekly, and then larger items monthly, and a big treat 6 months, 12 months.  it’s amazing how much more money you will have.

Distraction and treats  were key for me, and kept me on track as I gave myself rewards.

whatever you do to not smoke is good. just don’t smoke

[Gus]

I used patches during my initial quit. They helped with the additional stress and anxiety I already suffered from. As far as I can recall within 2 months I quit using them as I forgot to apply one and realized I no longer needed them. I wish you well on your non smoking journey. 

[Genecanuck]

@Gattu Joshi... please come back and let us know how you are doing. Whether you are keeping your quit or had a relapse, let us know how you are doing and how we can support you.